structured to address the topical and critical areas for attention; it identifies and explains what are seen to be the main issues and discusses the responses being made to them in different parts of the world. More specifically, this book is intended to: ¿ clarify the facts and dispel many of the myths surrounding the environmental aspects of packaging ¿ explain and emphasise packaging's essential role in the workings of human society ¿ review legislative and regulatory developments, the trends and the extent to which they are converging ¿ consider what constitutes environmentally responsible packaging manufacture ¿ discuss and compare the relative environmental merits and differ­ ences between the various packaging materials and systems ¿ address the requirements for identifying and controlling manufac­ turing impacts and the role of environmental auditing in this process