tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75088708037511655652024-03-05T06:33:37.905-05:00CardPak: BlogCardPak Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05994528055033685505noreply@blogger.comBlogger51125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7508870803751165565.post-75729616855163143642011-06-27T13:05:00.001-04:002011-06-27T13:05:48.890-04:00CardPak Announces Senior Management PromotionsSOLON, OH – June 22, 2011 – CardPak, the pioneer in developing and manufacturing environmentally sustainable packaging, announced the promotions of four senior managers. Greg Tisone, formerly CardPak’s vice president, general manager, was selected by the Board of Directors to serve as president. Jerry Lamm, previously the company’s chief financial officer, was promoted to vice president, chief financial officer. Tom Weber, director of sales, was promoted to vice president, general manager. Seth Duckworth, recently hired as the central region manager is now the company’s national sales manager. Messrs. Lamm, Weber, and Duckworth report to Mr. Tisone, CardPak president.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>CardPak’s senior management team is made up of industry experts with over 100 years of sales and manufacturing experience. Their expertise has helped catapult the company’s growth and leadership position in the sustainable packaging industry.<br />
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Mr. Tisone has a Chemical Engineering degree from Youngstown State University and an MBA from Case Western Reserve University. Under his charge, the company achieved world-class excellence in several benchmarks related to safety, quality, customer service, and operational efficiency. CardPak received two EXCELLENCE awards in the 2010 National Paperboard Packaging Competition sponsored by the Paperboard Packaging Council (PPC), and three safety awards also from the PPC. In addition, the company qualified for three PPC Director’s Safety Awards in 2010.<br />
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Mr. Lamm joined CardPak as controller in 2007. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, an MBA, and is a six-sigma green belt. Mr. Lamm has nearly 30 years of financial experience within various manufacturing and technology related industries.<br />
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Mr. Weber, a 35-year veteran of the paperboard packaging industry, joined CardPak in 2008 as Sales Director. Prior to CardPak, Mr. Weber served as Vice President/GM for Caraustar Industries and Vice President for Core Systems in Painesville, Ohio. Mr. Weber earned a business administration bachelor’s degree from the University of Akron.<br />
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The newest member of the CardPak management team, Mr. Duckworth, most recently served as Tegrant/Alloyd Brands’ Director of Sales for the Midwest region prior to joining CardPak in March. Mr. Duckworth earned a bachelor’s degree in economics management from Ohio Wesleyan University.<br />
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Mr. Duckworth had these comments in regards to his joining CardPak; “I’m thrilled to be part of the CardPak team. I’ve watched the company evolve and change over the years to be recognized as a “customer focused” leader in sustainable packaging. Clearly, there has been a major shift to more fiber-based packaging versus resin-based; Cardpak is well positioned to assist our customers in that endeavor. CardPak provides innovative design solutions with a material neutral approach. We recognize we must be flexible, reliable, and competitively priced as a supplier to help our customers win!”CardPak Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05994528055033685505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7508870803751165565.post-7827781483845863452011-05-17T16:06:00.003-04:002011-05-17T16:07:29.015-04:00Green with Envy<b>Green with Envy</b><br />
Credit: By Jamie Matusow, Editor -- Copyright © 2011 Rodman Publishing.<br />
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From Unilever to L’Oréal, Aveda to Lather, beauty brand manufacturers large and small have taken great strides to deliver the sustainable packaging consumers are asking for—but they couldn’t do it without the extreme innovation of the industry’s packaging providers. Here, we look at some who are blazing the way and why they may inspire others who wish they were as far along on the compliant path to customer loyalty and boardroom approval.<br />
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Green consumer consciousness is on the rise, and packaging—the “face” of nearly every beauty product—has become the focus for consumers’ ever-more educated eyes looking for signs that they are making eco-responsible purchasing decisions.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>In Mintel’s February 2011 Green Living Report (a U.S. survey), 66% of respondents said packaging should be recycled—that it influences their purchases. Almost half—44%—said they purchase beauty products that use recycled paper.<br />
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Nica Lewis, senior analyst for the global market research firm, says, “This is a big percentage for consumer preference—even 1% would be sizable.” <br />
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<b>In the Dumps</b><br />
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According to the EPA, in 2009, Americans produced about 243 million tons of municipal solid waste (MSW), or about 4.3 pounds of waste per person per day. Of this, the agency says 33.8% is recovered and recycled or composted, 11.9% is burned at combustion facilities, and the remaining 54.3% is disposed of in landfills. <br />
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The realities of packaging waste have come to bear on consumers, and they have increasingly embraced sustainability messages.<br />
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<b>A Good Start</b><br />
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For manufacturers, from giant multinationals to local indie labels, building an enviable image of an environmentally conscious brand often begins with the packaging.<br />
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Michael Hughes, senior packaging manager, Unilever, explains: “We have conducted an extensive lifecycle analysis of 1,600 products across 14 countries accounting for 70% of our sales. This has given us an unparalleled insight into how we prioritize our efforts and resources across our personal care and foods brands. We purchase over two billion tons of packaging every year, so our analysis helps to ensure we focus on where we can make the biggest difference.”<br />
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Unilever’s efforts toward sustainability have also netted the company favorable public opinion. In a poll by SustainAbility and GlobeScan, Unilever ranked at the top of companies most committed to sustainability. It was chosen by 15% of respondents, and ranked as one of the top two firms in Europe.<br />
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A recent report by UK-based market research company Pira International determined that sustainability is emerging as a key trend in luxury packaging as upscale marketers look to promote their environmentally responsible credentials through their choice of packaging materials.<br />
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Seri McClendon, CEO, Clean Agency, a member of the Sustainability Consortium, an independent organization of partners who aim to “work collaboratively together, developing an approach that drives better understanding, standardization, and informed decision making” regarding sustainable products and packaging—and which claims L’Oréal as a key member—says starting with packaging materials makes good sense. “At Clean, we advise our consumer product clients to start addressing environmental impacts in three areas of their business: operations, products and packaging. Packaging is often the best place to start. There are influences in the marketplace that are driving these changes, which include retailer pressure, potential government regulation and eventually, consumer backlash. The benefits of improving packaging outweigh not addressing it at all.”<br />
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<b>Making Claims</b><br />
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While Mintel’s Green Living Study focused on U.S. consciousness, Lewis emphasizes that interest in eco-friendly packaging is a global concern: “There has been a significant increase overall in claims for eco-friendly packaging in all beauty and personal care categories over the last few years.” She says there has been double-digit growth year over year for the past two years. From ’08-’09, there was a 57% increase in global claims for eco-friendly packaging. From ’09-’10, there’s been a 75% increase. In the U.S., there’s been a 78% increase—slightly more than the global average. Claims have been particularly high in Japan, increasing 313% in 2010, though their total launches of beauty products are less than 10% of the global share.<br />
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The largest increase globally has been in deodorants and fragrance, according to Mintel stats. From ’09 -’10, claims increased 143% for deodorant products touting eco-friendly packaging; 130% for fragrance.<br />
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“Claims” refer to products that use recycled components or have a package that can be recycled, but specifics are often difficult to decipher. While the EU has developed certain regulations, the U.S. lags behind.<br />
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McClendon, of Clean Agency, notes, “The EU is pretty far ahead of the U.S. because of government mandates that require companies to meet higher production standards and to be more accountable for the environmental impacts of their packaging once it’s thrown away. The U.S.-based businesses are just starting to understand the positive impact of addressing sustainability in their packaging, including cost savings and consumer appreciation, which can result in increased sales and market share.”<br />
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<b>Customer Interest</b><br />
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With sustainable packaging as a growing marketing platform, suppliers report that there is increasing demand from beauty brands for eco-friendly packaging—and buyers are well-informed when making decisions.<br />
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Jonathan Dudlak, general manager, Chicago Paper Tube, says: “ I can’t remember a single cosmetics or personal-care client in the past year who has not inquired about the contents of our raw materials, the ‘greenness’ of our manufacturing process, the recyclability or compostability of our packaging, or all of the above. Five years ago it was a rarity for anyone to even ask, and as little as a year ago most people were content to take your word for it. Nowadays you better have the certifications and paperwork to back it up!”<br />
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Jessica Kimbrough, vice president, marketing, RockTenn Consumer Packaging, notes, “From a business-to-business standpoint, we are noticing a trend with our customers toward understanding forestry certifications and the benefits of having suppliers’ manufacturing processes verified externally.”<br />
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Kimbrough adds, “Our customers are increasingly interested in investigating the materials and processes used in manufacturing their packaging and developing packaging with sustainable benefits, without impacting the package’s on-shelf appeal. Paperboard packaging is well positioned for this demand as it is a recyclable packaging option that offers high print quality and graphic reproduction to promote brand equity.”<br />
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Dudlak agrees: “Almost everyone we sell to wants to know the total PCW [post consumer waste] content of their finished piece, and in most cases, it ends up on the label.” He adds, “FSC [Forest Stewardship Council] and SFI [Sustainable Forestry Initiative] certification is something people ask about all the time. Our paper suppliers and printers are all compliant with one or the other, or both.”<br />
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<b>Materials Approach</b><br />
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Advancements in using eco-friendly materials from sustainable forests, or others such as recyclables, bioplastics, biodegradables and post consumer regrind board stocks, have all contributed to the recent wave of innovative, eco-friendly packaging trends in the beauty industry. But while brands may strive to emulate the successful approaches of icons such as Aveda and Method, there’s no simple formula to a very complex process, and often they start by taking small steps.<br />
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“The best way to go about creating an eco-friendly line of packaging is predicated on the product, industry, and marketplace in which the products are sold,” advises Tim Budic, marketing manager, CardPak. “There is no general solution or cookie-cutter way to go about it; each customer has their own goals and barriers that need to be addressed. Yes, material reduction, weight reduction, alternative materials are all great places to start, but it goes well beyond that and has to be reviewed on a case-by-case basis to reap the greatest success.”<br />
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Dudlak says that because Chicago Paper Tube’s products are all custom made, “We typically let the client decide how far they want to go with their sustainability efforts and present the different options, and over the past few years these options have gotten more elaborate. For some,” he says, “switching from a polybag or plastic bottle or jar to any kind of fiber canister is already a big move in the right direction. For others, they need every bit of the container down to the printing stock to be 100% recycled paperboard, soy inks, biodegradable glue, and no metal or plastic at all on the package.” He says most clients fall somewhere in-between. <br />
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<b>Material Whirl</b><br />
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Often swapping one packaging material for another can make a big difference, especially if it also makes the manufacturing process more energy-efficient—but it’s not always the case.<br />
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Josh Dunn, Avery Dennison sustainability director, materials businesses—label and packaging materials, specialty materials, says, “Two key trends we’re seeing involve reducing the amount of materials in both packaging and labeling, and the development of packaging and labeling materials from bio pathways. We’re beginning to see the exact same chemical substances, PET for example, coming from plant-based sources versus petroleum-based sources. The availability of materials sourced from bio pathways will increase, as their economic viability becomes more in-line with petroleum-based sources. But lifecycle sustainability has to be part of the equation. Just because a product may come from a plant-based source, doesn’t automatically make it sustainable.”<br />
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The substitution of packaging materials, including paperboard alternatives, bioplastics and biodegradables, is a trend noted by Dudlak. “While much of our product line is secondary packaging for premium products, lately we’ve had many clients looking for creative ways to replace the primary packaging for items that have always been relegated to plastic, metal or glass with a paperboard alternative. We are already using special papers that can take the place of plastic or wax as a canister liner. Bioplastics, while they have their limitations, have emerged as a suitable replacement for applications where a non-porous, biodegradable barrier is required.”<br />
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Dudlak says most people don’t realize that simply using even a standard can liner like coated aluminum foil adds an almost negligible amount of metal and plastic to an otherwise 100% recycled paperboard package. “We’re excited about some new products we’re developing for later this year that will offer biodegradable alternatives to plastic for several different branches of the cosmetics industry,” he adds.<br />
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Lombardi Design and Manufacturing, a supplier of injection-molded components and packaging to the cosmetics and fragrance industries, has created eco-friendly packaging using Tenite, an Eastman Chemical cellulosic material made primarily from wood pulp.<br />
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Having used cellulosics in applications including the cap of the award-winning Sean John “I Am King” fragrance pack, Lombardi says, “We’re committed to offering environmentally sound alternatives for packaging needs.”<br />
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The Freeport, NY, manufacturer recently created a Tenite gift box, which is ideal for a fragrance collection. “This type of product has typically been made of general purpose polystyrene,” says Lombardi. “We’ve chosen a different material out of concern for the environment.” According to Lombardi, Tenite offers a number of advantages: “It dries faster than traditional copolyesters and is processed at lower temperatures, and also boasts excellent chemical resistance and the ability to mold thicker parts with smaller gates and better gate aesthetics.”<br />
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The classic looking, clear containers not only provide a sleek and practical way to display items at retail, they can easily be repurposed, another eco-friendly feature. The gift box design can be customized in various colors, sizes and shapes.<br />
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What’s more, Lombardi says, “All of our display cases are manufactured domestically and our products are manufactured with 83 percent renewable energy produced by hydropower.”<br />
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Viva Healthcare Packaging is another supplier that has taken a traditional product and made it more sustainable.<br />
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Darryl Laing, director of business development and marketing for the firm, explains, “Our new tube technology uses injection molding to produce a 100% polypropylene [category 5] tube.We include a multi-color label printed on polypropylene film inside the mold so that once molded, the graphics are literally embedded in the wall of the tube, making one single contiguous tube.”<br />
Laing says the advantages of Viva’s tubes are threefold: Embedding the graphics by an in-mold labeling process avoids using glue (which contains hazardous ingredients) to apply the graphics; the entire package, including the tube, cap and in-mold label are made of polypropylene, so once emptied, the consumer can simply throw it in the recycling bin; and the manufacturing process involves only two steps (printing the label and injection molding the tube), while extruded or laminated tubes normally require at least five to six steps, with waste and buffer storage necessary between each step.<br />
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In addition, Laing says the polypropylene in Viva’s tubes contains the lowest CO2e emissions by weight compared to all other categories of plastic, and generates the least amount of CO2e emissions to both produce the raw material and process it in manufacturing. The tubes are produced in Viva’s plant in Toronto, Canada, which accesses its grid power from one of the highest proportion of renewable energy sources in North America. For distribution consideration, the tubes are made of the least dense and lightest plastic.<br />
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<b>Lightening Up</b><br />
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Reduction—of both the weight and the amount of packaging materials used—has been a key factor in brand manufacturers’ move toward sustainable packaging.<br />
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Hughes says that by 2020, Unilever will reduce the overall weight of packaging used across its brands by a third. “We will do this by light weighting materials, optimizing design and eliminating unnecessary packaging. We are also actively looking for opportunities to develop re-usable packaging.” The company’s three-pronged approach to support recycling includes: 1) increasing recycling rates (partnerships with NGO, governments and industry organizations); 2) making it easier for packaging to be recycled; and 3) by 2020, increasing the recycled content of its packaging to maximum content levels.<br />
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Unilever’s Suave Professionals shampoo bottle weight was recently reduced by 17% and post consumer recycled content (PCR) is now included at 25%. Dove Men+ Care Body Wash also contains 25% PCR, and Suave Kids bottle weight was reduced by 13%.<br />
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In some cases, innovative labels are absorbing some of the weighty functions of packaging.<br />
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Renae Kulis, Avery Dennison global marketing director, Health & Beauty, Home Care, says labels are changing the face of the shelf with new printing methods, new substrates, and new closure systems all coming from the label market.<br />
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Kulis says, “As packaging transforms to lighter and compact, each component of the package is asked to play multiple functions. In labeling, the objective is not only to enable shelf appeal and communicate information, but transforming to take on the functional components traditionally covered by the other elements of the package—including container thickness/rigidity, closure, and dispensing system.<br />
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Avery Dennison’s Curve Appeal is a patent-pending system encompassing special Fasson Curvy film labels that work together in a machine application process. This system labels complex, curved surfaces far beyond other current labeling processes, says Kulis. Fasson Curvy film labels combine a wraparound look with the shelf appeal of pressure-sensitive graphics. They create up to 30% more space for primary labeling than flat surfaces, and reduce the need for two-ply label constructions by allowing larger back panels to carry more product information or multi-language information.<br />
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At RockTenn, Kimbrough says there’s been a trend toward brands’ consolidation of the packaging footprint along product lines, as well as a move toward “right-sized packaging,” where packaging is designed around the product and elements that make packaging larger are eliminated. More one-piece carton designs and/or insert card designs that limit the use of poly vac trays have been in demand.<br />
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CardPak’s Budic says that they, too, have had great success initiating the conversion to eco-friendly packaging for numerous clients. “We pride ourselves on our ability to develop sustainable packaging solutions that make sense for our customers, so they can pass along the benefits to their customer.”<br />
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One recent example was Beiersdorf’s Nivea for Men multi-package, which was originally designed as a PVC clamshell and then shipped to various club stores in slotted trays. Budic explains, “We replaced the PVC plastic with a trapped paperboard design that provided a significant cost reduction in primary package materials. In addition to cost reduction, we eliminated 80% of the overall plastic materials, increased the Walmart scorecard by 63%, and replaced the remaining plastic with RPET blisters, which led to 100% elimination of PVC usage. Also, the overall packaging weight was reduced by 30% compared to the original, full clamshell package.”<br />
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<b>A Clear Choice</b><br />
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With increased focus on recycling as a key sustainability option, glass has clearly become an asset for cosmetics and skin care products as well as for fragrance.<br />
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At glass manufacturer Grupo Pavisa, Tania Castillo says, “We have seen two trends: weight reduction on glass packaging; and glass recycling, which offers savings mainly on raw materials and energy.” Castillo says there’s been an increase in demand for their products. “Glass,” she says, “has once again gained ground, and we think it is because of the special glass features that make it a unique option, and also because it’s overall environmentally friendly, since it’s 100% recyclable.”<br />
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Grupo Pavisa uses raw material as well as two types of recycled glass: external and internal. The external recycled glass is mostly domestic, used for bottles for wine, champagne, drugs and perfumes; it is recycled from 5% up to 80% depending on the color of glass the company manufactures. Over 42% of this recycled glass comes from the domestic sector, being the main production of cullet. The internal recycling is based on defective glass bottles from the company’s manufacturing lines, which are eventually crushed and stored for use as raw materials on new glass batches.<br />
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Substantial savings in terms of energy and raw materials—as well as less harmful emissions to the environment—have attracted lots of brand interest in SGD’s Infinite Glass, the first and only recyclable glass made of 100% post consumer recycled cullet, which embodies the “cradle-to-cradle” approach.<br />
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Louise de Bengy, market manager-perfumery & cosmetics, SGD, says, “Since we launched this ecological material, we closely followed the eco-design strategies of the major players in the market, and we feel the interest for ecological packaging led to two phenomenons: a tendency to switch from plastic to glass containers, and also a new interest in glass for the skin care and makeup segments.” Among the first beauty brands to launch new products in Infinite Glass in Europe are Clarins-owned Kibio, with its Gentle Exfoliating Cream, Natures et Découvertes’ Terre d’Oc, as well as a range of L’Occitane products.<br />
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<b>The Future of Packaging </b><br />
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While these brands are among many who have made enviable leaps and bounds in producing eco-friendly packaging, there remains a long road to travel, with a multitude of unknowns and challenges lining the way. But it’s also a direction that shows increasing approval by consumers and increased savings by corporations, so it remains a path seemingly destined for growth.<br />
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As to the future of packaging standards, Mintel’s Lewis speculates, “It’s anyone’s guess, but probably in the way formulations have moved. Rather than mandating that products must be in sustainable packaging, to make the claim, certain criteria must be met.”CardPak Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05994528055033685505noreply@blogger.com0Solon, OH 44139, USA41.383063 -81.44987170000001741.343748 -81.498723200000015 41.422378 -81.401020200000019tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7508870803751165565.post-54075240092682528442011-04-26T10:33:00.001-04:002011-04-26T10:33:23.383-04:00CardPak, Inc., the Paperboard Packaging Council and Solon Schools Team Up to Celebrate Earth Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI_XAtj2u2YBS939j-TO3k73vjWDaSaalEmhVClSm6jaHgZd9cSyj615Rp9MVPAjpeqW2BUTRRz8OmpOXArszFMeK2AYOOm3Lr40D0w1lnSCpQCnb_Rkktp8A_ujgYlKkrKHKSrze9s_B0/s1600/P1000218.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI_XAtj2u2YBS939j-TO3k73vjWDaSaalEmhVClSm6jaHgZd9cSyj615Rp9MVPAjpeqW2BUTRRz8OmpOXArszFMeK2AYOOm3Lr40D0w1lnSCpQCnb_Rkktp8A_ujgYlKkrKHKSrze9s_B0/s200/P1000218.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><i>SOLON, OH – April 25, 2011</i> – CardPak, the pioneer in developing and manufacturing environmentally-sustainable packaging, donated tree saplings to teach Roxbury Elementary school students about the natural renewability of paperboard packaging. Jerry Lamm, CFO of CardPak (<a href="http://www.cardpak.com/">www.cardpak.com</a>), explained, “we’re thrilled to once again have the opportunity to teach elementary school kids in our community about renewable resources like paperboard packaging. The TICCIT program (Trees Into Cartons, Cartons Into Trees, pronounced “ticket”) is a great way to demonstrate how fun and easy it is to take care of the Earth.” <br />
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<a name='more'></a>Fourth graders brought paperboard milk cartons from home and CardPak donated over 100 saplings and soil. The students planted the saplings in the paperboard cartons. At home, the students poke holes in the carton and plant it directly in the ground. The cartons provide protection and a natural water funnel for the new trees. As the trees grow, the cartons breakdown and provide a natural biodegradable fertilizer. This completes the trees into cartons, cartons into trees cycle. “We appreciate the warm welcome we received from the principal and teachers at Roxbury School. It’s such a great opportunity to engage the future leaders of America in a fun and earth-friendly activity”, said Mr. Lamm.<br />
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The TICCIT program celebration took place on April 20th at Roxbury Elementary School, located just 2.3 miles from CardPak’s worldwide headquarters. Roxbury Elementary School Principal, Carla Rodenbucher, was pleased to receive CardPak’s donation of over 100 tree saplings in celebration of Earth Day. “At Roxbury, we’re all about providing our students with hands-on learning opportunities like the TICCIT program. What better way to teach kids about the benefits associated with paperboard recycling and planting trees, than providing them with the materials to make it happen?” explained Ms. Rodenbucher. <br />
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CardPak’s Jerry Lamm, CFO; Gayle Wellman, human resources coordinator; and, Tim Budic, marketing manager, helped the students plant their tree saplings.CardPak Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05994528055033685505noreply@blogger.com0Solon, OH 44139, USA41.383063 -81.44987170000001741.343748 -81.498723200000015 41.422378 -81.401020200000019tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7508870803751165565.post-26733811671220350032011-04-07T21:46:00.026-04:002011-05-17T16:05:48.693-04:00The Fine Print of Contract Packaging<b>The Fine Print of Contract Packaging</b><br />
Credit: Written by Steve Katz, Associate Editor -- Copyright © 2011 Rodman Publishing.<br />
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Contract packaging takes on a variety of definitions, but one thing is agreed upon: As brands look to streamline their operations, suppliers that offer a diverse set of capabilities repeatedly sign on the dotted line.<br />
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It’s been said that it’s not easy to pin down a definition of contract packaging. And while the phrase means different things to different people, one thing is clear: Those that offer these services in the beauty packaging industry are innovative and versatile suppliers, capable of meeting a portion—or all—of a brand’s packaging requirements.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>Tim Budic, marketing manager for CardPak, discusses why contract packaging’s definition is difficult to articulate, noting that it changes depending upon if you are in the business of contract packaging, or just a supplier to the process or industry. “It is in general hard to define because there are so many levels to the process and those levels are always in flux... the definition could seemingly change from project to project,” he says. “Contract packaging could be synonymous with contract manufacturing, but I think that most supply chain people view the two as different.”<br />
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The consensus in the beauty industry echoes Budic’s thoughts. It seems that contract manufacturing companies are often thought of as those that handle the product itself, like formulations and blends, for example. Meanwhile, contract packaging is all about the primary and secondary packaging, as well as the assembling of gift sets, samples and other components.<br />
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The Contract Packaging Association website defines contract packaging, or more accurately, the types of services provided by its members, as follows: “Association members perform all packaging functions from the simplest to the most complex and from the glamorous to the hazardous. Members’ packaging services range from manual and semi-automatic to full-speed, high performance packaging lines.”With that said, contract packaging covers a diverse set of capabilities.<br />
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Tara Abraham, owner and co-CEO of Accel Inc., says there is a general perception that contract packaging companies focused on manual to semi-automatic solutions are small, “mom and pop” type establishments generally doing business on a project-by-project basis, and this, she adds, isn’t always the case. She says, “Over the 15 years Accel has been in business, it has tried to change how it is perceived by offering a wide range of services and technologies that showcase its ability to meet client demands.”<br />
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Accel offers a variety of packaging specialties that include hand- and semi-automated assembly, shrink wrapping/banding, thermoforming, glue tipping and flow wrapping.<br />
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And what about contract manufacturing? “We believe that manufacturing really implies primary components of the product,” Abraham says, “while packaging is a secondary process that comes after manufacturing. For example, we put together gift sets with a variety of personal care components for a client. Contract manufacturers manufacture the bottles and the various lotions and also fill the bottles with the lotion. Accel Inc. takes the filled bottles and puts together the gift sets. Once the gift sets themselves are complete, we are responsible to ensure they can withstand the rigors of shipping; our goal is to have the gift set look the same on the store shelf as it did coming off our line,” she adds.<br />
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Regardless of how exactly it’s defined, the contract packaging sector has dramatically changed over the past few years. “From a factory-driven business organized by type of commodities, it has evolved into a full-service business driven by design, innovation and supply chain management,” says Greg Mager, co-chairman and founder of Maesa.Maesa envisions the contract arena as being just one part of a more holistic approach to beauty category management. “This is a more innovative approach for an industry known to need at least 15 different factories to make one fragrance. An increasing number of beauty brands and retailers are looking for turnkey supply partners that function as an extension of their own business. This more progressive approach necessitates a fully integrated organization that can manage and control the entire process from conception to completion,” Mager says.<br />
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Brent Burdick, director of operations for Paragon Packaging, points out that contract packaging is often used for secondary packaging, whereby customer-approved components are packaged into finished products—and quality is held to the highest standards.<br />
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“This is accomplished through uniform workmanship standards utilizing the precepts of skillful examples, specifications and procedures. The concept of secondary packaging can be priceless to a variety of companies by providing the finesse of line packaging, which can extend productivity and eventually lower costs. The end result allows the customer the chance to reach their target market,” he says. For Paragon, most of its contract packaging work relates to cosmetic and personal care products such as hair care products, powders, brushes, gift set and display assembly, among others.<br />
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<b>Strong Relationships</b><br />
Strong relationships with brand owners, as well as being equipped with the right knowledge, are integral to working successfully with a contract packaging company.<br />
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“Contract packaging companies typically have a strong relationship with the customer, simply due to the understanding that they are providing multiple elements on any given project, if not the entire project,” says CardPak’s Budic.<br />
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A single supplier may have a relationship with a customer, but the scope and reach is limited to that one item being produced and supplied. “Contract packagers are not typically limited to the narrow confines of a single item, product line, or customer contact. Contract packagers also have a greater general knowledge of the customer and the project,” says Budic. “They may not be experts at any one specific aspect of the project, but their general expertise is the foundational base for a project’s success.”<br />
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Logan Wertkin, marketing and sales for Cosmetic Solutions, points out that the right partnership goes a long way in putting a brand owner’s mind at ease. “The biggest advantage of working with a contract packaging supplier is minimizing your risk. By taking the ‘manufacturing’ component away from most clients, they are free to focus on their areas of expertise while knowing their goods will be delivered,” she says.<br />
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<b>Bringing Fresh Ideas</b><br />
As is so often the case in the beauty packaging space, innovation is everything. Contract suppliers gain business when they bring fresh ideas to the client.<br />
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“The vast majority of innovations and advances in the packaging world are developed by independent contract packagers as they compete in an open, free-market,” states Margery Woodin, VP of marketing and sales for Identipak. “This is a tremendous advantage for outsourcing companies, for they are routinely presented with innovative, out-of-the-box ideas.”<br />
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Identipak is growing its services to include manufacturing of stick packs and fill of powder and larger size liquid pouching. “Although known for our detailed die-cut sachets, we have recognized there is a need for high-speed filling of larger fills, usually over 1oz. These new production lines are great for resale sachets of hair treatments, face masks, and any other beauty item that requires a multiple use dosage,” Woodin says.<br />
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Accel’s Abraham says that when a client involves Accel up front by providing initial project packaging specs, Accel will explore ways to improve upon the initial design quality, assembly speed and overall cost. “This really allows us to be proactive through innovation—rather than reactive at the end of the process without input into the design. We have engineers on staff that review the packaging and make recommendations to reduce overall packaging costs. By making the simple recommendation to move from bubble wrap to a shrink band in a pack-out, we decreased the amount of material (and environmental impact) by over 100,000 cubic feet and reduced the time at the store to unwrap finished goods for display by over 4,100 hours,” she says.<br />
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Whip Smart is a contract packaging company that is differentiating itself in the market with its ability to test and prototype products, using a state-of-the-art in-house design studio. “Smart Studios can allow a consumer to test packaging concepts with prototypes before committing to the manufacturing process,” says Mark Mondello, Whip Smart’s director of operations. The company’s capabilities in 3D renderings is making it possible for customers to bring uniformity and image consistency to their product images regardless of the end use. “Our engineering department allows clients to customize all components for manufacturing, and it can also produce models for inspection,” he says, adding, “the greatest advantage of working with a contract packaging supplier is that—as a customer—you get to be involved in the process without having to worry about the fine details. A customer can spend more time driving the bigger picture.”<br />
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CardPak showcases its green capabilities to brands, offering a wide array of paperboard packaging products and formats that include blister cards, folding cartons, clamshell inserts, sleeves, skin board, and specialty displays. The company’s primary service, however, has become its EcoLogical Line of Packaging, which Budic says is “helping to guide contract packagers to sustainable packaging concepts and solutions for their customers and to address the concerns of major retailers regarding source and material reductions, as well as recyclability requirements.”<br />
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The line consists of ClubPak, SustainPak, and ShelfPak, which offer what Budic says is breakthrough design and sustainable material usage for a variety of industries.<br />
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<b>Versatility</b><br />
The nature of contract packaging—when a brand relies on an outside supplier—makes being versatile an all-important trait. And this versatility can manifest in a number of ways: speed, cost and capabilities.<br />
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“Due to the lean company structure of most contract packagers, production lines can be set up rather quickly, additional qualified personnel can be hired within 24 hours, and processes and procedures are easily adapted,” Identipak’s Woodin says.<br />
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Turnaround time is another aspect of the supply chain that brand owners hold in high regard. With versatile, streamlined production lines in the area of experience and expertise of the contract packager, additional shifts can be implemented when necessary to increase production output to meet a specific deadline.<br />
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Woodin also emphasizes that with the experience of the contract packager in a specific style and market of manufacturing, production efficiency is usually high, thus leading to lower costs. “The overhead costs of a contract packager are significantly lower than the outsourcing company. If the contract packager is located in a geographical location where labor costs are lower, such as South Texas, this factor will show through in the bottom line,” she says.<br />
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Many contract packaging companies promote their variety of services as a major asset. “The many services that we offer are the benefit itself. In other words, what we provide can allow a critical mistake such as a canceled or delayed launch, to be corrected in a timely fashion and returned quickly to the market,” says Paragon’s Burdick.<br />
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“An Accel strength is the variety of services we offer clients,” states Tara Abraham. “Manual and semi-automatic assembly is our primary capability. However, as we worked with our clients, we began to expand those capabilities to custom thermoform trays, automatic gluing, shrink wrapping/banding and flow wrapping. Additionally, we expanded our ‘value add’ services such as package design/engineering, drop and vibration tests, shipper/inner pack design, ribbon tying, gift wrapping, as well as sourcing/procurement.”<br />
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Maesa’s Mager emphasizes the benefits of a one-supplier situation. “One vendor means one company is responsible for timeline and quality. Fully integrated design and package development greatly increases speed to market and efficiency,” he says, adding that Maesa is known for its expertise in turnkey beauty and fragrance for specialty stores.<br />
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Maesa offers the full array of services required to successfully launch a beauty brand or product. Its capabilities include branding, design, comp creation, marketing, product development, packaging development, quality control, testing, and manufacturing. “Maintaining all of these talents, expertise and services under one roof allows us to streamline the development process for our clients,” Mager says.<br />
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<b>Educating Clients</b><br />
The sometimes vague, muddled definition of contract packaging can sometimes be a roadblock to potential customers. “Perhaps the greatest notable challenge is educating customers on how wide a range of services exists within contract packaging,” says Whip Smart’s Mondello.<br />
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Abraham notes that for Accel, it can be hard to communicate its end-to-end capabilities and break away from the perception that contract packagers only provide value at the end of the process…the packaging. “Because contract packaging is so diverse, when clients think of us, they often have differing perceptions. One client may think, ‘They are that company that does our gift sets,’ while another client thinks, ‘They flow wrap our kits.’ It’s up to us to cross sell those capabilities to both current clients and potential clients; if we don’t, they won’t see the benefit of our diverse offerings.”<br />
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Communicating is critical to contract packaging success, and it’s paramount that suppliers and brand owners are on the same page.<br />
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“One challenge that we run into quite often is the unrealistic expectations of clients, which is due in part to poor planning on their end,” says Wertkin of Cosmetic Solutions. “The challenge becomes trying to align the reality of the situation with the customer’s needs and wants. And this mostly relates to lead times.<br />
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Woodin concludes, “It is very important to conduct detailed contract reviews to avoid misconceptions or assumptions that can lead to poor quality results.”<br />
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<b>Despite the Recession</b><br />
In light of the economic downturn, the contract packaging space has continued to grow. In fact, it’s been suggested that—for some—the recession’s effects have perhaps provided a boost.<br />
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“As businesses continue to look to streamline their operations, the growth of outsourcing will continue,” says Wertkin. “The recession kind of fragmented the industry a bit, as we found that many large-scale contract packagers hit tough times when their clients began to scale back their runs below MOQ (minimum order quantity). Many of the small- and medium-sized players in the industry reaped huge benefits from this and were able to experience serious growth.”<br />
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“A recession actually benefits contract packagers and manufacturers due to the fact that larger companies tend to slim down in all areas possible and in turn, increase their outsourcing to leaner companies,” says Woodin. “Simply put, in today’s economy everyone is thinking about ways to save time and money; this benefits companies like ourselves.”<br />
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If anything, the recession has forced CPG companies to reevaluate their breadth of influence, operations, and cost. “And that,” Budic says, “is where the contract packaging companies can become extremely valuable and primed for growth.”CardPak Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05994528055033685505noreply@blogger.com0Solon, OH 44139, USA41.383063 -81.44987170000001741.343748 -81.498723200000015 41.422378 -81.401020200000019tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7508870803751165565.post-20070732542703493962010-11-15T20:46:00.003-05:002010-11-15T20:47:29.347-05:00Sustainable Management Expert Presents at Pack Expo 2010<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLmniSpZIyjyljXIj3S1fOWrO9wxgVY9wWOx7iiBcVAV03JyxAohl-_CCWxcSdUAqxr_2n0jgQRmhCBQ_PYy1bAp-Wxznw9RMWEtT8x6SyIzudvkUZ_e9cajNzMcWlTNGSWXzRGdEHrpK-/s1600/0065.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLmniSpZIyjyljXIj3S1fOWrO9wxgVY9wWOx7iiBcVAV03JyxAohl-_CCWxcSdUAqxr_2n0jgQRmhCBQ_PYy1bAp-Wxznw9RMWEtT8x6SyIzudvkUZ_e9cajNzMcWlTNGSWXzRGdEHrpK-/s200/0065.jpg" width="133" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Sustainable Management Expert Presents at Pack Expo 2010</b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Dr. Ron Nahser, Senior Wicklander Fellow at DePaul University, addresses 200 at packaging and processing industry’s annual conference.</i></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">SOLON, OH – November 15, 2010 – Two hundred consumer packaged goods executives, suppliers, contract packagers, educators, and trade association personnel gathered at Chicago’s Adler Planetarium on November 1st to attend the 4th Annual Environmental Expo sponsored by <a href="http://www.cardpak.com/">CardPak, Inc.</a>, a leading supplier of sustainable packaging for consumer marketers.</span><br />
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<a name='more'></a><span style="font-size: small;">The keynote speaker, Dr. Nahser, a Senior Wicklander Fellow at DePaul University’s Institute for Business and Professional Ethics, Managing Director for CORPORANTES, Inc., an outgrowth of the Nahser Agency/Advertising, and Provost Emeritus of Presidio School of Management, San Francisco, offering the first accredited MBA in Sustainable Management, urged the audience to consider what sustainability challenge or opportunity faces them; why it’s important; and what action they’ll take now.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Tony Petrelli, CardPak president, kicked off the evening by reaffirming the industry’s responsibility to identify environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional packaging. CardPak, a leader in the development of sustainable packaging concepts, has created the EcoLogical Line of Packaging to remove significant amounts of packaging materials from the waste stream and use 100% recycled materials when possible.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>-- CardPak, Inc.</b></span></div>CardPak Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05994528055033685505noreply@blogger.com0Solon, OH 44139, USA41.385437 -81.440383941.32104 -81.5571134 41.449834 -81.3236544tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7508870803751165565.post-81009554891683110362010-10-31T22:20:00.011-04:002010-10-31T22:20:00.712-04:00NextLife Packaging Group Announces Partnership with CardPak to Provide Sustainable Paperboard Packaging Solutions<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>NextLife Packaging Group Announces Partnership with CardPak to Provide Sustainable Paperboard Packaging Solutions</b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>CardPak is the First NextLife Packaging Group Paperboard Packaging Manufacturing Partner</i></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Press release from NextLife - </span></i><span style="font-size: small;">Boca Raton, FL, November 01, 2010: <a href="http://www.nextlife.com/">NextLife, a leading provider of sustainable solutions for the consumer packaged goods industry</a>, announced today a partnership with <a href="http://www.cardpak.com/">CardPak, a leader in custom engineered packaging designs and solutions for merchandising strategies that utilize carded packaging and specialty paperboard converting</a>. Through the partnership CardPak will become the first carded packaging converter to promote NextLife Packaging Group’s 100% PCR PET blisters for club and warehouse retail packaging.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-size: small;">Through a select network of manufacturer partners, NextLife Packaging Group provides a unique range of sustainable packaging solutions to consumer product companies, retail brands and retailers. The NextLife Packaging Group network provides branded packaging, resins and materials containing up to 100% post-consumer recycled (PCR) content for both food and non-food applications, backed with life cycle assessments and a wide range of marketing support. </span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">“We are pleased to expand our roster of preferred partners committed to offering high quality, substantiated and practical sustainable packaging solutions,” said Marc Goldenberg of NextLife. “CardPak is well established, has built a positive reputation in the marketplace and has been committed to offering sustainable paperboard packaging for many years. We are confident they will be a valuable addition to our portfolio of best-in-class providers throughout the packaging supply chain.”</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">“Our clients have been very satisfied with using NextLife’s 100% PCR PET for blisters and clamshells with no change in performance, quality and consistency when used in conjunction with our cards or ClubPak™ products,” said Tony Petrelli, president of CardPak. “We see great value in forming this partnership, which will allow us to offer a range of solutions encompassing more than just materials. Our clients can take advantage of the unique strengths that both NextLife and CardPak have to offer.” </span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">CardPak is exhibiting at Pack Expo 2010, in Chicago, IL the week of October 31, 2010. The company is located at booth #5939, in the Lakeside Upper Hall. On display will be their wide range of sustainable products including the ClubPak™ and SustainPak™ products, part of their award winning Ecological Line of Packaging™.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>-- CardPak, Inc. </b></span></div>CardPak Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05994528055033685505noreply@blogger.com0Solon, OH 44139, USA41.383063 -81.449871741.3186635 -81.566601200000008 41.4474625 -81.3331422tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7508870803751165565.post-36557804522856647012010-09-23T12:05:00.008-04:002010-10-01T12:41:58.838-04:00Worldwide leader CardPak places order for KBA Rapida 106 41" ten-color press<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Worldwide leader CardPak places order for KBA Rapida 106 41" ten-color press</b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Press release from the issuing company</i></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">KBA North America, a global press manufacturer based in Dallas, Texas, announces that CardPak, Inc., a leading supplier of packaging products to consumer brand companies across the globe, has placed an order for a new KBA Rapida 106 41-inch ten-color perfecting press with coating tower and twelve-foot extended delivery. The new KBA press is currently being built and will be installed at CardPak's headquarters in Solon, Ohio in mid-November of this year.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
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</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">"In the past three and a half years, we have completely transformed our company," says Tony Petrelli, president of CardPak. "We've established a strategic plan that has improved our operations so that we can practice lean manufacturing and produce environmentally sustainable packaging products. This plan has taken us to our full manufacturing capabilities and the installation of our new KBA Rapida 106 41-inch ten-color press will open up 20% to 25% more capacity in our facility."</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The new Rapida 106 41-inch ten-color perfecting press being installed at CardPak, which made its debut at DRUPA 08, features a high press speed of 15,000 sph output, ultrafast makeready times, and expanded automation and productivity. The press provides a wide choice of automation options, including the KBA DriveTronic dedicated drives, as well as the DriveTronic feeder, with its presetting capabilities. The press also features the GATF InterTech award–winning sidelay-free infeed, DriveTronic SIS. Its KBA Logotronic system allows for presetting of ink fountains. New technology on press also includes the KBA Densitronic Professional closed-loop color management scanning spectrophotometric system and Qualitronic In-Line Color Control. The substrate range runs from lightweight papers to heavy board, from plastic films to corrugated-all without adjusting any grippers. At DRUPA and PRINT 09, the Rapida 106 continued to execute the fastest make-ready times for multiple jobs in front of the show crowds.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Before CardPak chose to purchase its new KBA press, the firm performed diligent review of all of the press models on the market. As part of this year-long evaluation process, Greg Tisone, CardPak's vice president and general manager, and Mike McDonald, CardPak's printing department manager, spent countless hours researching all the press manufacturers. They made multiple trips to demo centers watching their jobs run on presses; checking make ready times, run speeds and perfecting tolerances. "All of the manufacturers had very good products. This made the decision even harder to make," states Tisone. "We took our pressman to see the KBA press in action. We talked to field operators and observed actual manufacturing environments. We could see and discuss the KBA Densitronic and Qualtronic inline quality control system at work. All of the KBA customers that we visited gave high marks to KBA, their presses, the technology, and their service packages. It made us feel very comfortable purchasing the KBA Rapida 106."</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">CardPak, Inc., a pioneer in developing sustainable packaging solutions, is a leading supplier of packaging products to consumer marketing companies across the globe. The company is committed to creating new innovative products and practicing lean, environmentally-friendly manufacturing. CardPak's world headquarters are located in Solon, Ohio.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">KBA North America is a member of the KBA Group, a leading global supplier of sheetfed, webfed, and digital offset presses located in Dallas, Texas. KBA is dedicated to excellence in printing technology. The company's greatest satisfaction comes from helping its customers succeed by building presses that enable their businesses to prosper. From engineering through production, KBA's focus is on people, providing flexible technology, customized printing solutions, and personal service to help its partners differentiate themselves and be successful today and in the future.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>-- CardPak, Inc. </b></span></div>CardPak Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05994528055033685505noreply@blogger.com0Solon, OH 44139, USA41.383063 -81.449871741.3186635 -81.566601200000008 41.4474625 -81.3331422tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7508870803751165565.post-3344666085417881102010-07-23T07:59:00.018-04:002010-10-01T12:42:23.941-04:00CardPak Increases Versatility, Capacity and Efficiency with New Bobst VISIONFOLD<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>CardPak® Increases Versatility, Capacity and Efficiency with New Bobst VISIONFOLD</b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Solon, Ohio – (Press Release) – Printer/Packaging manufacturer CardPak, Inc. (<a href="http://www.cardpak.com/">www.cardpak.com</a>) has added a new Bobst VISIONFOLD 110-A2 folder-gluer giving themselves greater capacity and versatility, while further streamlining and enhancing the efficiency of their manufacturing operation.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Specializing in creating paperboard alternatives to plastic packaging, CardPak provides their customers with creative packaging solutions that not only give them an advantage on the shelves, but help them meet their goals, and demands of retailers such as Costco and Wal-Mart, of creating “greener” packaging and reducing their carbon footprint.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
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</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">“With products such as our ClubPak®, SustainPak®, and ShelfPak® providing sustainable alternatives to plastic clamshells, we can typically reduce the plastic materials used by 85%. That makes a significant environmental impact on the sustainability and packaging scorecards.” says CardPak President Tony Petrelli.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">In addition to seeking creative, environmentally friendly packaging solutions, CardPak’s customers, like virtually everyone today, are concerned about turnaround times and price. “Efficiency is very important to the sustainability of both our and our customers’ businesses. We put a great emphasis on lean manufacturing in our continual quest to improve the efficiency of our operations,” says Petrelli. “I like to say, ‘We want to do more with less until we are doing everything with nothing.’ While no one can do everything with nothing, my point is that we are continually working to improve the efficiency of our operation. When we think we’ve eliminated all the waste we can, we step back and start looking for more ways to save without jeopardizing the quality of our services or the products we produce.”</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The pursuit of optimum efficiency, the desire to offer brand owners additional marketing options and to further diversify their own business were a few of the driving forces behind CardPak’s decision to add the new Bobst VISIONFOLD. “Blister cards were about 90% of our business, now they’re only about 50%. Not because we’ve reduced that business sector, it continues to grow, but because we’ve expanded and grown into other markets by adding capabilities and increasing our manufacturing capacity. Folding carton is one of the areas we’ve expanded into. Adding the VISIONFOLD allowed us to eliminate a bottleneck and allows us to perform more complex folding. The installation also gave us greater versatility within the operation and allowed us to open 20-25% of additional capacity. In addition to letting us put more through the plant, it gives us the ability to respond to our customers’ requests faster."</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">As well as their environmental packaging products, CardPak provides a wide range of products to their customers including blister cards, clamshell inserts, folding cartons, skin boards, specialty printing and much more.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Because efficiency and lean manufacturing are major focuses of CardPak, the VISIONFOLD’s fast and easy setup and ability to fold a wide range on materials including carton or solid board, up to 8 point stock, as well as mircoflute corrugated paperboard, and other materials, at speeds up to 1,150 ft/min made it the perfect addition to CardPak’s finishing department.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">CardPak’s VISIONFOLD is configured to fold a wide a range of products including straight-line and crash-lock cartons, CD/DVD sleeves and much more. CardPak also performs other value-added services with their VISIONFOLD such as the inline application of Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) devices and insertion operations. “The more we can do in a single pass in any operation, whether it’s manufacturing, material handling or even sales, the more efficient we become overall. Then we can share this efficiency gain with our customers in the form of sustainable pricing and shorter time to market which provides additional savings for customers by reducing products in stock and work in process.”</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The addition of the VISIONFOLD is part of a capital investment program which includes the addition of a new state-of-the-art 40 inch, 10-color sheet fed press which will be installed later this year.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">-- CardPak, Inc.</span></b></div>CardPak Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05994528055033685505noreply@blogger.com0Solon, OH 44139, USA41.383063 -81.449871741.3186635 -81.566601200000008 41.4474625 -81.3331422tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7508870803751165565.post-52871546649890395102010-04-27T11:00:00.015-04:002010-10-01T12:47:03.976-04:00CardPak + TICCIT Program on Earth Day<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>CardPak, Inc., The Paperboard Packaging Council and Solon Schools team up on Earth Day</b></i></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Organizations sponsor TICCIT – the trees into cartons, cartons into trees program for 4th graders at Roxbury Elementary School.</i></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Solon, Ohio – (Press Release) – <a href="http://www.cardpak.com/">CardPak</a>, the pioneer in developing and manufacturing environmentally-sustainable packaging, donated tree saplings to teach Roxbury Elementary school students about the natural renewability of paperboard packaging. Tony Petrelli, President of CardPak, and the Chairman of the Board of the Paperboard Packaging Council, explained “we’re thrilled to once again have the opportunity to teach elementary school kids about paperboard as a renewable resource and its recycled potential.</span><br />
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The TICCIT program (Trees Into Cartons, Cartons Into Trees, pronounced “ticket”) is a great way to demonstrate how fun and easy it is to take care of the Earth.” Fourth graders brought paperboard milk cartons from home and CardPak donated over 100 saplings and soil. The students planted the saplings in the paperboard cartons. At home, the students poke holes in the carton and plant it directly in the ground. The cartons provide protection and a natural water funnel for the new trees. As the trees grow, the cartons breakdown and provide a natural biodegradable fertilizer. This completes the trees into cartons, cartons into trees cycle. “It’s a great opportunity to engage the future leaders of America in a fun and earth-friendly activity”, said Mr. Petrelli.<br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The TICCIT program celebration took place on April 21st at Roxbury Elementary School, located just 2.3 miles from CardPak’s worldwide headquarters. Roxbury Elementary School Principal, Carla Rodenbucher, was pleased to receive CardPak’s donation of over 100 tree saplings in celebration of Earth Day. “At Roxbury, we’re all about providing our students with hands-on learning opportunities like the TICCIT program. What better way to teach kids about the benefits associated with paperboard recycling and planting trees, than providing them with the materials to make it happen?” explained Ms. Rodenbucher.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">As a follow up to the TICCIT activity, students in the 4th grade advisory council are visiting CardPak’s printing and manufacturing plant to see, firsthand, how environmentally sustainable packaging is made.</span><br />
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<center><object height="364" width="445"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/5GqpeJsXApY&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00&border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/5GqpeJsXApY&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="445" height="364"></embed></object><br />
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<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>-- CardPak, Inc.</b></span></div></center>CardPak Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05994528055033685505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7508870803751165565.post-44468869685417807142009-12-22T13:20:00.008-05:002010-10-01T12:44:06.214-04:00CardPak Wins Local Awards<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>CardPak Wins Local Awards</b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Recognized for Commitment to Workforce and Community</i></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Solon, Ohio – (Press Release) – CardPak, Inc., a supplier of innovative packaging products to consumer marketing companies, invests a great deal in its workforce, and it’s not all about capital improvement. The company is consistently recognized for its commitment to being a great place to work and a strong member of the local business community.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">“Our business philosophy at its core creates a culture that develops top performers and recognizes community needs. CardPak believes that each employee contributes directly to our business growth and success, and our responsibilities in the community.” said Tony Petrelli, president. “By providing career opportunities, rewarding performance and creating a pleasant working environment, we encourage people to excel for the company, the industry and the city in which we work. The future of CardPak has people at its core.”</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The company also is committed to a program of environmental responsibility, along with a strategic commitment to sustainable practices and products. These were key components of CardPak’s business model for many years prior to the rise of today’s “Green” movement. CardPak felt it critical to develop an organization that would establish policies and objectives that would protect the environment, benefit its employees’ health and safety, and provide a more efficient way of manufacturing.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">As a result of all these initiatives, CardPak recently was named to the “NorthCoast 99” Best Places to Work in Northeast Ohio for the 10th straight year, and was also named 2009 Business of the Year by the Solon, Ohio, Chamber of Commerce.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">NorthCoast 99 is a recognition program sponsored by the Employers Resource Council (ERC) that honors 99 great workplaces annually. Since 1999, the program has recognized over 400 organizations for their ability to maintain great workplaces that support the attraction, retention, and motivation of top performers.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">“We are honored to receive this prestigious award in our home market, and we thank the ERC for recognizing our efforts to be one of the top workplaces in Northeast Ohio,” said Petrelli. “This award validates everything we strive for everyday.”</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">CardPak also was named 2009 Business of the Year by the Solon Chamber of Commerce, which cited the company for ably handling many challenges, including responding to natural disasters and developing manufacturing practices and products that address environmental concerns and objectives.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">“We couldn’t have done any of this without the dedication and commitment of our valued employees,” Petrelli added. “They are at the heart of everything we do each day.”</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">-- CardPak, Inc. </span></span></b>CardPak Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05994528055033685505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7508870803751165565.post-89238990767348189772009-10-22T08:14:00.004-04:002010-10-01T12:44:32.920-04:00Apple highlights packaging reduction efforts in green report<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.textually.org/textually/archives/images/set3/apple-logo-dec07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="103" src="http://www.textually.org/textually/archives/images/set3/apple-logo-dec07.jpg" width="103" /></a><b>Apple highlights packaging reduction efforts in green report</b><br />
<i>Simeon Goldstein, <a href="http://www.packagingnews.co.uk/">packagingnews.co.uk</a>, Sept 2009<br />
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Computer manufacturer Apple has released details of its work to reduce packaging in a report looking at the environmental impact of its products.<br />
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The life-cycle analysis show all greenhouse gas emissions associated with Apple products including raw materials, manufacturing, transportation and a three- to four-year period of consumer use and subsequent recycling.<br />
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Apple has reduced the packaging for its MacBook Pro laptop by 40% since 2006, meaning 50% more products can be shipped in each airline shipping container, the equivalent of using one less jumbo jet for every 32,000 units shipped.<br />
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"These reports help educate our consumers about how Apple products affect their own environmental footprint and track out progress to reducing greenhouse gas emissions with each new product," Apple said in a statement.<br />
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Each report breaks down the packaging into its component parts. So, for instance, the iMac desktop retail box consists of 1.7kg of corrugated and paperboard, 415g of expanded polystyrene and 18g of LDPE.<br />
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An iPhone in the US is packaged in 136g of paper packaging and 17g of thermoformed polystyrene. It is now 28% lighter and 23% smaller than last year.<br />
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For more on the product environmental reports, <a href="http://www.apple.com/environment/reports/#archive">click here</a> to visit the Apple website.</i> </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><b style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">-- CardPak, Inc. </b>CardPak Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05994528055033685505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7508870803751165565.post-28179906674089638922009-10-16T12:08:00.002-04:002010-10-01T12:46:00.789-04:00Sustainability Leader Discusses Innovation at 2009 Environmental Expo<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMF1avMndPLa5Ie97Ed4j7IRDRjGqrYsrfDlkDx84crQbgmh4KCQjcFpLrZs0ZYa-B67CKQDGL6f0e3Q0lCpKM9N1l3vDlFge5PkYorGIvbbeW1NZEYM0jZ3SFr3FKnCqX86Ifm-3g74pJ/s1600/EE3-logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393178290725009330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMF1avMndPLa5Ie97Ed4j7IRDRjGqrYsrfDlkDx84crQbgmh4KCQjcFpLrZs0ZYa-B67CKQDGL6f0e3Q0lCpKM9N1l3vDlFge5PkYorGIvbbeW1NZEYM0jZ3SFr3FKnCqX86Ifm-3g74pJ/s320/EE3-logo.jpg" style="height: 170px; margin-top: 0pt; width: 201px;" /></a><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">SOLON, OH – (Press Release) Nicholas Rumanes, vice president of development for the Las Vegas Sands Corp., spoke at the <span style="font-weight: bold;">2009 Environmental Expo: An Education in Sustainability dinner</span> during CardPak Inc.’s annual Pack Expo event at the Palazzo Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada. CardPak is a leading manufacturer of environmentally sustainable packaging products, headquartered in Solon, Ohio.</span><br />
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</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">The dinner attracted nearly 125 attendees, representing some of the pre-eminent retailers, consumer packaged goods companies, packaging manufacturers, contract packagers, educators, media and packaging trade associations nationwide.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">“We chose the Palazzo for our annual dinner because the Las Vegas Sands Corp. has led the way in sustainability,” explained Tony Petrelli, president of CardPak. “Its dedication to the environment echoes our standards and mission here at CardPak, and we couldn’t have selected a better place to discuss the future of sustainability in our daily lives.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Rumanes spoke about founding and operating Las Vegas Sands Corp.’s sustainable development practice, which achieved a Silver LEED rating for the Palazzo Resort. Rumanes is an expert on sustainable building practice and has worked on similar projects for clients such as GE, Equinox, ABC, Disney, Omnicom and SAP.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">The Palazzo is not only the largest LEED-certified building in the world, but it is more than four times bigger than the second largest. More than 41.6 million gallons of water are conserved annually, which is enough to fill 63 Olympic-sized swimming pools. Enough electricity to power more than 700 homes a year is also conserved at the Palazzo. And perhaps the most impressive statistic is the facility’s waste conservation: approximately 42,000 tons of construction waste is diverted from landfill to recycling, which is the equivalent to a stack of cars 23-miles high.</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />
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</span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; font-weight: bold;">-- CardPak, Inc.</span></span>CardPak Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05994528055033685505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7508870803751165565.post-81948467889409542892009-09-06T08:55:00.001-04:002010-10-01T12:45:08.210-04:005 Secrets of My Success: Tony Petrelli<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7qDTZIZWk38RkrINFIU6mqW8KEgvlriD6XseFDSzL0blMItoAFmqN3EkMEdDzG78P-ehp7BqMwzD_9k2NQHLOPkf06Gsjq6rD2NspsCRZaWYSFg44GlTRvxG-QgZ6Ka7TtMGGFbvFD2Au/s1600-h/blog-Tony-northcoast99.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393182012686531858" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7qDTZIZWk38RkrINFIU6mqW8KEgvlriD6XseFDSzL0blMItoAFmqN3EkMEdDzG78P-ehp7BqMwzD_9k2NQHLOPkf06Gsjq6rD2NspsCRZaWYSFg44GlTRvxG-QgZ6Ka7TtMGGFbvFD2Au/s320/blog-Tony-northcoast99.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 235px; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 183px;" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">5 Secrets of My Success: Tony Petrelli</span><br />
<span style="font-style: italic;">Secrets of my success from legacy winner Tony Petrelli, president and COO of CardPak. </span><br />
By Eric Broder<br />
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When Tony Petrelli joined CardPak in 2006, the company was facing plenty of financial challenges.<br />
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During its 44-year history, the paperboard packaging firm had weathered much adversity, including a flood in 1994 and a 1996 fire that destroyed the company’s equipment and forced it to temporarily close. CardPak was rebuilt in 1998, moving from Cleveland to its current Solon digs.<br />
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But the company was deep in debt. Something had to change. The owners knew that operating changes and procedural efficiencies on the floor had to be made to save the company — and then to keep it competitive.<br />
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Enter Petrelli. Under his leadership as president and COO, CardPak returned to profitability in one year.<br />
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“Even through difficult times, this was a culture that grew up as a family,” says Petrelli. For many workers, CardPak was their first job out of school. Many had been working together for more than 20 years. They weren’t just co-workers, they were an extended family to one another, Petrelli explains. It made for a good workplace: When he arrived, CardPak had already nabbed six NorthCoast 99 awards. And Petrelli didn’t want to break that streak.<br />
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* <span style="font-weight: bold;">Don’t come in guns blazing.</span> Petrelli, a packaging industry veteran, had worked primarily with larger companies of 6,000 or more employees. The team of 125 at CardPak was much smaller and carried that friendly, family atmosphere. Floor shop employees needed to work “faster, smarter, better” to make packaging products more efficient, so Petrelli introduced new, lean manufacturing processes. But “I had to make sure I didn’t come in as a gunslinger. I realized I had to change the culture without changing the people. This was a strong group that worked hard even in tough times. I didn’t tell them to change,” Petrelli says. “I asked.”<br />
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* <span style="font-weight: bold;">Communicate with care.</span> Be careful what you say and how you say it in a more intimate environment. Written memos and e-mails don’t get the point across like a message delivered personally, and it helps to avoid misunderstanding. “Tell them what you’re going to tell them — then tell them what you told them,” says Petrelli. Tell them as many times as it takes to make sure they understand the message clearly and completely. “You can never overcommunicate to a group.”<br />
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* <span style="font-weight: bold;">Safety first.</span> Accidents will happen in heavy machinery plants — back strains, cuts, tripping over cords, electric shocks. But with Petrelli’s introduction of new manufacturing methods, along with retooling work areas and keeping them clear, safety has greatly improved at the plant. The change is highlighted by a traffic light on the CardPak shop floor. A green light indicates no workplace incidents the previous day, yellow denotes a near miss, and red means an accident occurred. No one’s seeing red now: After upping safety measures, CardPak has gone from double-digit annual incidents to the top five in safety for facilities its size in the nation. That is good for both morale and business. “It’s singularly impacted the profitability of the company,” says Petrelli.<br />
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* <span style="font-weight: bold;">Nurture confidence.</span> Company stability, especially now, is important for maintaining employee morale. Compelling new products provide the opportunity for profitability, and CardPak’s sustainable alternatives to clamshell packaging fit with the ecological demands of large retailers such as Costco and Sam’s Club. The company had a record year in 2008 and is ahead of the pace in 2009. “The bad economy is no excuse,” says Petrelli. Competitors are waiting for the clouds to pass, he says. “We set out fans to push ’em away.”<br />
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* <span style="font-weight: bold;">Learned behavior.</span> Petrelli has learned something about himself in his time at CardPak. “I find myself taking more pride in seeing an employee develop,” he says. “I’ve learned to give credit to those who help me reach my conclusions. And people have responded. The key is passion and enthusiasm.”<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">-- CardPak, Inc.</span>CardPak Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05994528055033685505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7508870803751165565.post-67370627392137770572009-07-10T12:55:00.002-04:002009-07-10T12:58:02.114-04:00Recycled-paperboard symbol gains with sustainability popularity<span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; font-style: italic;">Eighteen major consumer product goods companies sign on to use RPA-100% logo in first half of 2009.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; font-style: italic;">PRESS RELEASE -- <a href="http://www.convertingmagazine.com/">Converting Magazine</a></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; font-style: italic;">The 100% Recycled Paperboard Alliance announced that a record number of new licensees have signed up in the first 6 months of 2009.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; font-style: italic;">During the period January 1st through June 30th, 18 of America’s best known brand owners ave chosen to sign a license agreement with the RPA-100% granting them the right to display the RPA-100% symbol on their packaging. In making the announcement Paul Schutes, Executive Director of the RPA-100% commented that, “this puts our organization on a pace to add 40 new licensees by the close of 2009, exceeding any previous year’s total new licensees and exceeding our goal for this year.”</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; font-style: italic;">These new licensees include companies such as Harland Check, Nestle’ Purina Petcare and Snyder’s of Hanover. New licensees are using 100% recycled paperboard to package organic foods, pet food, snacks, office supplies and even to manufacture coffee cup insulating sleeves. Mike Kiepura, Chairman of the Board of the RPA-100% noted that, “this high number of new </span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; font-style: italic;">licensees proves that today’s brand owners are increasingly interested in communicating to their customers that the products they are purchasing are packaged in 100% recycled paperboard. We are encouraged by this level of activity and are confident that 100% recycled paperboard and the use of the RPA-100% symbol will continue to play a key role in the drive for more sustainable packaging and the education of consumers with regard to the value of recycled paperboard packaging.”</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; font-style: italic;">The 100% recycled paperboard symbol is owned by RPA-100% and is reserved exclusively for licensed use on products and packaging made with 100% recycled paperboard. Use of the symbol is free for licensees of RPA-100%. Currently more than 150 companies have signed licensing agreements to display the symbol and become RPA-100% partners. More information on licensing the symbol is available on the RPA-100%. Website at </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms; font-style: italic;" target="_blank" href="http://www.rpa100.com/">www.rpa100.com</a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; font-style: italic;">.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; font-style: italic;">Consumer packaged goods companies have used 100% recycled paperboard for more than 100 years. Recycled paperboard plays a pivotal role in making fiber based packaging one of the most environmentally beneficial and sustainable packaging substrates. Today, 100% recycled paperboard is used to package a wide range of goods including food (dry, frozen, ready-to-eat, microwave and fast food), beverages, pharmaceuticals, electronics/software and other consumer products. Nationally known names such as FedEx Corporation, Kraft, General Mills, Kellogg’s, </span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; font-style: italic;">Procter & Gamble and Reynold's Consumer Products, a division of Alcoa Consumer Products, are just a few of the companies using 100% recycled paperboard for their products.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; font-style: italic;">The 100% Recycled Paperboard Alliance (RPA-100%) is a non-profit, independent trade group representing the leading manufacturers in the recycled paperboard industry since 1995. Based in Washington, D.C., RPA-100% serves as an information resource on the benefits of recycled </span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; font-style: italic;">paperboard and provides assurance of the recycled content of consumer packaged goods through its 100% recycled paperboard logo licensing program.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; font-weight: bold;">-- CardPak Inc.</span></span>CardPak Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05994528055033685505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7508870803751165565.post-78939831308317378622009-06-26T07:21:00.001-04:002009-06-26T09:30:56.247-04:00Debunk five eco-packaging myths<span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: trebuchet ms;">The following thoughts can help you correct some of the commonly quoted inaccuracies for your packaging-material customers and their consumers.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: trebuchet ms;">By </span><a style="font-style: italic; font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://www.bensongroup.co.uk/">The Benson Group</a><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: trebuchet ms;"> -- Converting Magazine</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: trebuchet ms;">In these days of environmental focus, nothing seems to arouse the passions like food and medical packaging. Unfortunately, much of the "bad news" that circulates on the topic is based on myth and hearsay. Maybe some of the following thoughts will help to correct some of the commonly quoted inaccuracies for your packaging-material customers and their consumers.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: trebuchet ms; font-weight: bold;">Myth 1: Food Packaging is filling our landfill sites</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: trebuchet ms;">Publicly available information suggests that the total volume of waste produced from all sources in the UK per year is about 300 million tons. Only some 10% of this is accounted for by household waste - about 27 million tons. Building sites, as one good point of comparison, produce about four times as much rubbish as households. Packaging of all types represents some 4.5 million tons of household waste, and the amount actually due to food packaging is likely to be no more than 1 million tons. The weight of food packaging per person is less then 44 lbs per year.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: trebuchet ms;">Compare that 44 lbs of packaging with the 220 lbs per person per year of food waste that is put straight into the wastebin, and you begin to see that packaging is actually the least of our worries. The environmental impact of the food waste is compounded by the fact that the vast majority of this is also dumped into landfills. Food going to landfills will gradually rot and produce methane - a gas of significantly greater concern regarding global warming than CO2.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: trebuchet ms; font-weight: bold;">Myth 2: Everything is over-packaged</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: trebuchet ms;">While there may be some mileage in this statement in certain sectors, food is unlikely to be one of them. The protection offered to food products by packaging provides a significant benefit, as illustrated by statistics from the World Health Organisation, which suggest that food waste in the Third World can be as high as 50%, while in developed economies as low as 3%. Much of this difference is due to good quality packaging. Under-packaging is 10 times worse for the environment that the same amount of over-packaging, as 10 times more energy and material resources go into the production of goods and food than into their packaging.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: trebuchet ms;">Additional fuel in favor of sensible packaging is provided by the Cucumber Growers' Associated, which showed that unwrapped cucumbers are unsaleable after three days. Plastic wrapping keeps them fresh for 14 days and untouched by dirty hands.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: trebuchet ms;">Cleaner and fresher produce and foodstuffs less likely to be damaged during transportation equals product less likely to be thrown straight into the wastebin. Smarter shopping and cooking, and more focus on producing less food waste is far more likely to provide the answer to environmental issues than simply reducing packaging.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: trebuchet ms; font-weight: bold;">Myth 3: Cardboard packaging destroys trees</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: trebuchet ms;">An unfortunate perception of the print and packaging world is that it "eats trees." In fact, of the world consumption of wood only 12% is actually used for the manufacture of paper and board, and of this, just one tenth is used for cartons. Over half the cartons used in Europe are manufactured using recovered fiber from waste paper.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: trebuchet ms;">In Europe, over 90% of the wood needed by the paper and board industry comes from European forests, and responsible packaging producers ensure that their purchases are made from FSC- and PEFC-certified suppliers, which means that any new wood used has come from responsibly managed forests. Overall there are more trees planted than felled in Europe, and as forests absorb CO2 they combat greenhouse gases, and therefore have a positive effect with regard to climate change.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: trebuchet ms; font-weight: bold;">Myth 4: Burying plastic is harmful to the environment</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: trebuchet ms;">OK, time for a bit of a controversial thought now. Anything that is taken to landfill and rots will give off methane - fact! Methane, as already mentioned, is a significantly harmful gas in environmental terms, and is the probably the weakness of the argument for so called "degradable packaging." While no one likes the idea of burying plastic, it will not rot, and therefore represents less of a climate-change issue than burying food waste or even paperboard and paper (which will also rot, but should, of course, be recycled instead). This text is not advocating burying plastics - just pointing out that actually in some ways it's not as bad for the environment as burying other things.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: trebuchet ms; font-weight: bold;">Myth 5: Not enough packaging is being recycled</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: trebuchet ms;">This might appear to be another controversial comment to describe as a myth, but the statement does require further analysis to extract the real truth. Some packaging materials are more difficult to recycle than others, and some are particularly expensive or energy-inefficient to recycle. Generally speaking, cartonboard is easy to recycle, and an ever increasing percentage of the population is doing so on a daily basis. Boxes and cartons are easy to disassemble and place into the recycling bin for collection, as is probably typical across much of the country. Paperboard that is not recycled will at least compost easily. More cartonboard/paper is recycled than any other packaging material. Once recent claim suggested that recycled waste paper represented around 63% of the fiber used to produce paper and board in the UK.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: trebuchet ms; font-weight: bold;">Summary:</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: trebuchet ms;">Food packaging represents a small fraction of UK waste</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: trebuchet ms;">Food waste is significantly higher in terms of volume</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: trebuchet ms;">Food waste is also significantly more damaging to the environment</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: trebuchet ms;">Good packaging helps to prevent more waste</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: trebuchet ms;">Paperboard packaging is produced from sustainable resources</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: trebuchet ms;">Paperboard packaging is easy to recycle, and is being recycled</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: trebuchet ms;">-- CardPak Inc.</span></span>CardPak Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05994528055033685505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7508870803751165565.post-33695163319166771792009-06-10T12:15:00.008-04:002009-06-10T12:26:44.561-04:00Shifting to Sustainable Packaging<div style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" class="body"><p style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;">PMMI VP Industry Relations, Ben Miyares, kindly agreed to participate in a Q&A with <a href="http://www.packagedesign.com/">packagedesign.com</a> on sustainable packaging materials, energy-saving equipment and the upcoming PACK EXPO trade show (October 5-7; Las Vegas Convention Center).<br /><br /><strong>Q: What attributes define a sustainable package?</strong><br />A: Sustainability is often misunderstood and can be confusing when applied to packaging. In essence, it is having the tools in place to continue operating into the next generation. I like to use the following definition for sustainability: Resource, Conservation and Replenishment.<br /><br />It is sometimes easier to think of sustainability in terms of farming and fishing. For example, salmon are at risk of being fished out in the Northwest, so the government has imposed a moratorium to give the fish time to breed and replenish themselves. The idea is that you control the eco-system so that it has time to replenish itself.<br /><br />However, when you apply the concepts of sustainability – resource, conservation, and replenishment – to packaging, it becomes a different matter. Packages and systems themselves do not have a regenerative capability. And the term “sustainable” has been applied to packaging without precise definition and guidelines. It has evolved into a discussion of the environmental friendliness of packaging. That is, people equate “green packaging” with “sustainable packaging” and as a consequence, some in the packaging supply chain believe – mistakenly we feel that this will be a transient movement.<br /><br /><strong>Q: Is there a governmental or industry organization that supervises or regulates sustainable packaging to assure consumers of the integrity of sustainability claims?</strong><br />A: Currently, there is no official government arbiter of sustainability in the U.S. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) would be the default regulator of environmental issues. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) monitors market claims, including sustainability claims. If you say a product is made of recycled content, the FTC takes the position that it must be made of 100% recycled content. If it is anything less than that, you better spell out the percent.<br /><br />In Europe, there is a clearer definition of what they consider sustainable packaging. They equate “sustainability” with “environmentalism,” so certain materials are perceived to be better than others because they are intrinsically less harmful to the environment in the minds of those who issue the guidelines.<br /><br /><strong>Q: If there are no regulatory institutions overseeing these procedures, what’s to prevent manufacturers from abusing the term “sustainable” for marketing purposes while their procedures could be far from it?</strong><br />A: The introduction of the Wal-Mart scorecard at PACK EXPO in 2006 has been the greatest change agent and driver of interest in packaging sustainability. The company has become the de facto regulator or standard setter simply because of its enormous impact in the marketplace. Wal-Mart accounts for a very large percentage of Fortune 500 CPG sales and figured out how to develop a distribution system that is more efficient than its competition. The company’s goal is to reduce packaging of products sold in its stores by 5% by 2013.<br /><br />With the establishment of the scorecard and its various components, Wal-Mart has been able to encourage suppliers to reduce the size of their packages. From a design standpoint, one of the early success stories that Wal-Mart points to is the introduction of Unilever’s All® Small & Mighty™ triple-concentrated detergent. The concentrate in the 32-ounce bottle cleans as many loads as 100-ounces of unconcentrated liquid detergent, but in a more compact package that's easier to pour, store and carry. The bottle also uses less plastic in its packaging, less water in its formula than regular detergent and fits into smaller cases, saving on corrugated. And, more of these smaller cases can be stacked onto a conventional pallet for improved cube efficiency throughout the distribution pipeline.<br /><br />Wal-Mart instructs its category buyers to use scorecard scores as an element in purchasing decisions. Still, Wal-Mart makes it clear that the scorecard will not be used to make bad purchasing decisions. At the end of the day, that suggests that a ketchup package with a better scorecard score but lower consumer preference will probably not push off Wal-Mart’s shelves the brand/package that the market prefers, and get a high rate on the scorecard, would I replace the category leaders on the shelf? Probably not.<br /><br /><strong>Q: When people think of sustainability, they often think of the material itself. How does packaging machinery contribute to the sustainability equation? </strong><br />A: In the discourse about packaging sustainability, you don’t hear much about packaging machinery. And that is really a major omission. Greenhouse gas counts for 15% on the Wal-Mart scorecard and a company’s energy footprint and emissions are seen as contributing to environmental damage. The package sitting on the shelf is not emitting much GHG. It’s the MANUFACTURING process of that package and the distribution system that contributes significantly to the package’s sustainability imprint.<br /><br />Sustainability is part of the DNA of packaging operations managers. Typically at inception they will over-package a product, often protecting it more than it requires. But once a product begins to succeed in the marketplace, the first initiative that the packaging department is challenged with is, “how can we reduce the weight of that package without compromising its impact on the shelf?”<br /><br />That is the type of message that will resonate at PACK EXPO in October. Technology advances will vary, ranging from let’s say a machine that can bundle a 6-pack of product with a thinner film that won’t break or one that reduces the amount of material needed, to systems that demonstrate a much longer Mean Time Between Repair (MTBR) so that they don’t break down as much. These are all important messages to decision-makers because in some categories, a minute of lost production can equate to tens of thousands of dollars per line.<br /><br /><strong>Q: How will the sustainability trend be reflected at PACK EXPO this year? What resources can designers, CPG’s and retailers expect to find that will help them achieve sustainability goals?</strong><br />A: At PACK EXPO, attendees will find many machinery and materials exhibitors highlighting technologies that use fewer resources and some that may in fact replenish them.<br /><br />Hartness International (Greenville, SC) is a good example. The company has evolved into a machinery manufacturing company from a traditional packaging manufacturer and has numerous sustainability messages, such as remote diagnostics for repair of downtime and damages. The company has determined that 90% of the problems that occur can be addressed and repaired remotely over the phone and Internet. That reduces the time, cost, fuel consumption, etc. of a repair technician being there in person. Additionally, Hartness has a dry lubrication system that uses ounces of water in the course of production instead of the thousands of gallons traditionally used to lubricate a conveyor line in a can/bottle line.<br /><br />Companies exhibiting materials at PACK EXPO will have the classic sustainability stories to tell in terms of lightweighting, increased use of recycled material, reusable palletization and tertiary packaging. For example, CHEP, started in Australia after WWII, is now global and provides a much more robust wooden pallet and service program to reuse that pallet. There are alternatives, including plastic or metal pallets that because of the nature of their composition can make a lot more trips. The initial cost may be higher, so on the surface, one may not want to invest more for these materials. However, if that metal pallet will make a lot more trips, you get into a concept that is sustainable without ever mentioning the environment, and that is considering the total cost of ownership of a technology.<br /><br /><strong>Q: What are some of the newest packaging materials that you’ve seen and are excited about?</strong><br />A: There are four core materials used in packaging – paper, metal, glass and plastic – where advances continue to be made.<br /><br />In the plastics area, we have seen the emergence of biopolymers, or plastics derived from plants vs. geologically derived plastics. They have created a lot of buzz but are not quite ready for prime time. The principle biopolymer material that is currently being used in packaging is a PLA formulated by NatureWorks. It is derived from corn right now, although the company is talking about going from the corn we eat to “cellulosics,” the leaves and stalks of the plant.<br /><br />The Dow Chemical Company also makes a monopolymer polyethylene and copolymer of polyethylene, used for milk bottles and laundry detergent respectively, from sugar that chemically functions as an equivalent to traditional petrochemical derived polyethylene. So they break down sugar to its chemical component and from there build a polyethylene that is chemical and functional equivalent of petrochemically derived polyethylene, virtually the same. From there we would potentially have a source of renewable plastic, which is really exciting.<br /><br />I recently saw a thermoformable structure that looks like plastic but is made of “stone” where they take geologically derived components and press them in a form that is usable for packaging. Additionally, Cornell University has started a company called NOVOMER that is introducing eco-plastics or eco-polymers, as opposed to biopolymers. These plastics are not derived from plants, but instead from carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. While still in early development, this approach could help address the greenhouse gas problem and create a source of feedstock for these polymers.<br /><br />In the metal area, what is “new” are ever-lighter structures and shaped cans for added shelf appeal. For example, compared with 20 years ago, aluminum beverage cans are 28% lighter, steel food cans are 33% lighter and tinplate aerosols are up to 18% lighter – without sacrificing performance. In addition, new printing technologies result in photographic quality graphics or engage the senses, such as thermo-chromic inks that change color based on temperature, or feel soft to the touch.<br /><br />In glass, the typical bottle is produced by a “blow and blow” blow technology that results in an irregular wall thickness, the thinnest part being the weakest. When breakage occurs, it breaks at its thinnest part, whereas a newer technology called “press and blow” does what it suggests: presses the mold so that there is a more even wall thickness and the result is a thinner yet stronger glass bottle.<br /><br /><strong>Q. Do you think consumers have been over-hyped with the sustainability message by marketers?</strong><br />A: Absolutely. To date we have seen a rash of certifications, brands and logos put on packages that are pretty meaningless to consumers. Some early studies indicate that the consumer has very little understanding of sustainability. The average consumer equates sustainability to recyclability. Further, they still prefer packages that are “recyclable” to those that are recycled.<br /><br />There are probably 30 or 40 “green” or “sustainable” certification brands in the marketplace today. Most are pretty meaningless to the consumer due to lack of knowledge. They pick up a package and see chasing arrows with a number in it and they say “this is recyclable.” Unfortunately the industry has not done a good enough job clarifying for consumers that the numbers “1–7” are not recyclable codes, but rather resin identifiers.<br /><br /><br /><strong>About PMMI</strong><br />PMMI is a trade association with more than 550 member companies that manufacture packaging and packaging-related converting machinery, commercially-available packaging machinery components, containers and materials in the United States and Canada. PMMI’s vision is to be the leading global resource for packaging, and its mission is to improve and promote members’ abilities to succeed in a global marketplace.<br /><br />PACK EXPO will be held October 5-7, 2009 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. To register for the show or obtain more information, visit <a href="http://www.packexpo.com/">www.packexpo.com</a> or contact PMMI’s Show Department at 703.243.8555 or expo@pmmi.org</span><span style="font-size:100%;">.<br></span></p><p style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Posted </span><span style="font-style: italic;" class="postedOn">on Monday, June 8, 2009 at 10:36AM</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><span style="font-style: italic;">by <a href="http://www.packagedesign.com/">packagedesign.com</a></span></p><p><br /></p> </div><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="postedBy" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br>-- CardPak Inc.</span></span></span>CardPak Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05994528055033685505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7508870803751165565.post-10756785389599139142009-06-04T08:58:00.001-04:002009-06-04T08:58:30.372-04:00Forming Green<center><div style="text-align: left; font-family: trebuchet ms;">'Green thermoformer' - that is becoming an increasingly common label (or at least a popular goal) as the packaging industry continues to adjust to the market's demand on environmental awareness.<br /><br />With films such as Eco-therm, distributed by IPF Inc., (a biodegradable, 100% Post Consumer Content, Recycled PET Film that is thermoformable) available and currently being used in the marketplace, thermoformers can now join in on the 'sustainable packaging' revolution and have a key ingredient to offer, instead of trying to fight the trend, and the inevitable.<br /><br />Innovative Plastics South, located in Nashville, TN., is one company that has embraced this opportunity, with the directive of being recognized as one of the industry leaders... take a few minutes and check out their video below:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><object width="480" height="295"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/4E-OzGojfrQ&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/4E-OzGojfrQ&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="295"></embed></object></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="font-family: trebuchet ms; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >-- CardPak Inc.</span><br /></div></center>CardPak Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05994528055033685505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7508870803751165565.post-4677963698457492442009-05-07T12:26:00.008-04:002009-05-07T12:42:16.658-04:00Walmart joins GreenerPackage.com in new product database<span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Walmart joins GreenerPackage.com in new product database</span><br />Posted by Anne Marie Mohan, Managing Editor, <a href="http://www.greenerpackage.com/">GreenerPackage.com</a></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Walmart Stores, Inc. and its Packaging Scorecard software provider ECRM have tapped </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://www.greenerpackage.com/">GreenerPackage.com</a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> to serve as the entry point for packaging material suppliers wishing to add their sustainable product data for use in Walmart’s Packaging Scorecard Modeling software. Upon launch of the Greener Package Database, product information submitted to the site will not only be available to </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://www.greenerpackage.com/">GreenerPackage.com</a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> visitors, but it will also feed ECRM’s MarketGate™ application suite, maintained for Walmart’s private use with its modeling software</span></span><!-- Add the related sponsored links block -->.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >In the following exclusive interview with GreenerPackage.com managing editor Anne Marie Mohan, Sam’s Club director of packaging Amy Zettlemoyer-Lazar discusses the agreement and the new Greener Package Database in more depth.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">GP: </span>Why did Walmart decide to ask ECRM to merge its database with Greener Package?<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">AZL:</span> ECRM initially created MarketGate as a virtual trade show to support our Sustainable Packaging Expo by housing the packaging suppliers’ sustainability information. Greener Package has a broad audience of packaging professionals who may find this information useful, and therefore, merging the two seemed like a good fit of information and an audience.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">GP: </span>What are the benefits of this database to packaging suppliers?<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">AZL: </span>With the Greener Package Database, packaging suppliers will have one place to post their company information, and it establishes a uniform way to talk about their packaging materials, their components, and any environmental claims associated with both.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">GP: </span>What are the benefits of this database to your product suppliers, i.e., consumer packaged goods companies?<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">AZL: </span>CPG companies can use the database as a source to find more sustainable materials and packages, which ultimately provides our customers and members with more choices. Walmart Stores, Inc. holds an annual Sustainable Packaging Expo in Rogers, Arkansas, and this database allows suppliers who can’t travel to the exposition access to the same information year-round. Because it doesn’t require travel, the virtual trade show also provides an opportunity for us as a company to provide low-cost innovation.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">GP: </span>Can you explain how the data in the Greener Package Database will link to the Walmart Packaging Scorecard Modeling software?<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">AZL:</span> The modeling software is currently used to compare packages for multiple environmental metrics. When the user makes material selections for comparison within the software, the product information is visible. So the system provides suggestions for packaging suppliers that can help improve their modeling score. For those product suppliers that are interested, when they compare their packages, they have a direct link to those packaging suppliers who can help them make that improvement.<br /><br />For Walmart, it’s really important right now to push better packaging and more sustainable choices because Americans are being very thoughtful about the purchases they make. It’s really important to make sure that we are continuing to drive waste and inefficiencies out of the business, which is why more sustainable packaging plays a good role in that goal for us as a company.<br /><br />At Walmart, efficiencies and sustainability go hand-in-hand. So our motto is really “Save money. Live better.” At Walmart, we are providing value through our products, and that value translates into quality and more sustainable products and more sustainable packaging. So we are driving more efficient products and more efficient packaging, and making better material selections, and that has a direct link into more choices and better-value products for our customers and members.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">GP: </span>The Greener Package Database will provide suppliers with the opportunity to have their product claims reviewed by a third party. Can you explain why this is important?<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">AZL:</span> The Document Review process will verify that the information that the packaging supplier is sharing is being reported using industry-standard terminology, making sure that claims are being made in a similar manner across multiple suppliers. So when a CPG company looks at the site, they understand what’s being claimed, and there is no confusion between the way one supplier may make that claim versus another supplier making that claim. It’s important to verify what statements are being made or what claims are being made and how they could be interpreted by the CPG customer or a retailer. Then ultimately, those claims can be passed on to our customers or members. So we want to make sure that at the start<br />they are accurate.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">GP: </span>Can you talk about the how the Document Review process will address greenwashing and bogus claims by suppliers?<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">AZL: </span>We found that some of the guidelines out there may be confusing to packaging suppliers. There is potential for misunderstanding that the Federal Trade Commission Green Guides pertain to all marketing claims. They are not only marketing claims to the consumers paying for a product that’s in a package, but they are also meant for business-to-business marketing claims.<br /><br />And so, the Document Review process will ensure that when the product supplier makes an environmental claim, they have done the tests to back that claim up. Or, that they can prove that the material is being recycled as per the FTC guidelines. There has been a lot of confusion in this space in the last couple of years, and it has the potential to lead to greenwashing. Greenwashing is a concern because we really want to make sure that we are communicating accurate information to our customers and members, and we want to be sure that they have better information to make better purchasing decisions.<br /><br />In general, we are basing the Document Review on the FTC Green Guides and strict interpretation of those guidelines.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">GP: </span>Can you give some examples of how claims of biodegradability or recyclability might be reviewed?<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">AZL: </span>Sure! The claim of compostability would actually need to have a test report from a lab stating that it has actually been tested and meets the requirements of the testing outlined in ASTM D6400 or D6868 pending the material. For recyclability, that would be based on the package type.<br /><br />Some things in order to be claimed for recyclability must be able to be recycled or collected in a significant majority of municipalities. That doesn’t mean that it’s capable of mechanically being recycled. So that’s where there has been a big difference. If a supplier is making a claim that their package is recyclable, then they must talk about the actual packaging components that are being collected. There are several studies and reports that show what is being collected across the United States that are going to be used to verify that claim.<br /><br />So suppliers need to talk in detail if they are using a PET bottle. Does it use color or not? If it’s glass, what type of glass is it? Based on the packaging components and the FTC guidelines and several reports, a decision will be made whether that really meets being able to be collected in a significant majority of municipalities.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">GP: </span>Do you know what a significant majority is?<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">AZL:</span> I have heard some numbers, but it would need to be above 51% and around 60%. But that is not outlined, to my knowledge, in the FTC guidelines.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">GP:</span> Originally the Greener Package Database was going to focus on questions pertaining more to the environmental impact of a product, but the merger with ECRM brings far more data points with extensive performance data. Can you explain what the benefits are of having one database for both performance and environmental data?<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">AZL:</span> The benefit is that suppliers don’t make decisions based on one or the other. If you have a packaging material or a packaging component that is more sustainable but doesn’t perform, then it really doesn’t meet all the requirements of the marketplace. It’s very similar to when our customers and members come to Walmart and Sam’s Club; they are looking for a more sustainable product that meets all of their expectations in performance. So it’s important to have both together because decisions cannot be made on one area without considering the other. Walmart is recommending that when you look at performance data, you also look at environmental areas of the product and vice versa.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">GP: </span>What is the benefit to suppliers who pay to have their data reviewed? How will it affect how their data is displayed in the database?<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">AZL: </span>Packaging suppliers who pay the fee to have their data go through the Document Review process will have the benefit of having it clearly identified in the database that they have gone through the review process and that their packaging material or packaging component meets the requirements to make all the claims. Whereas, if the supplier does not go through the audit, it will be clearly identified in the database that they have not provided documents to prove this claim. It doesn’t mean that the packaging does not meet the claim, but that those claims haven’t been verified. And so it will be clearly identified if the product has been reviewed or not reviewed in the database.<br /><br />As a result, after August 1, 2009, the modeling software will not show a link to any packaging suppliers that have not gone through the Document Review process.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">GP:</span> I would think that the Document Review process is something that packaging suppliers would almost need to have done anyway if they are going to be selling their products based on environmental benefits. What are your thoughts?<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">AZL: </span>The Document Review helps to substantiate their claims and helps to give them credibility. I think it will be a benefit to those packaging suppliers in that they won’t have to worry about establishing credibility with every product supplier that they are trying to sell to. They will have been able to do it once in the database and can refer to that Document Review to show that they have provided the compostability claims or the recyclability claims, and that it has been reviewed by a third party. Instead of every one of their customers having to verify that information, they can double-check on the Web site themselves and feel confident on the level of Document Review.<br /><br />It’s also due diligence to make sure that the application the CPG is selecting meets the requirements, but it is a nice first pass to make sure that it is by starting with the verification. Definitely every package is customized for the product and for the customer. So it’s important that after that customization, any claims that they are making on the label are also verified.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">GP: </span>Any final thoughts on the new agreement and on the future of the Greener Package Database?<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">AZL:</span> In my opinion, the database is nice because it takes the Sustainable Packaging Expo every year and makes it year-round. It also helps our product suppliers, our customers, and our members find better products and better options. It makes that information more accessible, and it is not going to require as much travel or as much investigation upfront. So it opens innovation to a whole new group of people.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">GP:</span> Although Walmart is gearing the database information toward its suppliers, the database can help move everyone ahead. It isn’t only available to people who are working with Walmart. It’s available to anyone who is interested in making positive changes in their packaging, correct?<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">AZL: </span>Right! To make packaging more sustainable, in many instances, you need economy and scale. So having a package that only works for one retailer may not be the right solution for a more sustainable package. So it is important that other retailers, even our competitors, have the visibility to these suppliers as well. While Walmart wants to lead with innovation, it is definitely important to have other competitors have access to the same information.</span> <br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">-- CardPak Inc.</span></span>CardPak Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05994528055033685505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7508870803751165565.post-8160803325802594132009-05-06T10:15:00.001-04:002009-05-06T10:21:04.384-04:00Green Jobs: Chief Sustainability Officer<span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">How important is the title, and more importantly the role of, Chief Sustainability Officer?</span><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">That is the question I find myself asking as I read about how more and more Fortune 500 companies are naming or hiring - and in some cases creating the position of - a Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO).</span></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://greeneconomypost.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/green-collar2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 342px; height: 212px;" src="http://greeneconomypost.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/green-collar2.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><blockquote style="font-style: italic;"><b style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Chief Sustainability Officer</b><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">, sometimes known by other titles, is the corporate title of an executive position within a corporation that is in charge of the corporation's "environmental" programs. Several companies have created such positions in the 21st century to formalize their commitment to the environment. Normally these responsibilities rest with the Facility Manager, who has provided cost effective resource and environmental control as part of the basic services necessary for the company to function.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></blockquote></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Is this another 'green' marketing ploy to attract other large companies to do business?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Is this a way to match the perceived 'environmental awareness' of a competitor in one's industry?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Or is it the realization that the sustainability standards of a company can only exist on their own merit for a short time before they deserve the same attention and focus as the other foundational aspects of business?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Wherever the origin of the position, I hope that it is not a wasted post. I fear the seriousness of the position may be overlooked by a company and, even worse, taken for granted by the person in the actual position.<br /><br />Even in the current economic climate, the environmental movement is strong in its development and is close to breaking through to become a standard aspect of day-to-day business. So, with that reality in mind, companies need to be prepared and designate a leader to handle this segment of a company's DNA.<br /><br />Coupled with the trend of hiring a CSO... lower level 'green jobs' are on the rise as well. Colleges and universities are reacting to the trend as well and are now incorporating 'environmental' and 'sustainable' focuses into their undergrad and graduate business curriculum.<br /><br />It is very apparent, the environmental movement has been one of innovation and action. The trailblazing companies are reaping the benefits now, but they also understand that long term, leadership has to be in place within the organization to continuously monitor the pulse of the green movement within their industry, and throughout other industries.<br /><br />In the past, some companies were content to follow the trailblazers and let the success spill over so they too could achieve. But with the economy and the detailed scope of the environmental and sustainable movement, it is not a safe bet to count on that theory or approach to keep a company healthy and successful.</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />Bottom line, what is your company doing to acknowledge the changing paradigms of organizational structure? Where does your company's awareness level rate when looking at 'green jobs' from the top down? Is this lack of recognition affecting your business?<br /></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >-- CardPak Inc.</span></span>CardPak Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05994528055033685505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7508870803751165565.post-32679630387271721062009-05-01T22:56:00.002-04:002009-05-01T22:58:51.558-04:00CardPak Leads in Environmentally-Sustainable Packaging<span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://www.graphicartsonline.com/article/CA6655454.html?industryid=47502"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">CardPak</span> Leads in Environmentally-Sustainable Packaging</span></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: trebuchet ms;">As the printing and packaging industries adopt green initiatives in manufacturing processes, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">CardPak</span> leads in its initiatives.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">CardPak</span> Inc., a manufacturer of environmentally sustainable packaging products, was an early proponent of the "green" movement, and offers a complete line of packaging solutions that reduce the amount of total materials and plastics used in retail packaging, thereby reducing the company's, retailers' and end-users' carbon footprints.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">"We are very dedicated to the growing movement to protect the environment," said Tony <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Petrelli</span>, president, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">CardPak</span>. "Aside from manufacturing our products with recycled renewable and/or sustainable materials, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">CardPak</span> also has adopted a lean manufacturing strategy which reduces manufacturing waste and recycles scrap fiber waste, while reducing energy consumption in our manufacturing processes."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Taking that a step further, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">CardPak</span> is joining with the Solon schools and the National Paperboard Packaging Council in sponsoring the Trees Into Cartons, Cartons Into Trees Program. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">TICCIT</span> (pronounced "ticket") is an outreach and education program highlighting the natural <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">renewability</span> and sustainability of paperboard packaging. And at the center of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">TICCIT</span> is a mainstay of the typical school day: the milk carton.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">As part of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">TICCIT</span>, milk cartons are collected out of schools' waste streams and re-used for planting new trees. Seeds and saplings are planted in the cartons, and then the new "carton-and-tree units" are planted in the ground. The cartons provide protection and a natural "water funnel" for the new trees. As the trees grow, the cartons break down, completing the trees into cartons, cartons into trees cycle.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">The company's environmental efforts have not gone unnoticed. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">CardPak</span> recently received an "Evolution of Manufacturing" Award from Smart Business Cleveland magazine. The magazine recently honored 15 innovative Northeast Ohio companies who have adopted "green" initiatives in their manufacturing processes.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">"We are very proud to receive this honor, and we are grateful that our efforts in environmental manufacturing processes and products are being noticed," <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Petrelli</span> added.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: trebuchet ms;">-- <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">CardPak</span> Inc.</span></span>CardPak Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05994528055033685505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7508870803751165565.post-91535135708586224252009-04-29T08:13:00.009-04:002009-05-01T10:18:09.754-04:00Fluorescent Lightbulb Packaging & Recycling Program<p style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Waste Management Introduces Fluorescent Lightbulb Packaging & Recycling Program: </span>First product for recycling compact fluorescent lightbulbs also reduces mercury risks<br /><br /></span></p> <p style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Waste Management, Inc. announced that it will provide Earthmate(R) compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs) in recyclable packaging that also doubles as a CFL recycling kit.<br /><br /></span></p> <p style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;">This new product includes Earthmate CFLs packaged in a resealable box lined with Waste Management's patent pending Mercury VaporLok(TM) technology, which is designed to reduce the risk of airborne mercury exposure and environmental contamination from lamps broken during storage and shipping. The box is suitable for storing used CFLs and is approved for shipping by the United States Postal Service. Consumers return used CFLs in a postage paid shipping container to the Waste Management lamp recycling center simply by mailing them from home or any one of over 34,000 United States Postal Offices across the country.<br /><br /></span></p> <p style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;">The recycling kits are available at <a href="http://www.thinkgreenfromhome.com/">www.ThinkGreenFromHome.com</a>, Waste Management's streamlined online service for the recycling of universal household waste, including CFLs, batteries, and household electronics.<br /><br /></span></p> <p style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;">"We are excited to be the first company to offer this innovative product, designed to help consumers properly dispose of household universal waste as safely and conveniently as possible," said Rick Cochrane, senior business director of Waste Management's LampTracker(R) program.<br><br></span></p> <p style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;">"We are offering consumers the first 'cradle-to-cradle' solution for CFL usage," said Jim Ouellette, vice president of Earthmate. "Now consumers can purchase and recycle their CFLs in one package and from the convenience of their home. The kit is the simplest and most convenient solution for the disposal of CFLs."<br><br></span></p> <p style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;">CFLs have gained popularity because they provide a quick and convenient way for households and businesses to reduce their electricity consumption. According to the U.S. Department of Energy's ENERGY STAR program, CFL shipments have grown from 21 million lamps in 2000 to nearly 400 million lamps in 2007. Aided by the new National Energy Plan, which phases out certain incandescent models in the coming years, it is projected that over 4 billion CFLs will be in households by 2012.<br><br></span></p> <p style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;">CFLs are up to 75% more energy efficient than traditional incandescent bulbs, but because CFLs contain trace amounts of mercury, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends they be recycled and some states have passed mandatory recycling laws for CFLs. Earthmate CFLs contain an average of only one milligram of mercury - a 75% reduction compared to the four milligrams of mercury in standard CFLs.<br><br></span></p> <p style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;">"With the increasing popularity of CFLs, it is important to develop a recycling solution that is easy for consumers to use," said Matt Hale, director of EPA's Office of Solid Waste. "EPA applauds Earthmate and Waste Management for taking the first steps to expand recycling options for CFLs, reduce the amount of usable materials going to landfills and make recycling a CFL as easy as mailing a postcard. EPA encourages other companies to follow this example."<br><br></span></p><p style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;">This new product, along with the other recycling options at <a href="http://www.thinkgreenfromhome.com/">www.ThinkGreenFromHome.com</a>, is part of Waste Management's sustainability initiative committing the company to nearly tripling the amount of material it recycles by 2020.<br><br></span></p><p style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >Source: Waste Management, Inc.</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" ><br /><br></span></p><p style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" >-- CardPak Inc.</span></p>CardPak Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05994528055033685505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7508870803751165565.post-59725413139992648512009-04-15T16:00:00.000-04:002009-04-15T16:02:46.189-04:00Picture perfect<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.nikonecobins.com/images/stories/ecobins-packaging-main.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 387px; height: 184px;" src="http://www.nikonecobins.com/images/stories/ecobins-packaging-main.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Nikon has releases a new product - <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Ecobins</span> 'green' binoculars, where all components; the binoculars, the carrying case, and the retail packaging are all 'green', sustainable, and environmentally friendly.<br /><br />This comes off as one of the best examples of what is possible when going to market with a vision of what is truly important... and believing in the environmental movement within the consumer market.<br /><br />Below are the specs of the packaging... <a href="http://www.nikonecobins.com/nikon-ecobins-packaging.html">click here</a> for the specs of the binoculars and carrying case as well.</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Green Packaging Features:</span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >* Nikon <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Ecobins</span> binocular packaging is constructed from 85% recycled material</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >* Printed on recyclable and waterproof <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">FiberStone</span>™ paper</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >* <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">FiberStone</span>™ paper is TREE-FREE and created from post-consumer limestone collected from existing quarries</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >* <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">FiberStone</span>™ paper is made with a clean production process that does not utilize water or emit toxins into the air</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >* <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">FiberStone</span>™ paper is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">photodegradable</span> after a period of about one year!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >-- <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">CardPak</span> Inc.</span></span>CardPak Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05994528055033685505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7508870803751165565.post-86474866958426553132009-04-13T14:30:00.006-04:002009-05-01T10:52:25.478-04:00Want True Sustainability? Then Design to Seduce<span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://www.fastcompany.com/blog/gadi-amit/new-deal/want-true-sustainability-then-design-seduce"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Want True Sustainability? Then Design to Seduce</span></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">By </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://www.fastcompany.com/user/gadi-amit">Gadi Amit</a><span style="text-decoration: underline;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /><br /></span></span><p style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> <span style="font-style: italic;">Sustainable design is a hot topic. While most people applaud the idea of designers using ecofriendly materials, others insist that that's missing the point--that by designing for mass consumption, designers are still part of the problem, not the solution. I disagree.<br /><br /></span></span></p> <p style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> The Designers Accord, the global initiative that unites designers, engineers, educators and others around the idea of incorporating sustainability into all practices and production, is a remarkable achievement. Yet, before I signed on, I wanted to have a talk with Valerie Casey, the founder of the movement.<br /><br /></span></p> <p style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> I told her that it bothers me that almost invariably, sustainability is framed as an 'anti' movement. It mostly tells us what not to do. While that's often right, I would add a caveat. For true sustainability, we need to make a more profound culture change--one that involves more than the right standards, specs, or agreements. We should harken back to design in its classical sense, in which an object is so beautiful or functional or otherwise pleasing that it elicits an emotional reaction.<br /><br /></span></p><p style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> Here's an example. Remember GM's EV1? Introduced in 1996, it was first modern production electric vehicle from a major automaker. After problems developed with its batteries in hot weather, the cars were discontinued and crushed. The EV1 was not the first electric vehicle, and it was not the first vehicle to be 'killed' either. However, it was the first loved EV to be 'killed'. It became a symbol--of the promise of what-could-have-been and a demonstration of what-GM-couldn't-be. As I drove it back in the '90s, I vividly remember thinking, "This is one cool car… I want one!" And that's the role of design in our era: Encouraging people to change, by making products so beautiful that they're tools of seduction to a new, better world. Design in that classical sense is missing in many sustainability discussions.<br /><br /></span></p> <p style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> Seduction is not design's only power. Designers also can create long-term commitment. Think of it this way: if the average car buyer holds on to his car for six years instead of the usual three, we can change the auto industry overnight. Regardless of the car's carbon footprint, any car designed and built for a six-year ownership cycle will be good for our planet. Despite its good intentions, even recycling is not really sustainable. By shipping short-term products, we squander energy, natural resources and public goodwill. Reliability of cars is so high today (yes, even American cars) that the real reason cars are traded in sooner than sx years is lack of love. Loved cars are not given away easily.<br /><br /></span></p><p style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"> The same is true for any other product. A great dress you keep for years is sustainable. A great sofa passed from one generation to the next is sustainable. By this measure, things that might not otherwise be deemed 'sustainable' may actually be more so than less endearing products made with more ecofriendly materials. Take Apple's latest MacBook. To create its aluminum case, engineers take a sheet of aluminum 15mm thick and machine away 90% of its mass. They then regrind and smelt the leftovers up to 20 times to make 20 more notebooks--hardly a 'sustainable' practice from an energy use and dematerialization standpoint. However the resulting product is beautiful and solid as a rock. I will keep mine for a long time--unless they force its obsolescence through software--because I simply love it! And that's the most sustainable point about it.</span><br /><br></span></p> <p style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> <span style="font-size:100%;"><em><a href="http://www.fastcompany.com/user/gadi-amit">Gadi Amit</a> is the president of NewDealDesign LLC, a strategic design studio in San Francisco. Founded in 2000, NDD has worked with such clients as Better Place, Sling Media, Palm, Dell, Microsoft, and Fujitsu, among others, and has won more than 70 design awards. Amit is passionate about creating design that is both socially responsible and generates real world success.<br><br></em></span></p><p style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><em></em><span style="font-weight: bold;">-- CardPak Inc.</span></span></p><p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"> </p>CardPak Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05994528055033685505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7508870803751165565.post-47449415948859916672009-04-03T08:34:00.003-04:002009-04-03T08:41:03.055-04:00"Green" packaging sales top $37 billion<span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">US demand for recycled-content, biodegradable-plastic and reusable packaging is increasing 3.4 percent annually. Total sales to reach nearly $44 billion in 2013.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >Converting Magazine (Press Release) - </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">US demand for green packaging -- comprised of recycled content, biodegradable and reusable packaging -- is projected to increase 3.4 percent annually to $43.9 billion in 2013, using 59 billion pounds of material. Growth will outpace overall packaging but will remain modest due to the maturity of many products and the fact that recycled content packaging has a large existing presence in paperboard and metal packaging.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> The fastest gains are anticipated for biodegradable plastic packaging and plastic recycled content packaging. Biodegradable plastic packaging is forecast to climb nearly 13 percent per year through 2013, driven by increased price competitiveness with conventional resins, rapidly expanding capacity and lower pricing volatility than petroleum-based plastic packaging materials. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> Additional stimulants include enhanced performance properties brought about by more sophisticated polymerizaton and blending techniques; efforts by brand owners to improve the environmental footprint of their packaging; and legislative bans on polystyrene foam foodservice disposables in some parts of the country. These and other trends are presented in Green Packaging, a new study from </span><strong style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">The Freedonia Group, Inc.,</strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> a Cleveland-based industry research firm.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> While recycled content packaging demand is expected to increase in line with the overall green packaging average, robust growth for plastic recycled content packaging will be aided by more concerted efforts to boost collection volume, an increased focus on the development of food-contact approved resin grades, and further sustainability initiatives by plastic processors and brand owners. Gains will be moderated by slow growth for paper recycled content packaging, which is dominated by the large but mature corrugated and paperboard box segment. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> Reusable packaging is forecast to expand more slowly, held back by marginal growth for drums, which face competition from larger formats such as intermediate bulk containers (IBCs). More favorable prospects are anticipated for reusable plastic containers, IBCs and other reusable packaging types. In general, value gains will decelerate sharply from the 2003-2008 pace due to an expected moderation in raw material prices, especially for plastic and steel. The relatively long service life of most reusable packaging also limits the need for replacements, a factor that restricts growth in demand for new units.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >-- CardPak Inc.</span></span>CardPak Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05994528055033685505noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7508870803751165565.post-87495959562578547742009-03-24T09:10:00.001-04:002009-04-13T14:32:03.394-04:00Sony DVD packaging goes green<span style="font-size:100%;"><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118001497.html?categoryid=1009&cs=1&nid=2562"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Sony DVD packaging goes green</span></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >- Suzanne Ault</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Paul Blart: Mall Cop has a new job, as Sony Pictures Home Entertainment's green ambassador.</span></span><p style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;">The title, releasing on DVD and Blu-ray May 19, will kick-off a launching a massive green packaging initiative at the studio.</span></p><p style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;">From Mall Cop on, all of Sony's single-disc standard-definition DVDs will incorporate ultra-light cases that feature 20% less plastic than Sony's previous single-disc standard DVDs and will be covered with plastic shrinkwrap that is 20% lighter. The printed artwork that wraps around boxes will use paper that contains 30% post-consumer waste. Previously, Sony had been using 100% virgin paper.</span></p><p style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;">The studio's goal is to reduce carbon emissions associated with its DVD manufacturing and distribution by 2 million pounds in North America by the end of 2009.</span></p><p style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;">"What we were looking to do was be efficient and over time, deliver cost savings," said Lexine Wong, senior executive VP of worldwide marketing for SPHE.</span></p><p style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;">The lighter cases also should help the studio trim both packaging costs and freight charges.</span></p><p style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;">"For the last couple of years, we have been looking at ways to be sustainable and make a difference," said Wong. "I think our industry and our studio is really committed to environmental issues. All the studios are."</span></p><p style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;">The Mall Cop box has walls that are cut out to use less plastic. The DVD also will be packaged without a cardboard outer sleeve, saving more than 2,200 trees, or 322 tons of wood, according to Sony. </span></p><p style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Several studios have been using greener packaging solutions, following Wal-Mart mandates that vendors both clamp down on carbon emissions and reduce packaging.</span></p><p style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Already studios have worked to meet Wal-Mart's goals, slimming average DVD packaging weight by about 30% between 2006 and 2008. The carbon imprint for a title (encompassing emissions from manufacturing, packaging and transportation to retail) dropped to 0.98 lbs. in 2008, down from 1.1 lbs. in 2006, according to the Digital Entertainment Group.</span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">-- CardPak Inc.</span></span></p>CardPak Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/05994528055033685505noreply@blogger.com0