Is this a Save the Planet mission?

Fri July 17, 2009

Although packagers may be paying more attention to the environmental impact of their operations and products, the driving force behind these “green” efforts may not be an altruistic “save the planet” mission, but a cost-reduction strategy. Sustainability initiatives that are not cost-effective and that are not sustainable will lose momentum and eventually fail. The missing link  is communication and that responsibility falls upon the packaging companies.  They must begin to publicize their sustainability efforts. Environmental activities that aren’t verifiably quantified and publicized don’t earn necessary support from consumers or socially minded investors.

Source Reduction
One of the most frequently employed tactics to shrink a product’s environmental footprint is source reduction. The most common approach is accomplished by light-weighting or down-gauging. Source reduction involves using less material in the first place and as a result, it almost always helps packagers cut costs or offset other rising cost elements.

Do the Math
When multiplied by millions of containers and closures, even small weight reductions add up to a significant amount of resin and can help control or even reduce packaging and distribution costs. In addition, if the lighter weight results in a denser cube, it also can generate savings in distribution packaging and shipping and handling costs due to more efficient transportation utilization, reduced handling costs and othe associated cost increases.

But Who Will Know
Reducing the width of your sealing tape from 72mm to 48mm or right sizing your corrugated box from a 12x12x12 to 10x10x10 or down gauging your stretch film from 80 ga. to 67ga. may not seem newsworthy but look at what you've accomplished. A 44% reduction in sealing tape! A 43% volume reduction in the box! A 17% reduction in stretch film!
Your saving the planet and your saving money...That's a win win for everyone!
Packagers of the World, Start Promoting Your Efforts!!!!