All Comment articles – Page 10
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ArticleThe science behind packaging sustainability
We need more facts, not simply more faith, to move the needle on packaging sustainability. In this article, Robert M. Lilienfeld, executive director at SPRING, unpacks sustainability misconceptions and myths, and gives an introduction into the key forces that contribute to climate change.
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ArticleBioeconomy 2.0: Creating a bio-based, resilient future
Bioeconomy 2.0 refers to the research and development of the next generation of bio-based solutions aimed towards renewable, reusable, recyclable and sustainable production. We asked Ali Harlin, research professor at Finland’s VTT research centre about the potential benefits of bio-based materials for the packaging industry, the impact of current solutions and some of the main challenges in this field.
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ArticleWhat does modern traceability look like for CPG businesses?
Consumers are paying attention to their products – where and how they are sourced, and whether they are everything they claim to be. How can smart packaging accommodate for this shift, and what additional benefits can it bring? Ken Sickles, EVP and chief product officer at Digimarc, tells us why digitisation might be the way forward for CPG businesses.
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ArticleHow ensuring accessibility improves packaging for everyone
In this article, Howard Wright, executive creative and strategic director UK, IE & Australia at Equator Design, explores how inclusive design can be used to create packaging that not only meets the expectations of disabled customers but can also lead to a better product overall.
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ArticleWhat I learned about plastic waste by watching bread bake
Countless brands are repackaging their products to combat plastic pollution, but is it fair to hold the packaging industry responsible in the first place? Would the complete eradication of plastic packaging make a significant difference? Robert Lilienfeld, founder and executive director of sustainable packaging think tank SPRING, argues ‘no’ on both counts, and warns us against knee-jerk reactions that could ultimately cause greater environmental harm.
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ArticleBuilding more resilient, flexible supply chains for the future
European supply chains are facing intense pressure under the strain of various social and political disruptions. For Phil Reuben, executive director at SCALA, adaptation is the way forward. In this article, he weighs in on the progress supply chains can make to work towards survival in turbulent times, from digitalisation to diversification.
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ArticlePaul Foulkes-Arellano: It’s time we welcomed 3D printing into packaging factories
As brands go bespoke and packaging goes local, will packaging megafactories become redundant? Paul Foulkes-Arellano, founder of Circuthon Consulting, asks this question and more – arguing that the industry needs to work smarter, not larger, and embrace technology over expansion.
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ArticleHow can the packaging industry engage with disability-led design?
Several consumer goods companies – including high-profile Unilever and Procter & Gamble brands – have unveiled what they refer to as inclusive or accessible packaging designs in the last few years. These companies often assert that they worked with disabled people during the development of the packaging, ...
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ArticleDesign for sustainability: Does the easy dissembling of a product improve its sustainability?
We spoke to Sheri Dillard, director of Engineering Services at Jabil, about designing products with their disposal in mind.
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ArticleHow to work towards sustainable plastic packaging in an economic crisis
With many parts of Europe facing a cost-of-living crisis, Andrew McCaffery, global EPR director at Ecoveritas, argues that we should prioritise the planet over saving money in the short term. He tells us about the financial benefits of recyclable packaging, holding suppliers accountable for unsustainable practices, and the monetary incentives that might change consumer and company behaviour where legal ones fall short.
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ArticleCould smart labels replace best before dates?
OliTec’s smart labels can be applied to a temperature-sensitive product at the same time as it is packaged, offering a visual representation of freshness based on the temperature it is stored at over time and mimicking the product’s lifecycle. The company’s CEO Nicholas Richardson says the labels can provide greater clarity than best before dates and contribute to a reduction in food waste.
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ArticleGetting the sustainable message across: What is the role of Smart Packaging?
How can our industry empower consumers to play a larger role in recycling and packaging sustainability in general? The answer, according to AIPIA’s communications director Andrew Manly, lies in smart packaging.
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ArticleWhat role can packaging play in the reduction of carbon footprints?
Against a backdrop of rising greenhouse gas emissions and extraordinarily high levels of food waste, what role can packaging play in terms of carbon reduction? Dr. Thomas Gröner, director at TG Pack Solutions, gives us his thoughts on this in his latest opinion piece.
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ArticleWhat’s next for PepsiCo’s sustainability drive under its new Chief Sustainability Officer?
We spoke to Katharina Stenholm, PepsiCo’s new Chief Sustainability Officer and Senior Vice President, to check in on the company’s progress and her role within it.
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ArticleFinalist interview: WestRock’s fibre-based mailer solution
WestRock’s fibre-based mailer solution, KD-fold™, is a curbside recyclable replacement for single-use plastic mailer bags. Find out more about the solution in this interview with WestRock, which is a finalist in the E-Commerce category of the Sustainability Awards 2022.
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ArticleFinalist interview: Pre-cutting recyclable resins for FFS with Synerlink’s Snapcut tool
A finalist in the Machinery Category of the Sustainability Awards 2022, Synerlink’s Snapcut tool is an equipment modification that allows for the pre-cutting of recyclable and recycled materials like rPET to the correct depth for Form Fill Seal (FFS) applications, without compromising on quality and safety.
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ArticleFinalist Interview: Henkel’s ‘carbon-negative’ hot melt adhesive
With only hours to go until the Sustainability Awards 2022, we speak to Henkel about its ‘carbon-negative’ hot melt packaging adhesive, which has been nominated for our award under the Climate category.
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ArticleFinalist interview: envoBOX, an e-commerce solution made from discarded agricultural fibres
envoPAP’s envoBOX, which is made from discarded agricultural fibres and offers a carbon footprint saving of 28% compared to virgin wood fibre boxes, is a finalist in the E-Commerce category of the Sustainability Awards 2022. We spoke to the company to find out more about the solution.
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ArticleFinalist interview: Eliminating plastic fillers with Smurfit Kappa’s e-commerce paper packaging
Smurfit Kappa has developed a 100% paper-based packaging solution that allows consumer goods company Reckitt to distribute its brands via Amazon without single-use plastic blisters or fillers. Smurfit Kappa tells us more about the solution, which is a finalist in the E-Commerce category of the Sustainability Awards 2022.
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ArticleFinalist interview: home compostable, fibre-based ready meal trays from Green Monday
Green Monday’s Omnifoods Home Compostable Trays, which are made from sugarcane bagasse and bamboo fibre and can be composted within four months, are shortlisted in the Renewable Materials category of the Sustainability Awards 2022. Find out more about the solution from Green Monday in our latest finalist interview.