Common Sense and Sustainability
Common Sense and Sustainability Blog, a practical and often humorous perspective on sustainability, specifically the packaging industry.
“Reusable” Packaging is Bigger than Expected
On January 9th I wrote a post on this blog about what I saw to be a trend in the use of packaging designed for reuse. I also wrote about packaging reuse on my blog, Inside Sustainable Packaging, and would eagerly share that opinion with anyone interested and willing to listen. A few months later I have to admit I may have grossly underestimated the interest and potential. Reuse is clearly the new ...... Read More
Comments (7)Mainstream Media Not Very Sustainable on the Environment
With another Earth Day upon us and especially with this being the 40th anniversary of the very first Earth Day, you can expect an avalanche of positive and upbeat green stories in every newspaper, magazine, radio, TV and of course all over the Internet. Very few of them are likely to offer any valuable insight and even fewer will provide solutions, but most will be the “feel good” gr ...... Read More
Comments (2)Sustainable Packaging – Everything Old Is New Again
Recently I had the opportunity to attend the 2010 International Housewares Show, which I always enjoy because of the many new products and innovations that are annually launched there. As a lifelong packaging guy, I also could not help but notice the amount of “old” packaging I saw there. Please note, I now always use the word old with the greatest respect and sincere appreciation. P ...... Read More
Comments (3)Short Term Decisions, Long Term Consequences
What is Driving Your Secondary Packaging Choices - Part 2 In Part 1 of this post we discussed buying packaging out of convenience and habit rather than taking the time to venture out of our comfort zone and current supplier base. We also talked about the difference between price and cost and how price is the easy way but usually less effective way to compare packaging products. We all realize how ...... Read More
Comments (1)What Is Driving Your Secondary Packaging Choices?
Recently I was participating in an interesting online discussion with some green business owners I know, when I experienced another one of my now chronic moments of unchecked bluntness. I probably surprised some when I stated that in my opinion, the majority of people, even those with the best intentions, are not using the best, greenest or even the most economical secondary packaging they could, ...... Read More
Comments (3)Sustainable Packaging Focus on Reuse in 2010
It is that time of the year for projections and when prognosticators tell us what to expect this coming year and new decade. I admit not having a crystal ball and prove it on an almost daily basis, yet I believe there are some trends developing that are fairly obvious, if you know where to look. The Other “R” One of the trends that I see becoming most obvious is a serious interest on ...... Read More
Comments (16)Ten Ways to Make Your Secondary Packaging Greener in 2010
“Secondary packaging is the first thing your customers see but the last thing on your mind” is a great line our marketing director came up with for one of our brochures, because it is so true, especially if you are one of the up and coming e-commerce companies. All of those boxes, tape and void fill you use to get your product from point A to point B are a major expense, but also a t ...... Read More
Comments (7)"The China Syndrome"
. This is the title of a 1979 hit movie that predicted the earth’s demise via a nuclear energy disaster and it is best recalled for featuring a very young trio of Jane Fonda, Michael Douglas and Jack Lemmon. Ironically, today that same title could apply to the potential environmental disaster resulting from the massive amounts of unsafe and poor quality product and packaging being imported ...... Read More
Comments (1)Should End Users Buy Their Packaging from a Factory, Converter or Distributor? Part 2
The broad selection of available packaging products is extensive and most are taken to market in a variety of different ways. Some manufacturers sell only through converters or distribution and others will only sell to end users. Many sell both ways because they understand that in some scenarios, a converter or distributor can serve the end user customer better and quite frankly, more profitably ...... Read More
Comments (2)Should End Users Buy Their Packaging from a Factory, Converter or Distributor? Part 1
First, allow me to say I am not particularly fond of multi-part blog posts because quite frankly, my attention span is simply not that long. The appeal of writing a blog like this is being able to jump from topic to topic and have virtually no limitations or restrictions. However in this case, I was certain I could not do an adequate job on this topic in one post, unless it was much too long for ...... Read More
Comments (5)An eco dictionary...kind of
"You keep on using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means," states the vengeful yet good hearted Inigo Montoya to the unquestionably villainous, Vizzini in the Rob Reiner film "The Princess Bride." Just in case you are one of the few who has never watched this very funny, enjoyable family movie, throughout the first part of the film, Vizzini repeatedly uses the word "inconceiv ...... Read More
Comments (5)When Green Meets Packaging and they run into Sales and Marketing
Think of this as a classroom case study of a unique product with a green story, and tremendous potential, that is all dressed up and has nowhere to go. Chris Marszalek, a business associate and good friend of mine, invented a product called Drink Links. It is an ingeniously simply idea where a plastic ring easily snaps onto the neck of a plastic bottle indentifying your bottle from others, much l ...... Read More
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