News, ideas and advice about packaging sustainability captivated our audience in the month of October 2018. All five of the best-read articles on PackagingDigest.com during this time covered the topic of sustainability in various ways. This is the second consecutive month where all the top articles shared a sustainability theme.

Based on total website page views for this fall month, here are the top articles packaging professionals are reading (in reverse order):

5. Decadent Delici dessert packaging designed for Costco

When are heavyweight glass cups the sustainable package of choice? When they are reusable, of course! Packaging Digest reported on Delici’s package for its premium desserts sold at Costco back in April 2016. Yet this article has remained a favorite with our global audience for more than two years, consistently showing up in the Top 10 month after month.

Part of the reason it remains popular this year—beyond the great design—is because Packaging Digest refreshed interest in it by reporting on another winning design from the company earlier this year in January 2018: “Sensational soufflé packaging reunites Delici with Costco.”

It’s inclusion in this list is sure to sweeten the page-view pot even more.

NEXT: FDA says BPA is safe. Really. It is.

4. Most food cans no longer use BPA in their linings

The controversial chemical bisphenal-A (BPA)—which is contained in some packaging materials such as polycarbonate plastic and epoxy resins—made news again this fall when the Food and Drug Administration presented results of a two-year study that confirms its safety for human health.

That caused a spike in people reading our February 2018 article about how food can manufacturers have been systematically replacing can linings that previously contained BPA, according to the Can Manufacturers Institute. At least 90% of today’s food cans do not have BPA in their liners in reaction to market demands for more options in food safety.

NEXT: 2017 was a stellar year for sustainable packaging news

3. 8 sustainable packaging hits of 2017

Ack! I’m running out of new things to say about this article because this is the ninth time this year it has appeared in our monthly top list. I’m a fairly creative writer but even I have my limits on how many different ways I can say the same thing.

Our compilation of the best-read sustainable packaging articles from 2017 includes:

1. 5 exciting, emerging sustainable packaging materials to watch in 2016

2. How sustainable are biodegradable and plant-based plastics?

3. Are refill stations the answer to packaging waste?

4. Ahh…Coke refreshes its sustainable packaging strategy

5. Sustainable packaging is more important than ever

6. Is 100% recyclable flexible packaging possible?

7. McCormick’s recipe for packaging that’s more sustainable

8. First fully recyclable shampoo bottle made with beach plastic points to new plastics economy

NEXT: Amazon leads in so many ways

2. Amazon incentivizes brands to create Frustration-Free Packaging

When Packaging Digest broke the news on Sept. 18 that Amazon is now asking vendors of select products to design and certify their packaging under its Frustration-Free Packaging program or endure ongoing chargebacks, we knew your interest would be high and sustained. We were not surprised that this was the No.1 article in September, even though it only had 12 days in the month to tally page-view clicks. And we’re still not surprised that it ranks No.2 for the second month. (It’s currently also the No.2 article of the year.)

The big news is still making its rounds—spurred by even newer related news Packaging Digest posted on Nov. 1: “Amazon’s packaging vendor incentive program crosses the pond.”

The vendor incentive program looks to make significant gains in positive opening experiences for Amazon shoppers, packaging waste reduction and ecommerce shipping efficiencies. What do you think? Take our short survey now: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/AmazonFFP

NEXT: 10 design tips that took off!

1. 10 ways to design sustainable packaging with intent

In mid-summer 2016, industrial design director at Kaleidoscope Bryan Shova succinctly outlined 10 principles of designing sustainable packaging. These helpful tips continue to resonate with our global audience—and saw an unprecedented spike in page views this month when it went viral in India.

In a nutshell, Shova recommends:

1. Start with commodity materials that are commonly recycled.

2. Design the package from a single material.

3. Focus on the product-to-package ratio.

4. Design for assembly at the point of manufacture.

5. Avoid gluing and laminations.

6. Design for distribution.

7. Eliminate secondary and tertiary packaging when possible.

8. Design for disassembly.

9. Clearly mark the materials on the packaging components.

10. Use Lifecycle Assessment.

********************************************************************************

PackEx Montréal 2018 offers everything from design to manufacturing—concept to market—with valuable free presentations available throughout the event at Center Stage. See more suppliers, products, and networking opportunities to help you take your projects, company, and career to all-new heights. REGISTER NOW!