| No longer dismissed as a fad or a function that will | | | | reduced by 65% as the messenger bag is made |
| yield little ROI, sustainability is now at the | | | | from 100% recycled materials. |
| forefront of retailer and supplier corporate | | | | Change Materials: Utilize virgin materials from |
| objectives. Whether they buy into the warnings | | | | renewable sources and design for recycling and |
| about climate change or dismiss it as a bunch of | | | | re-use. One example was a Lexmark print |
| hot air, trading partners recognize that green | | | | cartridge package made with SmartCycle 150 |
| initiatives offer a chance to build their brands and | | | | PET, which replaces PVC, and can be recycled. |
| drive cost savings. As a result, new strategies | | | | Another example was from a company which |
| aimed at reducing waste and conforming to | | | | supplies Cargo Cosmetics with VegetalPlastic for |
| environmental best practices in packaging are | | | | one of its make-up lines. The tube is made from |
| taking root. | | | | PLA, a product that saves 60% of fossil fuels |
| At the VCF VisionSync 2009 Conference in | | | | compared with traditional polymer and reduces |
| Tampa, FL, June Anderson, partner at the | | | | greenhouse gases by 90%. Also, the carton is |
| Packaging Knowledge Group, said the business | | | | made out of recycle paper infused with wildflower |
| case for sustainability was given a major boost | | | | seeds. Just moisten the carton and plant it! |
| from the world's biggest retailer. Walmart is | | | | Reduce Materials: Use only the amount of material |
| leading the way with its sustainable packaging | | | | necessary and optimize product design. Nestle |
| initiative and its plans to develop eco-ratings for | | | | Water claims to have the "lightest half liter |
| the products it sells, which she said will force | | | | beverage container in the world" that uses 30% |
| other retailers to boost their sustainability efforts. | | | | less plastic than previous containers and contains a |
| "Walmart will be asking all of you to help it meet | | | | label that is 30% smaller, she noted. |
| its packaging and sustainability goals." This means | | | | Improve Cube Utilization: Redesign packaging for |
| there is no better time for industry players to put | | | | optimal cube utilization and easier transport. |
| packaging at the forefront of their cost-saving | | | | Anderson showed photos of watermelons grown |
| and sustainability efforts. | | | | in boxes so they would be square and easier to |
| She said organizations should start by developing | | | | stack in the retail stores and during the shipping |
| their vision and goals around sustainable packaging, | | | | process. In another case, Sam's Club has changed |
| gather data and identify key metrics that will help | | | | the design of milk jugs to a square shape. The |
| them measure and assess performance. They | | | | result is that trucks hold 4,707 more gallons (9% |
| should observe what peer companies are doing in | | | | of capacity) which reduces shipments and saves |
| designing products and packaging and develop | | | | 667,000 metric tons of carbon being released into |
| programs for continuous improvement. Some of | | | | the atmosphere, she said. The down side is that |
| the metrics currently being measured in many | | | | milk is harder to pour from square jugs and some |
| organizations include reducing emissions and | | | | consumers are literally crying over spilt milk. |
| waste, cutting back on water and electricity | | | | Ultimately, Anderson said, Sam's Club must weight |
| consumption, and utilizing alternative resources in | | | | the pros and cons of this new design and |
| making products and packaging. | | | | estimate whether the savings outweigh the cost |
| Companies must also consider the elements of | | | | of consumer complaints. |
| packaging that they cannot afford to lose. They | | | | Change Energy Sources: Use renewable energy |
| cannot compromise on: | | | | sources for manufacturing and distribution and |
| Containment: The ability to hold the product | | | | participate in renewable energy credit programs |
| Protection: Maintaining the integrity of the product | | | | to drive demand. In one case that Anderson cited, |
| and protecting it from the environment while | | | | Origins cosmetics uses paperboard for its outer |
| protecting the environment from the product | | | | packaging. This includes 100% renewable energy |
| Communication: Communication with the | | | | for paper production, converting and printing. |
| consumer is paramount. Packaging must contain | | | | Change the Product: Optimize product design for |
| information about the product's value so it will sell, | | | | less packaging need. The widespread use of |
| as well as required regulatory information | | | | concentrated laundry detergent serves as a good |
| Utility/Convenience: Package features that convey | | | | example, she said. It has three times less water in |
| product function and performance and addresses | | | | it than traditional detergents. A 32 ounce bottle will |
| ease-of-use | | | | wash 32 loads, while the traditional 100 ounce |
| Today, Anderson noted, materials and converting | | | | bottle is needed to wash the same amount. The |
| processes are mostly fossil fuel based, although | | | | results are 55% less plastic used, 50 million pounds |
| some cutting edge companies are making the | | | | of plastic and 300 million gallons of water saved |
| conversion to renewable energy sources. "In the | | | | annually, the elimination of 750 million square feet |
| future, you will see more and more companies | | | | of corrungated warehousing and reduced shipping |
| making the transition. " She cited the examples of | | | | costs as 200% more product is shipped per truck. |
| wind turbines on top of the exterior lighting at | | | | For the retailer, the product uses only half the |
| some Walmart stores. In determining carbon | | | | shelf-space. In May 2008, Walmart switched its |
| footprints, "it is a well known fact that nearly | | | | entire laundry category to concentrates. |
| 75% of the impact comes from the supply chain | | | | Anderson also cited that case of Nike, which |
| and is unreported." Ultimately, many changes in | | | | introduced the Nike Trash Talk line of basketball |
| business practices will be required. | | | | shoes made entirely from manufacturing waste. |
| Anderson identified six steps to achieving | | | | The upper shoe is pieced from leather and |
| sustainable packaging that makes sound financial | | | | synthetic wastes from the factory floor and the |
| sense. | | | | mid-sole uses scrap-ground foam from factory |
| Eliminate Materials: Optimize the design of | | | | production. |
| packaging that reduces space and eliminates | | | | Ultimately, sustainability can result in sustainable |
| unnecessary materials. As an example, she | | | | savings and significant brand boosting, so |
| showed a lightweight HP Notebook computer that | | | | Anderson urged those in attendance to develop a |
| is sold in a messenger bag. This has reduced | | | | clear business strategy for developing more |
| consumer packaging by 97%, a tremendous cost | | | | environmentally-friendly packaging that gets |
| savings. Moreover, overall packaging waste was | | | | positive notice and builds consumer loyalty. |