Sustainable Packaging

Thermal shipper protects H1N1 vaccines for Chicago

To prepare for a possible H1N1 pandemic, the Chicago Dept. of Public Health employed 100 insulated shippers to maintain refrigerated vials used to deliver 100,000 doses of the vaccine.

April 1, 2010

Prepared Foods: Page 18

Sustainability

The role of LCI

A recent study conducted at Cal Poly State University, through its Packaging Research Consortium, involved a Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) based analysis and comparison of three one-gallon HDPE bottles currently available in United States.

April 1, 2010

Flexibles

Convenience foods to drive frozen food packaging

Demand for frozen food packaging is projected to climb 3.7% per year to $6.8 billion by 2013.

March 31, 2010

Flexible packaging

Case study in automating the bagging of frozen meals

By automating the bagging of its frozen Asian entrées, Kahiki Foods reduces labor costs by 65%, without eliminating workers.

March 22, 2010

Contract Packaging

Powerful emotions surface as packaging pros weigh in on economic uncertainty

The impact of the 2009 economy evoked strong emotions among salary survey respondents who expressed everything from despair over lost jobs to enthusiasm about new opportunities.

March 16, 2010

Flexibles

Pasta bowl pouch delivers heat-and-eat convenience

It’s going to be hard to top The Time-Wise Bowl stand-up pouch for consumer convenience.

March 9, 2010

Sustainability

Packaging, medical devices critical to emergency room procedures

HealthPack 2010 conference sessions report that packages, devices must work in life or death situations. Meanwhile, ER nurses evaluate medical device packages.

March 3, 2010

Coding, Printing & Labeling

Expiration dates on labels only cause confusion

Ignore expiration dates, says one author, and use your eyes and nose to determine what’s fresh enough to consume.

February 19, 2010

Secondary Packaging

Video: Automatic Cartoner - up to 40 CPM

The Spartan Cartoner: Intermittent, horizontal cartoner for erecting, loading and closing glue or tuck style cartons at up to 40 cpm. This video from Econocorp shows automatic bottle orienting, loading, and cartoning on a nutriceutical production line.

February 10, 2010

Blisters/clamshells/thermoforming materials

Study: Package damage significantly affects sales in freezer case

A new study in the frozen-foods aisle has found that damaged packaging profoundly affects shoppers’ purchasing decisions.

February 4, 2010

Protective/transport packaging

PUR pack extends cheesecake company's reach

Cold-chain packaging using custom-molded polyurethane foam cushions protects Jubilations’ gourmet cheesecakes over long distances, cuts shipping costs.

January 8, 2010

Flexibles

Nestlé replaces CPET with paperboard for Stouffer's trays

A change from plastic to paperboard trays for family-size Stouffer’s entrées, as well as other packaging changes, yields a material savings for Nestle of nearly 3,000 tons annually.

December 16, 2009

Sustainability

Healthcare packaging: Forecast 2010

An optimistic job outlook, Rx-to-OTC switches, and upbeat packaging sales predictions offer a beacon of hope for healthcare product packagers.

December 7, 2009