Sustainability

Saving more than just peanuts

Bookstore chain Borders Group moves to a customized loose-fill system for distribution of its products to stores nationwide. Yearly savings are in excess of one million dollars.

January 31, 1998

Recycling: Page 411

Protective/transport packaging

Honeycomb secures paper for Pactiv's rail shipments

Four Pactiv mills switch from wood to a honeycomb paper roll securement system for railcar shipments of brown paper used by corrugating plants. The system helps reduce damage and mill worker injuries.

January 31, 1998

Additives, coatings & inks

Danone launches biodegradable 'Eco Cup'

A biodegradable single-serve yogurt cup with heat-sealed foil lid appeared on store shelves in Germany last month as Munich-based Danone GmbH Deutschland relaunched its nine-flavor Jahreszeit line in a cup thermoformed from polylactic acid (PLA) resin.

January 31, 1998

Blisters/clamshells/thermoforming materials

Combo checkweigher/metal detectors save space for Keebler

Compact and highly accurate, combo checkweighers and metal detectors at Keebler's Macon, GA, bakery are meeting special needs.

December 31, 1997

Flexibles

Fruitopia launched in 20-oz PET bottle

Rolling out this month are new 20-oz plastic bottles of Fruitopia from Atlanta-based Coca-Cola USA. The polyethylene terephthalate bottles are from multiple sources.

December 31, 1997

Tamper-evident machinery

Experimenting with Web-based tech support

Frustrated with flipping through a manual to solve a tech support problem?

December 31, 1997

Coding, Printing & Labeling

What's SAFE from OSHA? (sidebar)

EPA loosens up on labels

December 31, 1997

Flexibles

3M saves bundles with new bundle

The Audio and Video Products Div. of St. Paul, MN-based 3M Co. has scored an impressive victory in packaging source reduction. This leading producer of bulk videotape for the film duplication industry designed a returnable and reusable package for its products that: * eliminates 1.4 million cu' of waste annually, * reduces the number of packaging components from 11 to three, * reduces the variety of packaging materials from five to two, * reduces labor costs not only in 3M's Hutchinson, MN, plant but at its customers' plants, too, and, * saves $4 million annually in packaging costs.

November 30, 1997

Consumer packaged goods

Breaking out of the jewel box

New York-based record company 32 Records launched its 32 Jazz label this April with a new CD package reminiscent of LP packaging. Company spokesman Joel Dorn cites durability of the package, made of both paperboard and polystyrene, as well as its fully printable paperboard surface, as keys to the company's decision.

November 30, 1997

Protective/transport packaging

HP picks PE foam for 'green' packs

At Hewlett-Packard's Boise, ID, disk and tape drive manufacturing plant, management sought an alternative to polyurethane foam packaging, which is taxed by European governments because it is so rarely recycled.

November 30, 1997

Sustainable Packaging

GMA participates in "America Recycles Day"

At an October 1 White House "America Recycles Day" ceremony, the Grocery Manufacturers of America reaffirmed its ongoing commitment to reduce solid waste.

November 30, 1997

Controls & Machine Components

Plastic pallet

A plastic rackable pallet called LEXtra is available from Composite Mfg. (Toronto, Ontario, Canada). LEXtra measures 40" x 48", weighs less than 65 lb, has a load-bearing capacity of 2꼀 lb and provides four-way entry.

October 31, 1997

Protective/transport packaging

Protective pads

Pyramid Pads from Sus-Rap Packaging (Danville, VA) are three-sided, pre-folded corrugated corner protectors designed for crush resistance, clearance and cushioning.

October 31, 1997