Sustainable Packaging

This haircare producer begins filling creme relaxer into nestable yogurt-style cups with freshness seals. The switch from traditional jars not only keeps the product fresh, it aids in product display as well.

Flex-E-Wrap from Prompac Industries (Staten Island, NY) is a reusable cushioning material made from recycled kraft paper. It's designed as an environmentally friendly and space-saving alternative to bubble wrap.

Packagers who've struggled to comply with both Federal Trade Commission and New York state environmental claims guidelines may be in for some good news.

That may not have been the question posed in a recent Dept. of Energy/U.S. glassmakers workshop on technology. But Anchor Glass' James Malone tried to answer it.

The top award in container distributors competition was won by a coextruded drug bottle that keeps out light and moisture. Other winners display distributor prowess in technology, decorating and sourcing of components that meet packager needs.

The four primary goals of packaging-product protection, identification, dispensing and merchandising-won't change in the 21st century. But as we near that milestone, the market forces that more subtly affect packaging are evolving.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is reworking its environmental marketing guidelines to ensure that consumers better understand the various claims made on packages and in advertising.