Every packaging controversy--from 1982’s Chicago Tylenol poisoning to today’s wrap rage--causes concern for the packaging press as we watch public opinion spin out of control.
Rarely are both sides presented fairly, and even more rare is the packaging industry ever credited with quick reaction or responsible behavior.
Just mention to anyone you meet outside of the industry what your job is, and you are bound to get an earful of talk regarding pollution, landfills, tampering, impossible to open packages, etc.
The sustainability movement should lead to better public opinion of packaging, but the issue is complex and is not handled well by the popular press who need to boil everything down to a 30-second segment.
Certainly the controversy surrounding BPA is another case. Nutritional Outlook publisher, Jim Wagner, tackles the issue with a thorough review of where it stands today, as well as looks at how the packaging market has responded with BPA-free materials and innovative new packages.
Kudos to Jim Wagner for his research and reporting. One of the goals for posting these types of articles on twitter is the hope that people outside our industry will see how packaging professionals respond to crisis.
Follow me on twitter as I write about what my colleagues in packaging are writing about.
