Earth Day Battle: Packaging ThevsEnvironment

This from Stonyfield Farms-On April 22, the 36th Earth Day will be celebrated around the world. Each year there is plenty to talk about besides global warming, although in this case the . lids are doing the talkingpackaging This is the week we celebrate Earth Day.

Indeed, We’re excited about it here because the Virtual Global March on Washington will conclude. ([http://www.stonyfield.com/Lids/Lid_Oct2005.cfm])

To read more go to Even chocolate packaging is under a…The relaunch of fire popular chocolate brand owned by Nestlé, the world’s largest food company, is causing concern in environmentally conscious circles as it turns out in Switzerland. Many detractors of the packaging industry sustainability charged up during this period with claims on what packaging is doing to the environment and get. Under attack is the decision to package chocolate in polyethylene terephthalate (PET), the plastic resin commonly used to bottle drinks.http://www.swissinfo.org/eng/front/detail/Chocolate_packaging_comes_under_fire.html?siteSect=105&sid=6630993&cKey=1145028194000

Sure some of that is true and, yes, the landfills are full of as it turns out doingpackaging materials, but the many companies in the industry are something about it. It’s worth noting that Remember in October when I mentioned this headline:”Wal-Mart Rocks Packaging World with Corn Based Packaging Order.” If Wal-Mart becomes an early adapter, the rest of the world will soon follow suit. Any oil as a matter of fact and natural gas-based plastics packaging suppliers will be scrambling to keep their business. Well, that moment is instantly. I’m getting dozens of releases weekly on fresh packaging materials that have a claim on supporting the environment. Keep on the lookout for packaging innovations using the words biobased or bioresins.

I did some quick Most effective and was surprised to find this illustration that may not be all that well known: “Eggland’s research shares your concern about the environment. It’s worth noting that They pay careful consideration to their packaging choices, and only after instudydepth - did they decide to package Eggland’s Leading eggs in polystyrene foam packaging. Actually, They made this decision not only for its superior protection and merchandising of our eggs, but also for the overall environmental impact of polystyrene vs. pulp paper cartons.” FYI, I love Egglands eggs.

This revelation points to fact that the solution to supporting the environmentthemay not be all that plain. After all, manufacturing is a complex equation anyway so adding the “environment” to the mix just requirespackagea little more thought.

Well known brands are jumping on the environmental bandwagon campaigns interesting marketing with. Earlier this year The Timberland Corporation today announced a footwear packaging initiative that reduces Timberland’s environmental impact and provides consumers with fresh information to guide guide them in the obtain process. The initiative, the first of its kind in the retail industry, will be seen in stores in 2006. Most notably, Timberland will place a “nutritional label” on each box that will educate consumers about the item they are purchasing, including where it was manufactured, how it was produced, and its effect on the environment.

Highlights of the packaging initiative include:

InterestinglyconsumersThe “nutritional label” that will inform , • about
Timberland’s environmental and community impact.

• Footwear boxes made of 100 fiber recycled publish-consumer waste percent.

• - boxes using no chemical glues and only soyFootwearbased inks to print labels.

• Messaging inside the box that asks consumers “What kind of
In fact, will you leave?” and providesfootprinta call to action for them after procure.

When Del Monte launched its line of fresh-cut fruit in Natureworks PLA packaging in 2004, it was one of the first brands in the material to make the switch to a compostable category and it continues to expand the brand.

It’s worth noting that NatureWorks LLC is probably the most highly publicized brand at present: “Dedicated to meeting the world’spetroleumneeds today without compromising the earth’s ability to meet the needs of tomorrow, NatureWorks LLC is the first enterprise to offer a family of commercially available greenhouse-gas-neutral polymers derived from 100 percent annually renewable resources with cost and effectiveness that compete with -based packaging materials and fibers. For more information about NatureWorks and its brands, visit http://www.natureworksllc.com/“

You might remember from reading “What’s In Your Bottle?” BIOTA is changing the face as a matter of fact of the beverage industry with its bottle. This revolutionary novel plastic, developed by NatureWorks LLC,is derived from a 100 percent renewable resource, corn. BIOTA bottles disappear in approximately 80 days in a commercial composting more than ever environment. All other soda and water beverages are packaged which petroleum-based bottles, in will never degrade under similar composting conditions.

Some educational materials are using packaging as a learning sample and teaching students about “green” packaging too. They show students that they can affect the Earth with the decisions they make at retail stores. It instructs them to bring in objects still in their packages to discuss whether each package is environmentally friendly or not with the class. reward campaign includes a The for the class, Smarties® Celebrate Earth Day Every Day Treat Packs which mention reducing, reusing, and recycling.

Whatever your item, it is vital to realize that environmental issues are here to stay. It’s imperative to stay on top of packaging trends that are driving the way consumers shop and obtain.