Sustainability

Bottles grow 'greener' with PCR

It took three years of development work, HDPE bottles produced for Clorox household cleaners by Owens-Brockway now incorporate 25% PCR material.

March 31, 1997

Sustainability: Page 350

Protective/transport packaging

Distribution packaging by the numbers

Using real-world shock and vibration data to design your pack can speed development, prevent damage and economize on materials. Collecting such data isn't easy, but now new ideas for sharing the burden-with the help of the Internet-are taking root in the

March 31, 1997

Sustainable Packaging

Life-cycle analysis gains political cachet

The President's Council on Sustainable Development (PCSD), having received a new lease on life, will be pushing ahead with its efforts to proselytize on behalf of "Extended Product Responsibility (EPR)," a concept that has numerous implications for users of packaging.

March 31, 1997

Coding, Printing & Labeling

Avoiding eco-seals

Coming up with international eco-labeling standards that don't impede U.S. packagers is important, according to Karil Kochenderfer, director of environmental affairs for the Grocery Manufacturers of America (GMA), testifying before Congress in late February.

March 31, 1997

Protective/transport packaging

Beaulieu tries starch-based cushioning

A 97-year-old Napa Valley winery is embracing today's latest environmentally-sound technology to protect wine bottles it ships in pairs across the country via small-parcel carriers as part of its wine society program.

March 31, 1997

Sustainable Packaging

Designers pick top ten

What will be hot in '97?

February 28, 1997

Flexible packaging

Foods fit fine in flexibles

Half of the 12 winners in this year's FPA awards competition for excellence in flexible packaging are food packages. A broad range of food categories are represented.

February 28, 1997

Flexibles

EPA tries to color converters 'green'

Pricing and performance of flexible packaging could be affected by EPA's new regulatory programs and by voluntary changes, too.

February 28, 1997

Sustainable Packaging

More mandates?

A downturn in plastics recycling markets could signal trouble for packagers. Some companies have stopped buying recycled plastics, inhibiting an already underdeveloped plastics recycling infrastructure.

February 28, 1997

Flexible packaging

Medical/surgical packs make a strong FPA showing

Among medical industry packages to win FPA awards this year was a thermoformed pouch that won the Green Globe Award for environmental achievement.

February 28, 1997

Flexible packaging

Of communion cups and stand-up pouches

These three FPA award winners represent different industries to be sure, but they all have one thing in common: Their use of flexible films to meet packaging challenges.

February 28, 1997

Coding, Printing & Labeling

Ciba slashes costs with flexible pack

Ciba Crop Protection, Greensboro, NC, reduced its packaging costs by more than half after switching to a custom 25-lb premade bag for its granular ant bait product used by farmers.

February 28, 1997

Coding, Printing & Labeling

Reusable packs could diminish corrugated demand

Although the environment is no longer a hot packaging issue in the U.S., global companies must contend with European regulations that target shipping containers and other transport packaging.

February 28, 1997