Protective/transport packaging

Reusable PVC clamshells short-circuit waste for Lucent

Telecommunications component supplier slashes materials and labor costs by shifting to vinyl clamshell packs for printed circuit boards. Now Lucent asks some customers to return them for reuse.

January 31, 1998

Sustainable Packaging: Page 594

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

Sustainability

Organic labeling rules proposed

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is accepting comments on its proposal to establish uniform federal standards for use of the term "organic" in labeling both raw and processed foods.

January 31, 1998

Containers

Reusable pallet strap

AGM (Tucson, AZ) has introduced a reusable pallet strap as a waste-reduction alternative to throwaway banding and shrink wrap. The strapping system consists of AGM's over-center KevLok buckle, high-strength bulked nylon webbing and pallet hooks at each end.

January 31, 1998

Protective/transport packaging

Reusable PVC clamshells short-circuit waste for Lucent (sidebar)

Bellcore rules: Setting the spec

January 31, 1998

Flexibles

Paper pulp molders share successes, shortcomings

New molded pulp producers group meets to assess status and learn new technologies. Packagers report on applications, identify areas that need help.

January 31, 1998

Sustainable Packaging

Should paperboard buyers turn white with fright?

EPA "cluster" rule forces bleached pulp mills to spend millions to clean up air and water emissions. Quality, cost, even availability may become a question mark.

January 31, 1998

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

Controls & Machine Components

Two new lines for Pepsi bottler

Bottlers of Pepsi Cola in Venezuela, Sopresa (Polar Group) will install two complete filling and packaging lines for returnable glass into a brand new factory in Maracaibo.

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

Flexible packaging

New Year's promise: Further packaging advances

There's a better-than-even chance we'll see a surge in packaging advances this year. Packaging developers in a host of segments see the promise of their long labors bearing fruit in 1998.

December 31, 1997