Sustainable Packaging: Page 604

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

Blisters/clamshells/thermoforming materials

Thermoformable anti-static sheet

Mustang MRC-11 is an economical, clear, anti-static PVC-based sheet from Ex-Tech Plastics (Richmond, IL). It's designed for packaging connectors and other ESD-sensitive devices to be transported and used within static-sensitive environments.

January 31, 1997

Containers

Recycling program

Schutz Container Systems, Inc. (North Branch, NJ) announced a program for the return, refurbishment and reuse of IBCs in North America. The Schutz IBC North American Ticket is patterned after a similar IBC program Schutz established in Europe in 1993 called Euroticket.

January 31, 1997

Sustainability

IBC serves up savings for sauce maker

Pepper Source reduces its packaging and distribution costs with a reusable bulk container that saves in both shipping and receiving, says maker of sauces, marinades and glazes.

January 31, 1997

Protective/transport packaging

Air cushioning products

Air-Recycle Packaging (Stow, MA) has introduced a reusable, recyclable cushioning concept that is inflated to protect products during shipment. It can be made from PU or other air-holding materials, depending on requirements for strength, durability or color.

January 31, 1997

Conveying & accumulation

United Distillers bulks up on savings

United Distillers saves $400ꯠ in freight and corrugated costs by purchasing bottles in bulk rather than in reshippers, and by shipping outgoing product in a Bliss-style case rather than the reshipper. New depalletizer, case erectors, case taper and inspection systems boost efficiency on 1.75-L spirits line.

January 31, 1997