New board member signals growing international interest in Open 3P Data Standard for packaging

18th June 2024

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Reflecting the growing opportunities for packaging data harmonisation on an international scale, Ana Garcia, Systems Transformation Manager for the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO), has been recruited to the Standard Custodian Board (SCB) for the Open 3P Data Standard for packaging.

Photograph of Ana Garcia, a woman with dark hair stood up wearing a soft pink jacket smiling into the camera

Reflecting the growing opportunities for packaging data harmonisation on an international scale, Ana Garcia, Systems Transformation Manager for the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO), has been recruited to the Standard Custodian Board (SCB) for the Open 3P Data Standard for packaging.

The free-to-use data standard was launched last year to support efficient and consistent data capture, sharing, and reporting across the packaging supply chain. Collaboratively developed by a consortium of industry partners comprising Dsposal, Ecosurety, Open Data Manchester (ODM) CIC, OPRL and RECOUP, the aim is to make the packaging supply chain more data-enabled and sustainable, and support the transition to a more circular economy within the packaging sector.

“The remit of the SCB is to oversee the future maintenance and development of the Open 3P Data Standard, particularly on an international scale, so we are delighted to welcome Ana onto the board,” says Julian Tait, chief executive of ODM CIC, which acts as the Data Standard Holding Body. “She brings a wealth of experience in both packaging and data-driven systems transformation to support Australia’s ambitious 2025 National Packaging Targets.”

“Data governance plays a crucial role in the success of initiatives like the Digital Product Passport and other global traceability efforts. The Open 3P Data Standard provides a robust framework for organised data collection, enabling the packaging industry to meet diverse regulatory requirements efficiently,” says Ana Garcia.

“I am excited to join the Board and contribute to the improvement of the Open 3P Data Standard by bringing global perspectives. This will help drive process and resource efficiencies across the value chain of this truly global industry.”

Interest in the potential for the Open 3P Data Standard to allow users to share standardised data across and within borders to accommodate different reporting regulations, such as the recently adopted EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, is growing. With many companies operating internationally, a standard that enables consistent and comparable data to be created will drive process and resource efficiencies across the packaging value chain.

ENDS

Media contact: Pat Jennings
Pat.jennings17@outlook.com

Notes to Editors:

Open Standards are standards that are free to adopt, implement and extend, and are usually developed and maintained through consensus and collaboration. They are already widely used – HTML, the standard global markup language for creating Web pages, is one example – and have driven transformational change in areas including open banking and government IT.

The aim of the Open 3P Data Standard, which was developed with funding from UK Research & Innovation’s Smart Sustainable Plastics Packaging Challenge, delivered by Innovate UK, is that it:

  • is a technology agnostic, open and extensible data standard that can be used ‘freely’ by anyone;
  • will enable data to be shared within and beyond the packaging value chain;
  • offers resource and process efficiencies enabling more sustainable practices;
  • balances the needs of stakeholders within and beyond the packaging value chain;
  • satisfies the needs of statutory and regulatory reporting regimes; and
  • is compatible with international reporting regimes and requirements

The Open 3P Standard Custodian Board

The SCB members are:

  • Frances Dickman – Head of Compliance at Colpac Ltd
  • Lucy Knight – Co-founder and Data Lead at The Data Place
  • Steve Morgan – Head of Policy and Infrastructure at RECOUP Ltd
  • Adaobi Obi – Business Intelligence Analyst
  • Tom Shaw – Packaging Analyst at Waitrose & Partners
  • Julian Tait – CEO of Open Data Manchester CIC (Chair)
  • Sophie Walker – CEO of Dsposal Ltd
  • Ana Garcia – Systems Transformation Manager for the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation

Technical and secretariat support for the SCB is provided by Open Data Manchester (ODM) CIC in its role as the Data Standard Holding Body.  ODM is a not-for-profit organisation based in the UK which holds the Intellectual Property Rights to the standard within an asset-lock, which means that the standard cannot be exploited or transferred to private individuals or other companies for their own advantage.