Method for analyzing the environmental impacts of different systems for printing on packaging

Abstract

The present invention discloses a method for determining the environmental performance of packaging labels, including the processes for printing same, through life cycle assessment of the product. The problem to be solved is that of the absence of a method for determining the relative environmental performance of packaging labels, taking into account the substrate used, the printing technique, and the printing technology. To solve the problem, a simple yet technically robust method is proposed for calculating the environmental impact of producing packaging labels with different printing configurations, by comparing the results to support the decision-making process, thus enabling the selection of parameters that provide the best environmental performance results.

Description

[0001] Descriptive Report of the Invention Patent for “METHOD FOR ANALYZING THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF DIFFERENT PRINTING SYSTEMS ON PACKAGING” Field of the Invention [1] The present invention relates to the field of product sustainability, specifically to a method for determining the environmental performance of the production and printing of packaging labels by assessing the product's cradle-to-gate life cycle. Background of the Invention and Prior Art [2] In recent years, there has been a significant increase in efforts by the industry to adopt an environmentally friendly approach throughout its supply chain, driven by growing consumer market demands, local environmental policies or those established in international agreements, and the possibility of having more sustainable businesses and, as a consequence, even greater access to available financial flows. According toAccording to the United Nations, sustainable development is defined as the need to meet the needs of current society without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs. [3] Therefore, the development, production, and marketing of more sustainable products has become a requirement for companies. The way to achieve this goal involves understanding the environmental quality of production processes and products and establishing metrics to evaluate the environmental performance of products throughout their useful life. In this context, aiming for the environmental quality of the entire supply chain, life cycle management of sustainable products is essential. [4] The technique known as Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), as standardized by ISO 14040 (2006), also known by its English acronym as LCA (Life Cycle Analysis), is a widely used technique for assessing the environmental impact of products and services at various stages of their life cycles. [5]The LCA tool, according to ABNT (Brazilian Association of Technical Standards 2009a,b), is the compilation and evaluation of the inputs, outputs, and respective potential environmental impacts of a product system throughout its life cycle. It is subdivided into four phases, with the third phase referring to the life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) of a product on the environment, a fundamental component of this patent application. In other words, LCA is an environmental tool that compares product performance and analyzes which options are viable or not for their expected functional performance associated with environmental costs (ISO, 2006). [6] Furthermore, LCA covers all stages of a product system, ranging from obtaining the necessary raw materials and energy, manufacturing, use, and distribution, to the final disposal of the product, and may include the recycling of materials and components, in addition to other post-consumer treatments. [7] It is worth noting that LCA isused in a wide range of applications and is based on the following objectives, according to the EPA (Environment Protection Agency - USA, 1993): (i) establishing a database on resource consumption and waste generated by the product system; (ii) identifying the stages in the life cycle of a product or process where reductions in resource consumption and waste generation can be achieved; (iii) comparing the environmental impacts associated with products, processes, or activities that have the same function; (iv) assisting in the development of new products, processes, or activities, enabling improvements in their environmental performance. [8] There are global database services that inventory, store, and update sustainability indices for each production process around the world. These are called LCA Databases, such as Ecoinvent version 3.10, ESU Services, Kbob, AgriBaLyse, JRC European Commissions, among others. The present invention uses the databaseEcoinvent's LCA data, but is not limited to it. The Ecoinvent Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and supporting the availability of environmental data worldwide, specializing in the LCA methodology. [9] In the context of assessing the life cycle of a packaging label, it is important to note that such a label may present different technical specifications to meet the needs of its consumers, such as area, artwork, durability, permeability, colors, information on technical characteristics, among others. Thus, they can be produced with different materials, types of printing processes, that is, substrates used to adapt to the desired printing process in order to ensure that it fulfills its function throughout its life cycle, according to the different conditions of use.

[0010] There are few studies in the literature involving methods for assessing the environmental impact of packaging; however, regarding the evaluation of thelife cycle of packaging labels, this universe becomes even more limited.

[0011] From the state of the art, there are already some solutions regarding the method of evaluating the environmental performance of packaging and labels, such as documents US2010030601 and WO2021136874, respectively.

[0012] Document US2010030601 already discloses a method of relative sustainability evaluation addressing the complete life cycle of a product, in the technical field of packaging. Said method uses as a reference scenario the environmental performance of a product among products of the same family and derives a general sustainability index for making comparisons. However, said patent document is not capable of analyzing the label, nor even the label printing process.

[0013] Patent document WO2021136874, in turn, deals with a method, system, computer program and a service for determining a sustainability indicator of a product label, said document alsoconsiders the possibility of comparisons between different labels and carries out such comparisons expressed in equivalences.

[0014] Document WO2021136874, however, is not capable of addressing the label printing processes in determining its environmental performance. Furthermore, another aspect to be taken into consideration is that the method disclosed in said document is not capable of differentiating the substrate used in comparing the environmental performance between labels.

[0015] It should be reiterated that none of the documents mentioned above provides a method that evaluates the relative environmental performance of a packaging label taking into account the printing process of said label.

[0016] Thus, and although the solutions described above prove to be functional for the purposes for which they were made possible, it is noted that there are still gaps in the prior art regarding the provision of a simple, low-cost, and easy-to-use solution for calculating and comparing the environmental performance of the label.that one wishes to use considering different printing processes and types of inks to be used in the production of the label, enabling decision-making with a view to the most environmentally friendly label.

[0017] It is based on this scenario that the invention in question arises. Objectives of the Invention

[0018] The fundamental objective of the invention in question is to design a method for calculating the environmental impact of producing packaging labels with different printing configurations, which are called in this invention production scenarios, comparing the results with each other to support the decision-making process, allowing the selection of parameters that present the best environmental performance results.

[0019] More specifically, the objective of the present invention is to present a method for comparing the environmental performance of various packaging label printing scenarios, considering that a scenario may involve more than one substrate alternative, more thanan alternative printing technique and technology and more than one decoration alternative, generating a wide range of options.

[0020] It is also an objective of the present invention to use the Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) tool, as standardized by ISO 14040 (2006), in order to consider the following categories of environmental impacts provided for in the tool: global warming, water scarcity, abiotic depletion (metals and minerals), abiotic depletion (fossil fuels), acidification, eutrophication, ozone layer depletion, and photochemical oxidation.

[0021] Furthermore, it is an objective of the present invention to reveal a simple-to-use, yet technically robust solution;

[0022] Another objective is to describe a method that calculates environmental impact indicators so that they can be used for management and decision-making. Summary of the Invention

[0023] Method for analyzing the environmental impacts of different printing systems on packaging for variousscenarios, based on the life cycle assessment (LCA) method, from internal label information and external raw material information, which includes calculating the environmental impact of the label printing technology, comprising the following steps: ✔ mapping the processes involved in the label life cycle; ✔ collection of primary data that includes company and supplier data; in assembling the inventory, raw data from the production of a label were not used, but rather data by printing process and other process steps; ✔ calculation of the potential environmental impact; ✔ generation of the file with data on potential environmental impacts of materials and processes used in label production; ✔ input of the database file of potential environmental impacts of materials and processes used in label production; ✔ input of production order configuration data (140), through a user interface; ✔ selection of materials, processesprinting and options by scenario; ✔ calculation of environmental impacts for 1000 labels; ✔ environmental impact report;

[0024] The life cycle assessment method is based on ISO 14040 / 44 and LCIA standards.

[0025] The aforementioned stage of mapping the processes involved in the label life cycle comprises at least the following substeps: ✔ definition of the substrates, inks and printing processes that will be part of the environmental impact LCA; ✔ mapping the processes involved in the label life cycle; ✔ identification of inputs and outputs; ✔ identification of inputs and outputs according to the inventory nomenclature standard of an international LCA database used.

[0026] The primary data collection stage of the aforementioned method comprises at least the following substeps: ✔ collection of data containing at least: − description of inputs and outputs; − quantity of inputs and outputs; − unit of measurement used; - material useful life and the process of inventorying the baseglobal sustainability framework, which in the case of the implementation of this invention is Ecoinvent, is associated with that input or output to which the launch refers; ✔ calculation of energy and material consumption proportions according to the dimensions of the coil; ✔ preparation of the inventory file by process, containing the quantities (mass) and energy consumed, per unit of measurement, of the inputs and outputs of each process; ✔ conversion of the stored data to a format compatible with the platforms / software for calculating sustainability impacts.

[0027] The environmental impact potential calculation step comprises at least the following substeps: ✔ importing the final LCA inventory file into the OpenLCA platform; ✔ definition of the Life Cycle Impact Assessment Method (LCIA) and the environmental impact categories; ✔ calculation, in the OpenLCA platform, of the potential environmental impacts in each environmental impact category and exporting the respective resultsto a Database of Potential Environmental Impacts file, in a format suitable for use in the next phase of the method.

[0028] The production order configuration step comprises the following input data: ✔ label height in millimeters; ✔ label width in millimeters; ✔ average length of the roll to be printed per production order, in meters; ✔ average width of the roll to be printed, in meters; ✔ number of production orders.

[0029] The material, printing process, and options selection step involves inputting at least the following information: ✔ identification of the scenario to be considered; ✔ the material to be used in printing the label in the respective scenario; the material options may preferably be self-adhesive or heat-shrinkable, from a list of types available for production, as mentioned previously in this report; ✔ the printing processes that will occur in the respective scenario and, for each process, whether it will be usedInk or varnish; ✔ When necessary, whether the printing process involves cold foil or hot stamping, for each scenario. ✔ Whether or not the waste, in the respective scenario, should be decharacterized.

[0030] The stage of selecting materials, printing processes, and options per scenario comprises the following substeps: ✔ Calculate the environmental impacts for 1,000 labels by processes involved in production; ✔ Calculate the environmental impacts for 1,000 labels by printing processes, considering the number of times the process occurs as a multiplier; ✔ Calculate the environmental impacts for 1,000 labels by film consumption for each printing technology, considering the number of times the process occurs as a multiplier; ✔ Calculate the environmental impacts for 1,000 labels by selected printing technology, considering the number of times the process occurs as a multiplier; ✔ Calculate the environmental impacts for 1,000 labels by ink and varnish consumptionconsidering the number of times the process occurs as a multiplying factor; ✔ obtain the sum of all the environmental impacts calculated above, which results in the total impact by impact category for 1000 labels.

[0031] The production processes involved in a first phase of the method include at least the following macroprocesses: ✔ materials and waste from reels; ✔ internal transport of reels and warehouse; ✔ printing processes; ✔ production of cliché, offset plates and silk screen; ✔ consumption of inks and varnishes; ✔ cutting of reels; ✔ verification process; ✔ process of decharacterization of printing waste.

[0032] The calculation of the environmental impact in a first and second phase of the method includes at least the following impact categories: ✔ abiotic depletion (minerals and metals); ✔ abiotic depletion (fossil fuels); ✔ acidification; ✔ eutrophication; ✔ global warming; ✔ ozone layer depletion; ✔ photochemical oxidation; ✔ water scarcity.

[0033] In the material selection step, the front of the self-adhesive label may include, for each scenario, one of a plurality of materials with acrylic adhesive, in combination with PET or glassine liner.

[0034] In the material selection step, the substrate of the heat-shrinkable label may include, for each scenario, PETg and PVC films, in different thicknesses and shrinkage forces.

[0035] The printing process for self-adhesive labels includes at least one of the techniques: flexography, rotogravure, screen printing, offset, cold foil and hot stamping and the printing process for heat-shrinkable includes at least one of the following techniques: flexography and rotogravure.

[0036] The printing technology used is considered in calculating the label impact.

[0037] The total environmental impact resulting in each category is expressed in for each of the compared scenarios.

[0038] Furthermore, it is possible to update said method with new materials, processes and technologies for calculating the environmental impact.

[0039] Said method is capable of generating environmental performance comparisons of several label printing scenarios simultaneously.

[0040] Brief description of the figures

[0041] The invention in question will be detailed, fundamentally, based on the illustrative figures listed below, however, it should be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the processes, steps and materials disclosed herein to describe the present invention. Therefore, we have:

[0042] Figure 1 illustrates, in a flow diagram, the method described in the present invention.

[0043] Figure 2 illustrates the processes involved in the packaging label life cycle, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

[0044] Figure 3 illustrates, in a flow diagram, an overview of the calculation of the environmental impact, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

[0045] Figure 4a illustrates, by way of example, the environmental performance summary of each scenario as a result of applying the method, byenvironmental impact category, according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0046] Figure 4b graphically illustrates, as an example, the environmental performance of each scenario as a result of applying the method, by environmental impact category, according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0047] Figure 4c illustrates, as an example, the environmental performance of each scenario as a result of applying the method, by equivalence for some environmental impact categories, according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0048] Detailed Description of the Invention

[0049] The present invention relates to a method that calculates the total environmental impact of a packaging label manufactured by a company, considering from the production of the raw material, regardless of which and where it was produced, up to the point at which the label is ready, that is, before leaving the company for the customer (cradle to gate), considering, but not limited to, the production processes of theraw material, inks, transportation, storage, transportation within the company, roll cutting, ink mixing, offset plate engraving, cliché engraving, silk screen engraving and cleaning, roll printing, label review and label de-characterization, when necessary.

[0050] The results of the environmental impact, as an example of an embodiment of this invention, are proportional to the inputs and outputs of materials and outputs of waste from the printing and review processes for a roll with an area of ​​3000 m², said roll having dimensions specifically of 3000 m in length and 1000 mm in width, with the result of the possible environmental impact parameterized for 1000 labels. Said dimensions are references for calculating the environmental impact but are not limiting the present invention.

[0051] For the description of the method, some concepts considered in this report are presented below; some references are also made to materials or processes that are notshould be considered in this document as limiting the invention, as they refer to one of its possible embodiments.

[0052] The environmental impact categories considered above and which are based on the rules of ISO 14040, 14041, and 14044 are described in greater detail below: − Global warming: quantification of the impact of greenhouse gas emissions due to human activities on climate change. These impacts are aggregated into a common unit, such as CO2 eq (carbon dioxide equivalent). Since 1990, Global Warming Potential (GWP) has been used as the standard measure for this category, with GWP100a being the most common indicator in LCA studies and measured in kg CO2 eq; − Water scarcity: water consumption can lead to deprivation and negative impacts on human health and ecosystem quality. Thus, water scarcity can be defined as the imbalance between water availability and demand, aspects that vary according to the conditionsof the region studied. In this category, the potential impact is represented in m 3eq (cubic meters of water equivalent); − Abiotic depletion, elements: consumption of mineral resources, which includes the removal of metals from nature. In this category, the potential impact is represented in kg Sb eq. (kilograms of antimony equivalent); − Abiotic depletion, fossil fuels: consumption of fossil fuels, including coal, natural gas, methane, crude oil, etc. In this category, the potential impact is represented in MJ (megajoules); − Acidification: acidification addresses the impact of processes that increase the acidity of water and soil systems through the concentration of hydrogen ions. Acidity negatively affects soil fertility and compromises the production capacity of most agricultural soils. In this category,The potential impact is expressed in kg SO2 eq. (kilograms of sulfur dioxide equivalent); Eutrophication: This is the process that begins when ecosystems receive excess inputs of limiting nutrients (typically nitrogen or phosphorus). Thus, if the input of limiting nutrients to an aquatic system exceeds the system's capacity to assimilate these nutrients, the ecosystem's structure and functioning may change, resulting in changes in habitat and the respiration of organic matter, and causing a reduction in the oxygen concentration in the water. In this category, the impact is measured in kg PO4 eq. (kilograms of phosphate equivalent); Ozone depletion: Ozone depletion occurs if the rate of ozone depletion increases due to the loss of anthropogenic substances that persist in the atmosphere. Stratospheric ozone, which accounts for 90% of the total ozone in the atmosphere,It is vital to life because it prevents harmful solar UV-B ultraviolet radiation from penetrating the lower levels of the atmosphere. In this category, the impact is represented in kg CFC-11 eq. (kilograms of trichloromonofluoromethane equivalent); − Photochemical oxidation: The negative impacts of photochemically generated pollutants are due to their reactive nature, which allows them to oxidize organic molecules on the surfaces they expose. Impacts on humans arise when ozone and other reactive oxygen compounds are inhaled and come into contact with the surface of the respiratory tract.where they damage tissues and cause respiratory diseases. Impacts on vegetation arise when reactive compounds attack plant surfaces or enter the stomata of plant leaves, causing oxidative damage to photosynthetic organelles. Impacts on engineered materials are caused by oxidation and damage to many types of organic materials exposed to ambient air. In this category, the potential impact is represented in kg NMVOC eq (kilograms of non-methane volatile organic compounds).

[0053] A label is the identity element to be applied to the product packaging, presenting its information, and must be produced with appropriate substrates according to the industry, the conditions in which the product is exposed, and the function the label is intended to fulfill throughout its useful life.

[0054] The substrate, in the context of the printing industry, is the support that will receive the printing, and may have several layers, and may be, for example,of the self-adhesive or heat-shrinkable types.

[0055] Self-adhesive labels may have different surface printing treatments that must be carefully chosen taking into account each label need.

[0056] The self-adhesive label consists of a set containing a front, adhesive, and liner. The self-adhesive set can be composed of different materials, and in the present LCA study, eight materials with acrylic adhesive were considered for the front, in combination with a PET or glassine liner; all sets contain options with different weights, and consequently, the mass in the inventory, implying a large number of alternatives.

[0057] Heat-shrinkable labels are made of durable, waterproof films and are generally designed to be placed on the outside of rounded containers, such as bottles and jars, and shrunk using heat to adapt to the shape of the packaging.

[0058] Similarly,The substrate for the heat-shrinkable label can be composed of various types of materials, and for this LCA study, PETg and PVC films were considered, with different thicknesses and shrink strengths. This study did not consider primary data from the industry that produces the heat-shrinkable film.

[0059] The substrates for self-adhesive and heat-shrinkable labels undergo printing processes using different techniques: flexography, rotogravure, screen printing, offset, cold foil, and hot stamping.

[0060] In this report, the terms "cold foil" and "hot stamping" are literal translations of "cold stamping" and "hot stamping," respectively. Cold foil is also commonly called "cold stamping." These terms may be used throughout this report in one form or another.

[0061] Furthermore, each of the printing processes mentioned above can be performed by machines with different technologies in operation at the company; for example,the machines with different technologies are called, in the embodiment of the present invention, ECS, MO4 and FA6, with the ECS machines using the flexography process combined with screen printing, applicable for printing self-adhesive and heat-shrinkable labels; the MO4 machines combine the flexography, offset, rotogravure and screen printing processes, applicable for printing self-adhesive and heat-shrinkable labels; and the FA6 type machines mainly composed of flexography, with the possibility of using rotogravure for printing self-adhesive and heat-shrinkable labels.

[0062] For educational purposes, the following definitions for company, supplier and user are considered in this report. Company is understood to be the organization in which the study is being carried out, that is, in which the calculation of the environmental performance of the packaging label is being determined. It is also understood,by supplier, any and all entities that are part of the company's production chain in the supply of raw materials. And, finally, a user is understood as a company employee responsible for operating and executing said method.

[0063] The method is, for didactic purposes, presented in two phases. Phase 1 (F1) is characterized by the structuring of the environmental impact database, and phase 2 (F2) is characterized by the method for generating the environmental impact report for the printed label.

[0064] Figure 1 illustrates, in a flowchart, the overview of the method of the present invention: the phase of structuring the environmental impact database F1 and the phase of preparing the calculation of environmental impacts, environmental impact report, and process update F2, the latter comprising the processes of the main tool of the present invention.referred to herein in this report as STARLIFE. It is in this phase F2 of the method that the greatest differential of the present invention is understood to lie.

[0065] The environmental impact database structuring phase F1 comprises at least the following steps: ✔ mapping the processes involved in the label life cycle 100; ✔ primary data collection 110, which includes company and supplier data; ✔ calculation of the potential environmental impact 120 and; ✔ generation of the file with environmental impact data 130.

[0066] The label life cycle process mapping step 100 includes at least the following substeps: − definition and selection of the products that will be part of the LCA environmental impact analysis; − mapping the processes involved in the label life cycle; − identification of inputs and outputs of materials, energy and waste from the activities carried out in each of the processes, which may include, for example, the warehouse, printing area,ink laboratory, cliche shop, and de-characterization area; − Adjustment of the collected data and verification of the data so that it can be allocated to the functional unit and divided among the printing processes, considering that the printer offers various configurations for superimposing ink and foil layers; − Association of said inputs and outputs according to the inventory nomenclature standard of an international LCA database used. In the case of the present invention, the Ecoinvent database is used, by way of example. This association is, in other words, a from / to, of the name used internally for the input and output activities / elements to the names of the processes existing in the Ecoinvent platform, said platform chosen in the present invention by way of example as the reference database, but it should be noted that the invention is not necessarily limited to this platform. Thus,unique identifiers are assigned to the flows and their processes in Ecoinvent for each corresponding flow used in the data collection file. As a result of mapping the processes, a database is created in which the Ecoinvent processes are already inserted.

[0067] With the database resulting from the previous step, we move on to the primary data collection step 110, which comprises at least the following substeps: ✔ data collection, which may preferably be, for convenience of collection, in spreadsheet format,preferably containing the following data: − description of inputs and outputs; − quantity of inputs and outputs; − unit of measurement used; − Description of the calculation and method of measuring inputs and outputs; − information on completeness; − reliability; − geographic correlation (study location); − technological correlation (data related to the company); − temporal correlation (data related to which period); − Destination of output processes; − Useful life of the material − Identification of the process from the global sustainability database inventory (Ecoinvent Processes, for example) that is associated with that input or output to which the release refers; ✔ calculation of energy and material consumption proportions according to the reference flow, i.e., a reel with a printed area of ​​3000 m², that is, for a reel with a length of 3000 m and a width of 1000 mm, as mentioned previously; ✔ preparation of the inventory file by process,containing the quantities (mass) and energy consumed, per unit of measurement, of the inputs and outputs of each process; ✔ from said inventory file per process, and using an appropriate computer language, the data stored in said final inventory file is converted to a format compatible with Environmental and Sustainability Impact Assessment platforms for LCA studies. By way of description of the present invention, but not as a limiting factor, the OpenLCA Environmental and Sustainability Impact Assessment platform, open-source software specialized in Sustainability Impact Assessment, is used to calculate the potential environmental impacts in each of the environmental impact categories. The format of the final inventory file is converted to an LCA inventory file, which may be, but is not limited to, ILCD.because it is a widely used format in the market.

[0068] The next step involves calculating the potential environmental impact of the inputs and outputs of each process mapped in the previous step. This process comprises the following substeps: ✔ importing the final LCA inventory file into the OpenLCA platform; ✔ defining the Life Cycle Impact Assessment Method (LCIA) and the environmental impact categories, which in a possible embodiment of this invention, but not limited to these, are the following: abiotic depletion - elements; abiotic depletion - fossil fuels; acidification; eutrophication; global warming (measured in GWP100 or Global Warming Potential in 100 years); ozone layer depletion; photochemical oxidation; water scarcity; ✔ for each production process involved, the potential environmental impacts in each category described above are calculated in the OpenLCA platform,and its results are exported to a file 130 in a format suitable for use in the next phase of the method, preferably in spreadsheet format.

[0069] Figure 1 also schematically illustrates phase 2 of method F2, that is, the processes that form one of the main differentiators of the present invention, referred to here in this report as STARLIFE. This phase allows calculating the environmental impact for different printing scenarios, with different materials and printing processes for comparing environmental impacts between said scenarios, and comprises at least the following steps: ✔ input of the Potential Environmental Impacts Database file 130; ✔ input of the production order configuration data 140, through a user interface; ✔ selection of materials,printing technologies and options by scenario 145; ✔ calculation of environmental impacts 150; ✔ environmental impact report of label production 160;

[0070] The input step of the Database of potential environmental impacts file 130 contains the results of the impact assessment of the production processes obtained in phase 1 of the present method of this invention.

[0071] The input step of the production order configuration data 140, informed by a user interface, preferably comprises the following input data: ✔ height in millimeters of the label; ✔ width in millimeters of the label; ✔ average length of the reel to be printed per production order, in meters; ✔ average width of the reel to be printed, in meters; ✔ number of production orders.

[0072] If the user does not inform the dimensions of the reel, default values ​​will be adopted, which in the preferred embodiment of this invention will be: 3000 meters of linear length of the reel,1000 mm roll width and 1 (one) production order.

[0073] Different production scenarios are reported so that the environmental impact report can present comparisons between various scenarios, making it possible to identify the one with the best environmental performance in each of the environmental impact categories.

[0074] The step of selecting materials, printing processes, and options by scenario 145 includes the entry of at least the following information: ✔ identification of the scenario to be considered; ✔ the material to be used in printing the label in the respective scenario; the material options may preferably be self-adhesive or heat-shrinkable, from a list of types available for production, as mentioned previously in this report. ✔ the printing processes that will occur in the respective scenario and, for each process, whether ink or varnish will be used; ✔ when necessary, whether the printing process involves cold stamping or hot stamping,for each scenario. ✔ whether or not the waste, in the respective scenario, should be decharacterized.

[0075] From the production order configuration data entry steps 140 and the material, printing process and scenario options selection step 145 provided by the user and the database of potential environmental impacts 130, the calculation of environmental impacts 150 is performed, comprising the following substeps: ✔ calculating the environmental impacts for 1000 labels by processes involved in production (e.g., materials and waste, internal transportation of raw materials, internal transportation of reels and storage, etc.), selected in each scenario, in the different printing processes, for each impact category (e.g., abiotic depletion-elements, abiotic depletion-fossil fuels, acidification, etc.); ✔ calculating the environmental impacts for 1000 labels by printing processes selected in each scenario,for each impact category (e.g., abiotic depletion-elements, abiotic depletion-fossil fuels, acidification, etc.), considering the number of times the process occurs as a multiplying factor; ✔ calculate the environmental impacts for 1,000 labels per film consumption for each printing technology (e.g., consumption for cold foil and consumption for hot foil stamping, measured in waste impact), selected in each scenario, for each impact category (e.g., abiotic depletion-elements, abiotic depletion-fossil fuels, acidification, etc.), considering the number of times the process occurs as a multiplying factor; ✔ calculate the environmental impacts for 1,000 labels per selected printing technology (e.g., consumption for cold foil and consumption for hot foil stamping) for each impact category (e.g., abiotic depletion-elements, abiotic depletion-fossil fuels, acidification, etc.),etc.) considering the number of times the process occurs as a multiplying factor; ✔ calculate the environmental impacts for 1,000 labels in ink and varnish consumption by printing technique, for each impact category (abiotic depletion-elements, abiotic depletion-fossil fuels, acidification, etc.), considering the number of times the process occurs as a multiplying factor; ✔ obtain the sum of all the environmental impacts calculated above, which results in the total impact by impact category for 1,000 labels.

[0076] Figure 2 details the main processes 200 of the method according to an example of an embodiment of this invention. The macroprocesses 201 and respective processes 202 involved in the production of the labels are presented, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, said processes already mentioned previously in this report. As a possible embodiment of this invention, the following are preferably considered, but not limited to:the following production macroprocesses: ✔ Materials and waste from reels; ✔ Internal transportation of raw materials and warehouse; ✔ Printing; ✔ Production of cliché, offset plates, and silk screen; ✔ Consumption of inks and varnishes; ✔ Cutting of reels; ✔ Label review process; ✔ Process of decharacterization of printing waste.

[0077] Figure 3, in a flow diagram 300, presents another schematic view of the second phase F2 of the method, focusing on inputs and outputs and the mathematical modeling of the environmental impact calculation. The minimum necessary information for the production process 301 and the minimum necessary information for the printing process 302 are presented, by scenario, for calculating the environmental impact. Such information was already represented in the production configuration data input steps 140 and Selection of materials, printing processes and options by scenario 145, illustrated in figure 1.

[0078] Still in figure 3, as input information,the input stage of the database of potential environmental impacts 303 from OpenLCA is represented, said database already mentioned in figure 1130.

[0079] This information is used in equations to calculate the environmental impact 304 of the materials and printing process, said equations are presented later in this report.

[0080] Next, the impacts of the materials and printing processes mapped by scenario 305 are calculated and, finally, all environmental impacts are totaled to obtain the total environmental impact for 1000 labels per simulated scenario 306.

[0081] The equations used in sizing the impact of the materials and printing processes, mentioned above, in the preferred embodiment of this invention, are presented below; ● materials and waste from coils the dimensioning of the impact of the production of materials and waste from coils: ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^(,^^ 3000 ) ^^ ^^^^^ = (^^º ^^ó^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^ ^^² ) × 1000 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^: impact of category i for the reported material, scaled to 1000 labels; ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^: impact of category i for the material reported from the database of potential environmental impacts 130; ● internal and warehouse transportation of material; the dimensioning of the impact of the internal transportation of the reels and storage in the warehouse was calculated preferably using the following equations: ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ (^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ × á^^^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ × ^^º ^^^^) 3000 where: ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^: impact of category i related to the transport of the area (m²) of coil for the informed configuration; ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^: impact of category i for the transportation of the reported material, from the database of potential environmental impacts 130; OP nº: number of production orders;^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ = (^^º ^^ó^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^ ^^ á^^^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^ ) × 1000 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^: Impact of category i for the transportation of the reported material, scaled to 1000 labels; ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^: impact of category i referring to the transportation of the area (m²) of the reel for the informed configuration; number of labels for the reel area: Total number of labels for 1 (one) operation; ● printing and production process of the offset plate, cliché and silk screen to dimension the impacts of the flexographic, offset, rotogravure and screen printing processes, the following equation is preferably used, regardless of the types of technologies, that is, regardless of the machines used; in addition to the impact of the printing processes, the impacts of the production of the offset plate, cliché and silk screen are also measured, as follows: - printing process to measure the impacts of the flexographic, offset, rotogravure and screen printing processes, the following equation was used, for all the printing technologies that were selected.^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^.^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^ ^ ^^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^^ ^ ^ ^ ã ^ ^ ^ ^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ × ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ × ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ = ( 3000 ) ^^º ^^ó^^^^^^^^^^ where, ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^: impact of category i for the printing process reported, sized for 1000 labels; Process quantity: number of times the printing process occurs in 1 (one) production order, multiplied by the number of production orders; Impact i process reported: Impact of category i for the printing process reported, from the environmental impact database 130; Linear footage: average length to be printed per production order (meters); number of labels: total number of labels for all production orders; − offset plate production process ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^ℎ^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^çã^^ ^^ℎ^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^ × ^^º ^^^^^ ^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^ = ( ) × 1000 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^ ^^ℎ^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^: impact of category i for the production of offset plates, scaled for 1000 labels; ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^çã^^ ^^ℎ^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^: impact of category i for the production of 1 (one) offset plate, from the environmental impact database 130; OP nº: number of production orders; nº of labels: total number of labels for all production orders; − cliché production process ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^çã^^ ^^^^^^^^ℎé × ^^º ^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^ℎé = (^^º ^^ó^^^^^^^^^^ ) × 1000 where: ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^^^^ℎé: impact of category i for cliché production, scaled to 1000 labels; ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^^^^^^çã^^ ^^^^^^^^ℎé: impact of category i for the production of 1 (one) cliché, from the environmental impact database 130; OP nº: number of production orders; nº of labels: total number of labels for all production orders; − silk screen production process ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^^^^^^çã^^ ^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^º ^^^^ × 1000 where: ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^: impact of category i for silk screen production, scaled to 1000 labels; ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^çã^^ ^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^: impact of category i for the production of 1 (one) silk screen, from the environmental impact database 130; OP nº: number of production orders; nº of labels: total number of labels for all production orders; ● Consumption of paints and varnishes the impact of the consumption of paints and varnishes was dimensioned according to the type of substrate, the technique and the technology used; being that, ✔ the substrates considered in the printing process for an embodiment of the present invention, but not necessarily limited to these, as shown in figure 2, are: self-adhesive and heat-shrinkable; ✔ the printing techniques for self-adhesive for one of the embodiments of the present invention, but not necessarily limited to these, as shown in figure 2 are: flexography, rotogravure, screen printing, cold foil and hot stamping;the printing techniques for heat shrinkable for one of the embodiments of the present invention, but not necessarily limited to these, as shown in figure 2 are: flexography and rotogravure; ✔ the printing technologies used for an embodiment of the present invention, but not necessarily limited to these, as shown in figure 2, are for self-adhesives: − flexography; − rotogravure; − offset; − screen printing; − cold and hot stamping; thus, equations were adopted for each combination of printing process, inks / varnishes and technology, as follows: − printing process by type of substrate, technique and by technology: ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^; ^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ... = ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^ ) where: ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^: impact of category i for consumption of inks and varnishes for the flexographic printing process for self-adhesive, dimensioned for 1000 labels; ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^ ^^é^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ã^^ ^^ ^^ ^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^ : impact of category i for the consumption of paints and varnishes using substrate j with printing technique k and with technology l, from the environmental impact database 130; ^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^: impact reduction factor with technology l; for purposes of preferential embodiment of this invention the technology factors are: - flexography for self-adhesive (ECS): 709.751665657177; - flexography for self-adhesive (Mo4): 804.507760895984; - flexography for heat shrinkable: 1578.3989623964; - offset for self-adhesive: 804.507760895984 - rotogravure for self-adhesive: 838.425284874046; - rotogravure for heat shrinkable: 1578.3989623964; - screen printing for self-adhesive: 669; - cold / hot stamping: 382.677283163926; - cold / hot stamping: 382.677283163926; - cold foil and hot stamping printing process as for the stamping printing process, the equation above calculates the impact of film consumption for cold / hot stamping; in the equation below, in turn, the impact of the film application process on the label is calculated: ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^ / ^^^^^^^^^^^^ (^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ × ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ / ^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ) where: Impact i cold / hot stamping process: Impact of category i for the cold / hot stamping printing process, sized for 1000 labels; process quantity: number of times the printing process occurs in 1 (one) production order, multiplied by the number of production orders; Impact i cold / hot stamping: Impact of category i for the cold / hot stamping printing process, from the environmental impact database 130; number of labels: total number of labels for all production orders; ● Coil cutting process to dimension the impact of the coil cutting process, the equation below is used: (^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^ × ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^3000 ) × ^^º ^^^^^^º ^^ó^^^^^^^^^ ) × 1000 where: Impacti cutting process: Impact of category i for the reel cutting process, sized for 1000 labels; Impacti cutting: Impact of category i for the reel cutting process, from the environmental impact database 130; OP nº: Number of production orders; nº labels: Total number of labels for all production orders; ● Label verification process to size the impacts of the label verification processes, the following equation is preferably used, as follows: ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^çã^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^çã^^ × ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^º ^^^^ where: Impacti verification process: impact of category i for the verification process, sized for 1000 labels; Impacti verification: Impact of category i for the verification process, from the 130 environmental impact database; OP nº: Number of production orders; nº labels: Total number of labels for all production orders; ● Waste decharacterization process the sizing of the impact of the printing waste decharacterization process was calculated using the following equation: ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ (^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^ × ^^º ^^^^3000 ) ) ^^º ^^ó^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^ ^^^^ where: Impactoi decharacterization process: impact of category i for the decharacterization process, scaled to 1000 labels; Impactoi decharacterization: impact of category i for the decharacterization process, from the environmental impact database 130; OP nº: number of production orders; nº labels for a OP: total number of labels for a production order; ● Total impact for 1000 labels Finally, after sizing the impact in all stages, the total impact for 1000 labels was calculated, for each label production scenario, using the equation: ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^ = ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ + ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^ Total impact: Sum of the impact for category i considering the entire production process, for 1000 labels.

[0082] After processing the environmental impact calculations, described above, the method presents the summary of the environmental performance of each scenario 400, as illustrated in Figure 4 as an example of an embodiment of the invention with only two comparison scenarios.

[0083] The method reported here can receive updates with information on the environmental impact of new materials, processes, and technologies for calculating the environmental impact. To insert a new process, material, or technology, follow these steps: In phase F1 of the method, as shown in Figure 1: a. return to the Label Life Cycle Process Mapping step 100 and map the inputs and outputs of the new process. If the process already exists, return to the Primary Data Collection step 110; b. calculate the potential environmental impact 120 in the LCA software; and c.generate the file with environmental impact data 130; in phase F2 of the method, as shown in Figure 1: d. update the Production Configuration Data Input 145 for the selection of materials and processes; e. update the method's calculation schedule to dimension the impact of each environmental impact category for 1000 labels based on the equations presented in this report; f. calculate the Environmental Impacts 150; g. issue the Environmental Impact Report 160;

[0084] Figure 4a illustrates the final result of the method, comparing the environmental performance of each scenario 400 in each of the impact categories. In the example in question, scenario 1 performed better in the environmental impact categories global warming, water scarcity, abiotic depletion-elements, acidification, and eutrophication.In the other impact categories, such as abiotic depletion (fossil fuels), ozone depletion, and photochemical oxidation, scenario 2 performed better. This result allows the company to choose materials, printing processes, and other label production options that offer better environmental performance.

[0085] Figure 4b illustrates, as an example, the same environmental performance report graphically 401, visually identifying the best performances in each impact category for each scenario.

[0086] Figure 4c illustrates, as an example, the impact equivalence 402 for some environmental impact categories in known measurements, such as the distance traveled by a popular car in kilometers, the consumption of 500 mL water bottles, the weight in gold, and the consumption of liters of gasoline.

[0087] Therefore, the subject matter of this patent application consists of a method for calculating the environmental impact of packaging labels, said method capable of making comparisons between several different scenarios of packaging production and printing options, thus allowing for assistance in the decision-making process of choosing the most suitable packaging configuration possible from a sustainability perspective.

[0088] The method is innovative in nature, since it allows for the calculation of the potential environmental impact for different configurations in an agile manner (without the direct use of LCA software, which consumes considerable computational time for inventory registration and impact calculation). No publication was found addressing a method for comparing the environmental impact of packaging label printing processes by assessing the product's entire life cycle.

[0089] The invention disclosed herein has industrial application since it can be repeatedly used to assess the environmental impact of a label printing configuration as well as compare such impact with available label production alternatives, and is aimed at any industry that manufactures and sells products on the market.

[0090] It is important to emphasize that the description above has the sole purpose of describing, by way of example, the particular embodiment of the invention in question. Therefore, it becomes clear that modifications, variations and constructive combinations of the elements that perform the same function, substantially in the same way, to achieve the same results remain within the scope of protection of the invention delimited by the attached claims.

Claims

1 / 6 CLAIMS 1. Method for analyzing the environmental impacts of different printing systems on packaging for various scenarios, based on the life cycle assessment (LCA) method, from internal label information and external raw material information, initially considering the following steps: ✔ mapping of the processes involved in the label life cycle (100); ✔ collection of primary data (110), which includes company and supplier data; ✔ calculation of the potential environmental impact (120), CHARACTERIZED by said method including the calculation of the environmental impact of the label printing technology, comprising the following steps: ✔ generation of the file with data on potential environmental impacts of materials and processes used in the production of labels (130).✔ input of production order configuration data (140), through a user interface; ✔ selection of materials, printing processes and options by scenario (145); ✔ calculation of the environmental impacts of the printing processes (150); ✔ environmental impact report of label production (160); 2. Method for analyzing the environmental impacts of the different printing systems on packaging according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that the life cycle assessment method is standardized by ISO 14040 / 44.

3. Method for analyzing the environmental impacts of the different printing systems on packaging according to claims 1 and 2, characterized by the fact that the step of mapping the processes involved in the label life cycle (100) comprises at least the following substeps: ✔ definition of the substrates, inks and printing processes that will be part of the environmental impact LCA;. 2 / 6 ✔ mapping of the processes involved in the label life cycle; ✔ identification of inputs and outputs; ✔ identification of inputs and outputs according to the inventory nomenclature standard of an international LCA database used. 4.Method for analyzing the environmental impacts of different printing systems on packaging according to claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the primary data collection step (110) comprises at least the following substeps: ✔ collection of data containing at least: − description of inputs and outputs; − quantity of inputs and outputs; − unit of measurement used; − useful life of the material and which process of the inventory of the global sustainability database is associated with that input or output to which the release refers; ✔ calculation of energy and material consumption proportions according to the dimensions of the reel; ✔ preparation of the inventory file by process, containing the quantities (mass) and energy consumed, per unit of measurement, of the inputs and outputs of each process; ✔ conversion of the stored data to a format compatible with the platforms / software for calculating sustainability impacts. 5.Method for analyzing the environmental impacts of different printing systems on packaging according to claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the step of calculating the potential environmental impact (120) comprises at least the following substeps: ✔ import of the final LCA inventory file into the open life cycle assessment platform; ✔ definition of the Life Cycle Impact Assessment Method (LCIA) and the environmental impact categories; ✔ calculation, in the open life cycle assessment platform, of the potential environmental impacts in each environmental impact category and export of the respective results to a Database of potential environmental impacts 130 file, in a format suitable for use in the next phase of the method. 6.Method for analyzing the environmental impacts of different printing systems on packaging according to claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the production order configuration step (140) preferably comprises the following input data: ✔ height in millimeters of the label; ✔ width in millimeters of the label; ✔ average length of the reel to be printed per production order, in meters; ✔ average width of the reel to be printed, in meters; ✔ number of production orders. 7.Method for analyzing the environmental impacts of different printing systems on packaging according to claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the step of selecting materials, printing processes and options per scenario (145) includes the input of at least the following information: ✔ identification of the scenario to be considered; ✔ the material to be used in printing the label in the respective scenario; the material options may preferably be self-adhesive or heat-shrinkable, from a list of types available for production, as previously mentioned in this report. 4 / 6 ✔ the printing processes that will occur in the respective scenario and, for each process, whether ink or varnish will be used; ✔ when necessary, whether the printing process involves cold foil or hot stamping, for each scenario. ✔ whether or not the waste, in the respective scenario, should be decharacterized.

8. Method for analyzing the environmental impacts of the different printing systems on packaging according to claims 1 to 7, characterized by the fact that the step of selecting the materials, printing processes and options per scenario (145) comprises the following substeps: ✔ calculating the environmental impacts for 1000 labels per processes involved in production; ✔ calculating the environmental impacts for 1000 labels per printing processes considering the number of times the process occurs as a multiplying factor;✔ calculate the environmental impacts for 1000 labels by film consumption for each printing technology considering the number of times the process occurs as a multiplier factor; ✔ calculate the environmental impacts for 1000 labels by selected printing technology considering the number of times the process occurs as a multiplier factor; ✔ calculate the environmental impacts for 1000 labels in ink and varnish consumption considering the number of times the process occurs as a multiplier factor; ✔ obtain the sum of all the environmental impacts calculated above which results in the total impact by impact category for 1000 labels.

9. Method for analyzing the environmental impacts of the different printing systems on packaging according to claims 1 to 8, CHARACTERIZED by the fact; 5 / 6 that the production processes involved in phase 1 of the method (F1) include at least the following macroprocesses: ✔ materials and waste from the reels; ✔ internal transport of the reels and warehouse; ✔ printing processes; ✔ production of Cliché, offset plates and silk screen; ✔ consumption of inks and varnishes; ✔ cutting of the reels; ✔ verification process; ✔ process of decharacterization of printing waste.

10. Method for analyzing the environmental impacts of the different printing systems on packaging according to claims 1 to 9, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that the calculation of the environmental impact in phases 1 (F1) and 2 (F2) includes at least the following impact categories: ✔ abiotic depletion (minerals and metals); ✔ abiotic depletion (fossil fuels); ✔ acidification; ✔ eutrophication; ✔ global warming; ✔ ozone layer depletion; ✔ photochemical oxidation; ✔ water scarcity. 11.Method for analyzing the environmental impacts of different printing systems on packaging according to claims 1 to 10, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that, in the material selection step (145), the front of the self-adhesive label can include, for each scenario, one of a plurality of materials with acrylic adhesive, in combination with PET liner or glassline. 6 / 6 12. Method for analyzing the environmental impacts of the different printing systems on packaging according to claims 1 to 10, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that, in the material selection step (145), the substrate of the selected heat-shrinkable label can include, for each scenario, PETg and PVC films, in different thicknesses and shrinkage forces.

13. Method for analyzing the environmental impacts of the different printing systems on packaging according to claims 1 to 12, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that the self-adhesive label printing process includes at least one of the following techniques: flexography, rotogravure, screen printing, offset, Cold foil and hot stamping and the printing process for heat-shrinkable includes at least one of the following techniques: flexography and rotogravure. 14.Method for analyzing the environmental impacts of different printing systems on packaging according to claims 1 to 13, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that the printing technology used is considered in calculating the environmental impact of the label.

15. Method for analyzing the environmental impacts of different printing systems on packaging according to claims 1 to 14, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that the total environmental impact resulting in each category is expressed in equivalences for each of the compared scenarios.

16. Method for analyzing the environmental impacts of different printing systems on packaging according to claims 1 to 15, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that it is possible to update said method with new materials, processes and technologies for calculating the environmental impact. 17.Method for analyzing the environmental impacts of different printing systems on packaging according to claims 1 to 16, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that said method is capable of generating environmental performance comparisons of several label printing scenarios simultaneously.

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