GREEN PACKAGING
Debolina Dashttp://debolinadas.com/http://ca.linkedin.com/in/debolinadas
Traditional Packaging-Environment Killer?
Over five trillion plastics bags used every year = almost one million consumed every minute
Non-biodegradable eg. Plastics, Styrofoam
Landscape litter = emission of toxic gases
Go into soil and water killing 100,000 animals every year
Green Packaging – The New Trend?
Demand for Green Packaging projected to increase 5.7% yearly to $211.8 billion in 2015
58 billion lb of material to be consumed from the environment
Strong growth in Asia, but U.S. remains leading market
Increasingly affecting consumer’s choice of product
Green Packaging- The New Trend?
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2005 2010 2015
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World Green Packaging Demand
Other Regions
Asia/Pacific
Western Europe
North America
Pack it Green!
Optimises environmental performance
- responsibly sourced materials
- biodegradable
Meet market criteria
- performance, cost, reliability
Meet consumer choice and expectations
Be recovered efficiently after use
COMPASS (Comparative Packaging Assessment)
– Emission & consumption metrics, etc.
SPC (Sustainable Packaging Council)
– NPO for the USA, Canada & Europe regions
– 200+ member organizations
Metrics
Examples of Sustainable Materials
• Banana peels
• Coconut hulls
• Palm• Rice hulls
• Sugar beets
• Industrial waste
• Sustainable wood products
Advantages
PACK GREEN
COST SAVINGS
ATTRACT CUSTOMERS
INCREASED SPACE
MAINTAIN BUSINESS
DELL
Started Green Packaging initiative in 2008
Ranked among top 5 most green companies in 2012
Eliminated about 20 million pounds of packaging for its laptop and desktop computers across the world
Savings of $8.1 million by 2012 end.
The 3 C’s – Innovation in Packaging Design
CUBE
• Package size decrease by 10% by MultiPack Packaging
• Package volume down by 12.1%
CONTENT
• Use recyclable/ sustainable materials-up by 40%
• Bamboo and Mushroom packaging
• Cushioning made from recycled materials
CURB
• Provide more recyclable packaging for customers
• Use 75% recyclable contents
Bamboo Packaging
Sourced in China (75% of manufacturing operations )
FSC certified bamboo used
Very durable- more than steel
Grows very fast – no replanting required
Promotes healthy soil
EcoCradle – Mushroom Packaging
Environment waste compressed to produce mold
Mushroom grown on it
Reaction produces material similar to Styrofoam
Less energy used to produce package
Triumph over Challenges
Danger of food depletion of the Panda - bamboo
What they did:
FSC standards ensure that sourced bamboo is far from their habitats
Type of harvested bamboo not eaten by Pandas
Going Forward
Satisfying the needs of a growing population
Competitive edge only temporary?
Possibilities of alternate environment depletion
Discussion
• Should “sustainable” companies change products to suit packaging materials?
• What are some intangible disadvantages to green packaging?
Take-Away
Think beyond the sale
A fine balance between raw material sourcing and waste reduction
Packaging only a section of the inter-connected sustainability life cycle
Appendix
Reference
• The Freedonia Group Inc., August 18, 2011. World "green" packaging demand to reach $212B in 2015.
• Terry, L., April 2012. Packaging Goes Green. Inbound Logistics.
• Atkinson, W., July 2008. Green Packaging: Waste Not, Want Not. Inbound Logistics.