WEBpackaging North American Packaging Edition News and Innovations Feed

JohnsonDiversey selects Rieke Dispensing RS3 dispenser

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 12:41:25 GMT

The Soft Care Triple C system utilises four great formulations, combined with Rieke dispensing solutions, to offer products designed to clean and care for skin, and control the spread of infection.

The four products are Soft Care Lotionised Handwash, a 1 litre hand wash lotion that is formulated for frequent use; Soft Care Derm, a 500ml reconditioning cream; Soft Care Sensisept, a unique antimicrobial wash lotion effective against a wide range of micro-organisms including MRSA; and the jewel in the crown, Soft Care Med.

Soft Care Med, unlike many alcohol gels, is based on a blend of propanols rather than the conventional choice of ethanol. The formula is effective against MRSA, Norovirus and many flu type viruses such as Swine Flu. Furthermore the thicker formulation is unpalletable, preventing consumption. Soft Care Med also has flashpoint of 24°C while normal ethanol products are 19°C. These five degrees crucially take the flashpoint above normal room temperature, making it a safer choice.

Soft Care Med is a trusted product so careful consideration was given to the quality of the product’s dispensing system, and there was only one logical choice, Rieke.

JohnsonDiversey required a robust dispensing pump that could cope with regular usage while delivering a consistent dose. Crucially, the pump needed to offer a non-metal contact construction to avoid the risk of reaction with alcohol. Regular supplier Rieke proposed the use of its RS3 pump, which is suitable for a variety of different viscosities. It can be locked down when not in use to prevent waste, and is also 100% shower proof.

The RS3 is supplied with a round head, short nozzle for optimum ergonomics, and delivers a1ml dose.

“We have been very impressed with the Rieke RS3 dispensing pump, in particular its dosing accuracy and user convenience,” comments Emma Phillips, Product Manager, Personal Care and OPL at JohnsonDiversey UK.

“Equally important, its versatility had enabled us to use the same design across several products to maintain uniformity of branding and efficiency in logistics.”

The proof of quality has been proven in the products that are now on contract with NHS Supplies in England, Scotland and Wales and JohnsonDiversey is proud to hold the number one position versus all other suppliers for hand care.

Rexam appoints Malcolm Harrison as Group Director Plastic Packaging

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 01:26:49 GMT

Harrison brings to Rexam a wealth of international management knowledge and experience from a career spent in the food and beverage industry. In this position, he will lead the company’s efforts to focus its global plastic packaging resources on creating value-added product and service solutions that help customers build their brands and businesses.

Harrison will become a member of the Group’s Executive Leadership Team and will report directly to Graham Chipchase, chief executive, Rexam PLC.

“We are very pleased to add such a valuable asset as Malcolm to our leadership team,” said Chipchase. “We are confident that his leadership will strengthen further our global plastics business, position our organization to deliver on expectations and help us as a Group to move toward our goal of becoming the best global consumer packaging company.”

Harrison began his career in manufacturing and operations at Mars Ltd. He moved on to serve as operations director of Britvic Soft Drinks, and then as a divisional managing director for the former Bass Brewers. Over the last ten years, he has held senior leadership roles in both InBev in Belgium and, most recently, with Nestlé in Switzerland.

When "Alice in Wonderland" meets packaging

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 02:46:06 GMT

Following on from the huge success of the previous Book of Shadows I & II, the Alice in Wonderland Palette is a Book of Shadows with a difference. Upon opening the lid, a classic and much loved scene from Alice’s Wonderland comes to life in a delightful pop up.

Pull the discrete drawer open to reveal 16 best selling eyeshadows with a combination of shimmers and glitters to create an endless variety of different looks. The palette is complete with Urban Decay’s Primer Potion and two 24/7 eyeliner pencils.

Nick Gardner, VP Sales HCT CA comments on the development: “We were very happy to work with Urban Decay to create a product in line with Tim Burton’s new Disney film, Alice in Wonderland. The new Urban Decay palette features an enchanting and playful pop up inspired by the film, whilst maintaining a wide selection of highly pigmented eyeshadows with delightfully curious names.”

This limited edition palette has sold out in US stores and has already been dubbed as an iconic collectors item for discerning make up fanatics.

Tromborg Organic Lipstick nominated in the Danish Beauty Awards 2010

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 10:25:52 GMT

The Organic Lipstick is enriched with organic and natural ingredients to create a soft texture, allowing the product to glide easily on the lips whilst providing essential moisturise and even coverage at the same time.

Available in 5 different shades and two finishes, matte and pearl, these lipsticks have fantastic colour pay-off with great staying power.

Senior Project Manager Dani King commented:
“We love working with Tromborg as their forward thinking and fresh ideas marry well with our ever evolving designs. Tromborg is a luxury brand with a passion for all things natural and a keen eye for design. We think this has been perfectly completed in this lipstick for the component and the bulk.”

Creative Director Rebecca Goswell commented on the design:
“The idea behind the design was to be as minimal as possible - with an unusual and dramatic split line and subtle hidden magnetic closure adding to it's retroluxe aesthetic.

Lines are clean and geometric, as this forms part of a complete range of square zamac compacts and mini kits. The added weight of zamac over plastic helps to add prestige.”

HCT provides the latest in cosmetic packaging to Urban Decay

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 08:38:23 GMT

It’s a fact, women today are more on the move than ever, and they’re not only concerned with the quality of the cosmetics they purchase, but also what sort of packaging those cosmetics come in. Gone are the days of having to laboriously open jars with intricate catches or compacts that require lock picks. Today, women need makeup packaging that’s light to carry and easy to open, and if it can be opened one-handed, all the better.

HCT, working with Urban Decay, has come up with an ingenious little eyeshadow case that pops open when pinched. It’s extremely simple to use and offers the consumer the ability to open the case with one hand and apply the makeup with the other, or simply set it down in order to use the same hand. The case is also novel in that it holds over twice the amount of product than other Urban Decay eyeshadows - and the case will last as long as the product does with normal use.

Nick Gardner, VP of Sales at HCT CA commented on the new pack, saying, "We are always looking at ways of making our compacts more usable but also tactile and fun. We think this design encourages the end consumer to pick these products up, they are light weight…using less plastic but still very visually appealing. Based on the success of this design we are currently working on a full set of these designs that will include pallets and more shadow cases.”

From the buzz on the Web, the new makeup line is proving to be a big hit for Urban Decay, as people rave about its various properties - not least of which is the “futuristic, squeeze-open case”, equalling a big hit for HCT as well.

Seaquist Closures to present new food and beverage wares at EasyFairs (Birmingham, England)

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 02:06:43 GMT

Seaquist Closures, a division of the Aptar Group, with an annual turnover in excess of $500 million, is committed to using leading edge technology for the sustainable development of high quality, innovative dispensing solutions for a wide variety of custom and standard applications.

The company will be presenting many of its new innovations in the Food and Beverage packaging space this year at EasyFairs' Packaging Innovations show in Birmingham, England on the 24th and 25th of February, at stand 657.

Gold Bond® Ultimate Hand Sanitizer

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 09:51:40 GMT

The new product takes advantage of Sequist Perfect's dispensing technology to offer the consumer a quick and easy-to-use product designed to complement proper hygiene habits (the product kills 99.99% of common germs in as little as 15 seconds). The cream also offers added value - it not only acts as a disinfectant but as a moisturizer.

Unlike alcohol, which can strip the skin of essential moisture, this alcohol-free formula actually replenishes skin with 7 hydrating moisturizers and 5 essential vitamins.

The new Hand Sanitizer/Moisturizer complements the current line of Gold Bond Ultimate lotion products made by Chattem. The white plastic bottle is highlighted on top with a gold Euroflow™ lotion pump provided by Seaquist Perfect Dispensing.

Annayake selects Rexam to provide a lotion pump

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 04:44:17 GMT

The Rexam Nea lotion pump – elegant, neutral and developed for the world’s most challenging formulations – has been chosen by the international personal care product firm ANNAYAKE, for its launched Blanc Japan Whitening Serum, a skin preparation with consumer appeal in China, Japan, India and beyond.

The elastomer- and metal-free Nea lotion pump is engineered to provide the completely neutral formula flow such skin preparations require, thanks in part to the fitting of a glass ball within the mechanism to eliminate formula discoloration. Further, the Nea’s advanced ergonomics and aesthetics combine to enhance the overall end-user experience with silky smooth operation.

“Our sleek Nea pump opens exciting new product development opportunities,” said Virginie Lemeunier, Product Manager – Lotion, Rexam Personal Care. “In this case, ANNAYAKE’s use of the Nea underscores the great potential for advanced dispensing technology in the accelerating skin lightener market, which some industry analysts predict will reach global sales of $10 billion by 2015.

“This category growth -- dependent on dispensers capable of handling such advanced formulations -- will be driven by new applications for men, as well as women, and for increased application in the general body care category, as well as for the face,” she said, noting that in the Asia-Pacific region, light complexions are frequently regarded as a beauty ideal amongst consumers.

Designed to handle even the most viscous, sensitive and natural skin care products, the Rexam Nea operates with the lightest fingertip pressure, Lemeunier said. It is quick to prime, does not splatter or block and is available with actuators in a range of colors and transparencies, for optimal product development flexibility. Rexam supports the Nea with a fully-integrated, end-to-end production network throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia, for enhanced customization capability and reduced time to market.

ANNAYAKE treatments are developed according to cutting-edge techniques in the company’s Japanese research laboratories and use active, natural ingredients based on innovative formulas, with delicate textures. According to the firm, “each new ANNAYAKE treatment is an event in the cosmetics industry.”

The Art of Priming

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 03:15:34 GMT

Whether it is the neat and neutral NEA lotion pump selected by Natura for its DIVERSA Liquid Foundation, or the ultra-low profile lubricant-free XD-11 fine mist pump chosen by Lolita Lempika for its new SI LOLTIA fragrance, Rexam designs its new pumps for fast priming.

“There is an art to designing and developing pumps that offer quick priming operation and retain flawless quality for the entire life of the product,” said Julie Vergnion, Product Manager, Rexam Personal Care Division. “Our long-standing dedication to pump performance and commitment to enhanced functionality results in complete consumer satisfaction and stronger brands through the design of quality products.”

According to Vergnion, certain key characteristics in the design of Rexam quick-prime packaging date back more than 15 years. “The secret lies in our ability to optimize the configuration of the pump which is entirely contained within the bottle neck, and to design a venting hole ensuring controlled pressure equalization. The dip tube also plays a role in priming, even though it is ‘invisible.’”

“A perfect example of this expertise,” she said, “is our ultra-low profile quick--priming XD-11 fragrance pump, which fits completely within the bottle neck. In combination with our invisible dip tube, all the consumer sees is the fragrance. Yet despite this sophisticated design, this dispenser is extremely easy to fit onto the bottle, without special equipment.”

“Most consumers have little idea of the many operations taking place in sequence between the first press on the actuator and the first release of fragrance or lotion,” Vergnion said. “Initially, the pump is full of air at standard atmospheric pressure. Upon actuation, the air in the pump is compressed by a piston. When it reaches the bottom of the stroke, a priming valve opens allowing this compressed air to escape and the pressure in the pump returns to atmospheric pressure.”

When the pump actuator is released, the valve closes, the piston rises and the internal volume increases, creating a drop in air pressure to below the atmospheric pressure within the bottle. This difference in pressure draws the fragrance or lotion into the dip tube and then into the pump. This process is repeated until the pump is full. Then, certain operating processes change because the valve opens under the pressure created in the pump: pressing the actuator produces the spray or delivers the dose of lotion.

“The high output of our pumps results in quick priming with just two to three strokes in the case of our XD-11 fragrance pump,” Vergnion said. “It is the rapid opening and closing of the valves at the correct times that results in fast and easy priming, which consumers appreciate.”

“In addition, conventional dip tubes mar the appearance of bottles. This is why complete transparency of dip tubes has long been a dream for brand owners. First announced in 2006, the light refraction properties of the Rexam ‘invisible’ dip tube render it virtually undetectable, combining superior functionality and good looks,” Vergnion said.” Its refractive index renders it undetectable once it is full, which is easily achieved on packaging lines, greatly improving the overall aesthetics of the packaging” she explained.

“Quick priming, smooth operation, refined and precise output and aesthetics that open new design possibilities are the hallmark of our perfume and lotion pump range,” she said. “Our hard work over the years results in unprecedented convenience for the end-user which is a major benefit to brand owners.”

Thus, it is this expertise in the art of priming, acknowledged by cosmetics customers worldwide, which has enabled Rexam Personal Care to offer lotion and fragrance pumps which are quick-priming and are able to deliver today’s advanced formulations efficiently, smoothly and precisely.

Rieke unveils a new catalogue with a new attitude

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 02:12:21 GMT

Rieke Dispensing has launched a new product catalogue which underlines the huge range of dispensers that the company manufactures and the wide variety of end markets it serves, including food & drink, personal care, pharmaceuticals, household and janitorial products, chemical and industrial.

The diversity of the different models on offer demonstrates Rieke’s flexibility and versatility in meeting the demands of a broad spectrum of companies, from small localised and boutique businesses to major multi-nationals, with reliable, stylish and user-friendly packaging.

Highlights of the new catalogue include the expansion of Rieke’s market leading Airless HVDS system to include sizes from 300g to 1050g, and the introduction of the new DuraTouch range for lotions, which incorporates dispensers from the recently acquired Continental AFA business.

As well as the extensive choice of dispensers, the brochure also explains the various customisation options available for different ranges to enable products to be individually tailored to create and reflect brand image and ensure maximum on-shelf appeal.

"Our new catalogue ideally illustrates the many skills and expertise that exist within Rieke Dispensing and our ability to deliver efficient, reliable and cost-effective packaging solutions for the widest range of products," commented Sales and Marketing Director Warren Wharton.

"While this is probably the most extensive range of dispensers available from any company, the selection of the dispenser is only the start of the process and we work closely with each customer to ensure that their choice is specifically tailored to their precise requirements."

Top 10 CPG Sustainability Trends for 2010

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 03:30:38 GMT

To download a copy of this document in .pdf format, please click here.

The Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) industry is weathering the economy’s emergence from the recession as we start a new year and a new decade. One question on everyone’s mind is whether sustainability initiatives will be a casualty of the recession. Is sustainability still a top concern for the CPG industry, and if it is, what new developments can we expect to see on the sustainability front during 2010?

Most CPGs will tell you that sustainability is increasingly central to their business – but what does “sustainability” mean in 2010? What are some of the new ways that CPG’s will be taking action to reduce costs, boost profits, and improve the lives of the people they serve (while also helping to reduce their environmental impact)?

1. CPG firms will look to the Triple Bottom Line: People, Planet, Profit – as a broader way to measure success.

The idea that businesses ought to be concerned about the environment – and actively take steps to improve their sustainability – is a relatively new concept. For generations, from the industrial revolution until the rise of the environmental movement in the 1970s, most business leaders subscribed to the idea that the only mission of a business was to make a profit.

This attitude has evolved over the years, to the point where many business leaders would feel rather uncomfortable stating that they are “only” in business to make a profit.

Especially with regard to the environment, most companies in the CPG industry are going to be increasingly watching a new “bottom line” in their businesses – the Triple Bottom Line of “People, Planet, Profit.” This is a broader way to measure the success of a company – a business must not only make a profit and generate wealth, but also be attentive to people’s lives and to the health of the planet.

People: What are the social costs and benefits of packaging? How can we make better contributions to people’s well-being?
Planet: What are the costs to the planet and how can we reduce the environmental burdens created by the packaging that people use every day?
Profit: Sustainability is also good for business. In a slow economy when CPGs cannot expect to raise prices or grow sales as quickly, it’s time to look to the “bottom line” to add a few percentage points of cost savings - which equals higher profit.

2. Consumers will want to buy more sustainable packaging – and avoid “bad” packaging.

One ongoing trend that CPGs will want to watch for is the tendency of consumers to want to buy packaging that is recyclable. Many consumers prefer to recycle as much packaging as they can – in fact, they often feel guilty when they have to throw packaging away. Other consumers feel frustrated when they have to deal with packaging that is hard to wash and hard to recycle – for example, a plastic lid that is hard to remove and rinse out, or a poorly-designed plastic bottle that is full of residue and cannot be recycled. When consumers have negative feelings (guilt, frustration, impatience) with respect to the sustainability of a company’s packaging, those feelings often transfer over to the way they relate to the brand of the packaging as a whole.

Sustainable, recyclable packaging and overall “greener living” is also a good fit for America’s current cultural moment. At a time when the economy is slumping, unemployment is high and many people are feeling financial pressures, there’s an added sense among consumers of wanting to reduce waste. Just throwing things away when they could be recycled seems especially “wrong” in the current economic climate – people want to look for packaging that is simple, recyclable and easy to use.

One exception to this trend is that even while consumers will seek out sustainable packaging options, they do not want to pay more for more sustainable products.

According to new research from Mintel International, consumers are still interested in helping to save the environment, but they don’t want to pay for it. According to a survey of consumers in the United Kingdom, the number consumers willing to make lifestyle compromises for the sake of the environment dropped four percent from 2008 to 2009. However, nearly one in five people still said that adjusting their lifestyles for the environment is worth doing if it will save them money¹. In 2010, CPG companies need to find a way to present more sustainable packaging without driving up the price of the product. “Consumer commitment to green living is very stable,” says Tim Kenyon, senior analyst for GfK's consumer trends division. “But if products are too expensive, they will find other ways to express that commitment. They may buy fewer green products, but they’ll do things like cut their energy costs or reduce consumption.” The study finds 60% of people now believe green products are too costly, a six point increase from 2006.²

3. Packaging will get smaller…and bigger.

This trend is going in two directions at once. With the economy in a slump, many people are looking to buy certain items in bulk – both to save money and to reduce packaging costs.

And yet…people are also looking to buy smaller sizes and reuse the package several times (especially by purchasing refills of soap, detergent and household items). Rather than buy a new package to replace an item that has been used up, they’ll buy a refill and reuse their existing package at home.

People are also going to be buying a greater frequency of “single use” packaged items – rather than buy more costly, larger items, they might buy a smaller one that they know they will be able to use up. This is also part of the trend toward avoiding waste. Whether people are buying “big” packages or “small” packages, the size and amount of packaging needs to be “just right:” one powerful trend is that consumers are increasingly uninterested in “overpackaged” products. People don’t want to see a lot of unnecessary layers of “stuff” on their purchases; in the postrecession cultural climate, this sort of packaging is perceived as wasteful and unsightly. Packaging is going to be increasingly “lean and mean” in 2010.

4. CPGs will integrate sustainability into every aspect of their operations/manufacturing processes.

Consumer opinion about sustainability tends to ebb and flow depending on the economy and other factors, but CPGs are going to continue the trend of including sustainability in every part of their internal businesses. The business benefits of sustainability have become impossible to ignore.

The main focuses of sustainability in CPG business and manufacturing operations in 2010 will be:

Reduce energy costs: in an economy where it is impossible to raise prices, the “bottom line” becomes the place to generate profits. If companies can reduce their energy costs by 1% or 2% a year, that makes a substantial difference to their overall profitability. For one example, the McCormick Corporation, a leading producer of spices, has set a goal to reduce its use of electricity by 15% by the end of 2010³.
Reduce waste: Even a minute reduction in the amount of plastic used to make a package, or the amount of scrap material left on the cutting room floor, can lead to big results. CPG companies are going to be taking a close look at every manufacturing process to eliminate wasted materials and unnecessary effort. As one of America’s largest and most cost-conscious companies, Wal-mart has been a leader in reducing packaging waste – and has achieved significant cost-savings, environmental benefits as a result. Wal-mart has set an overall target to reduce the total amount of packaging in its supply chain by 5 percent by 2013⁴.
Cultivate a “lean manufacturing” sensibility: Lean manufacturing was a concept originated by Toyota, with their “Total Quality” system. But the mindset that once was used to make cars can also be adopted to make packaging. With a larger focus on eliminating waste and improving processes, CPG firms will be looking to get even more efficient in 2010 – with the ideal of no waste, no unnecessary inventory, lower costs and higher profit. Procter & Gamble, one of the largest consumer product manufacturers in the world, has established a set of five sustainability strategies that guide its business operations around the globe. These sustainability strategies include measurable goals to reduce the company’s use of energy and water, and to lower the amount of waste and carbon dioxide produced in the process of making P&G products. P&G established its sustainability goals in 2007 with a target deadline of 2012 – and they have made so much progress that they decided to raise their targets for sustainability⁵. Watch for more companies to follow P&G’s example in 2010 – with a relentless focus on process improvement and a sense for the total impact of the company’s work, it is possible to track, measure and make improvements on many areas of sustainability.

5. Design will take center stage.

CPG companies will make added efforts to re-design their packaging to be more sustainable – while also saving money and improving the consumer experience.

The incredible shrinking water bottle: As one example of this trend, Nestle Waters North America has recently announced its next-generation Eco-Shape ® bottle design, which, at only 9.3 grams, weighs 25% less than its predecessor bottle. The new Eco-Shape® design will help exceed the company’s goals for reducing the amount of plastic in its single-serve 0.5 L bottles by an additional 15% by 2010.⁶ Nestle’s new water bottle also includes a lightweight cap, which weighs only 1 gram. The new lightweight water bottle will be initially rolled out with Nestle’s Poland Spring brand natural spring water, Arrowhead mountain spring water, and Nestle Pure Life purified water, with other brands and product sizes to follow by the end of 2010.
Environmentally-sensitive affluent and younger consumers: Even with the recent recession, there is still a considerable segment of consumers who have the buying power and the willingness to pay more for sustainable products. Younger consumers are especially likely to be environmentally conscious – they will reach first for packaging that is sustainable. (And customer loyalties often start at a young age – if CPG companies can include sustainable packaging in their marketing mix, they can expect to attract long-time customers as a result.)
Lean package design for lean times: Most of all, in our current cultural moment, “overpackaging,” excessive packaging and unnecessary packaging waste create an appearance of being out of step with the times. In our current era of economic hardship and growing concerns about human impact on the environment, most consumers do not want to see a lot of unnecessary “bells and whistles” or added layers on their packaging. The trend in package design will be toward clean, efficient, safe, no-waste – and yet still thoughtfully presented and appealing to the eye.

6. Taking the Long View: Life Cycle Assessments, Life Cycle Perspective

In recent years with growing concerns about climate change, many more businesses and consumers have become aware of the concept of “carbon footprint” – the totality of all the carbon dioxide emissions that result from any particular product, service, or human activity. As part of this growing awareness among consumers, CPG companies are also finding new ways to measure and ameliorate the total environmental impact of their products.

The full environmental impact of a piece of packaging is not limited to whether or not the consumer decides to recycle the empty container. In 2010, CPG companies will be taking an increasingly hard look at the full environmental “life cycle” of their products – everything from sourcing the initial materials to shipping the product to the CPG, to filling the packages on the loading dock, to driving them to the retail store.

Every step in the life of a package has an environmental impact, and it is increasingly possible to measure (and reduce the impact) of every step along the way.

7. A “PET” project for 2010: increase the recycling rate of PET plastic.

PET plastic bottles are one of the most widely used varieties of consumer packaging, with 5.4 billion pounds of PET products are on U.S. store shelves each year. Although PET is one of the most easily recycled types of plastic, only 24% of the PET that is produced each year ever gets recycled. (One bit of good news – the National Association for PET Container Resources (NAPCOR) released new statistics in Nov. 2009 which indicate that the U.S. recycling rate of PET plastic water bottles rose to 30.9% for 2008 – an improvement of 32% over the 2007 rate⁷.)

In 2010, CPG companies are going to look for ways to improve the recycling rate of PET plastic. Not only is it good for the environment and good for the image of the industry as a whole, but it also gives companies another way to connect with their customers. In addition to the introductory marketing that persuades customers to try a product, or the package design that helps motivate customers to reach for that product on a store shelf, perhaps in 2010 more CPG companies will look to increasing the recycle rate of PET plastic as another avenue to send a message to customers – and demonstrate their own environmental commitment.

Coca-Cola has been a prominent leader in encouraging the recycling of PET plastic. During 2009, Coca- Cola opened the world’s largest plastic “bottle-to-bottle” recycling plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina. The recycling plant will eventually produce 100 million pounds of food-grade recycled PET plastic per year – the equivalent of nearly 2 billion 20-ounce Coca-Cola bottles. As for “life cycle perspective,” over the next ten years, this recycling plant will also prevent the release of one million metric tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere – roughly the equivalent of removing 215,000 cars from the road⁸.

Coca-Cola has also included a strong sustainability message in its marketing campaigns. The “Give it Back” program has helped to educate consumers that empty Coca-Cola bottles should not be discarded – that they have value and are recyclable materials. Watch for other CPG companies to use sustainability in their marketing mix for 2010 – as another way to engage with customers and stay “top of mind” even after the packaged goods have been consumed.

8. Vendors will help CPG companies become more sustainable.

The road to improved sustainability can be difficult for CPG firms to navigate – fortunately, they’re not in this alone. In 2010, many CPG companies will look to their packaging vendors for new ideas and innovations in sustainability.

These are a few of the areas where CPG vendors will help their clients become more sustainable in 2010:

Less packaging: There’s a reason that the old environmental mantra, “reduce, recycle, reuse” starts with the word “reduce.” One of the most immediate ways for CPG companies to be more sustainable is to reduce the amount of “stuff” being produced in the first place – and by extension, reduce the amount of material and the costs of producing it.
Lighter packaging: Even a tiny reduction in the amount of plastic in an individual bottle, cap, or box can lead to significant cost savings (and lower impact on the environment) at every step of the package development process – from molding to palletization to shipping. When dealing with the massive volumes of packages and the vast economies of scale that make up the Consumer Packaged Goods industry, every little bit of cost savings along the way can make a big difference in the end.
Including a set percentage of recycled content: In 2010, it is going to be increasingly rare for any CPG firm to offer packaging that is produced from 100% virgin material. CPG firms will be looking to vendors to find new ways of including recycled/post-consumer content in every package they sell. This is going to give a “halo effect” to the CPG companies who can get it done – while also reducing costs.
Extend the shelf life: Looking beyond the characteristics of the package itself, CPG companies will want their vendors to provide new thinking on how to extend the shelf lives of the product within the packaging. Part of the environmental “life cycle” of every package is the inventory process – some products go unsold and are lost to waste; store shelves need to be re-stocked, and all of these factors have an impact on the shipping, production and storage that affects the CPG company’s bottom line. Even a moderate increase in a product’s shelf life can lead to cost savings – and CPG vendors can add value here in 2010.
Greener production of packaging: In an increasingly connected world, where consumers and environmental advocates have ever-more information at their disposal, CPG companies are no longer held accountable just for their own corporate practices of for the way their own packaging looks on a store shelf; they are also scrutinized for how their packaging is made. In 2010, CPG companies will need to look to their vendors to produce their packaging using power generated from green energy sources like wind and solar. CPG companies will also want to be aware of their vendors’ production practices with regards to the environment – as part of the new awareness of the “carbon footprint” of every product people buy. Vendors who can demonstrate their commitment to the environment and who can show a real value for sustainability are going to be the vendors of choice in 2010.
Cleaner, simpler label design: In 2010, even the choice of labeling on a package can send a message about sustainability. Look for increasingly clean, simple labels – no frills, no fuss. Look for labels that are understated – rather than grab the consumer’s attention with an eye-catching splash of color, the trend will be toward a more holistic approach to package design – the whole picture of the package will send a message about whether that company values sustainability.

9. Plastic is here to stay…for now.

It’s not too much of a bold prediction to say that in 2010, PET will remain the dominant plastic used in CPG packaging. While there have been some promising studies of corn-based PLA/Biopolymer plastic, this type of “bioplastic” is still too costly to produce and too complicated to dispose of.

For example, while PLA plastic is already being used for various medical and industrial devices, and while it is used in such consumer products as the plastic “clamshells” that hold freshly cut fruit⁹, it poses several challenges when it’s time to recycle. PLA plastic technically can be composted just like any other plant-based material – but it needs to be sent to a special facility in order to break down efficiently.

Also, PLA plastic needs to be kept out of the regular PLA plastic recycling stream – it can cause problems in the recycling process if it gets mixed in with the PLA plastic being recycled.

Although PET plastic will still be the “top dog” in packaging, there is the potential for growing consumer unease and criticism by environmental activists. In 2010, watch for continued scrutiny of plastic as an environmental concern, continued efforts by CPGs and packaging manufacturers to encourage plastic recycling, and extra efforts to reduce the size of plastic packaging (thus saving on costs and materials, and reducing environmental impact).

Companies can also avoid criticism and engage with their customers by creating programs that re-use their plastic packaging. One of the main focuses of plastic recycling is polypropylene packaging – also known as #5 plastic. Until recently, this type of plastic has not been accepted by most municipal recycling programs, and there has been growing concern among environmental advocates about the impact of this type of plastic, which is widely used in food containers, bottles and other consumer packaging.

Aveda, a leading producer of cosmetics and personal care products, has created a popular public outreach program to recycle #5 plastic bottle caps. Aveda’s “Recycle Caps with Aveda” campaign¹⁰ has become a popular and effective marketing technique to show that company’s concern for the environment – while at the same time partnering with schools and environmentally-conscious consumers.

Another recent development related to #5 plastic is the Preserve Gimme 5 program¹¹ started by Whole Foods Market, Stonyfield Farms and a plastic recycling firm named Preserve. Starting in 2009, select Whole Foods locations have been accepting #5 plastic containers (such as Stonyfield yogurt cups) to recycle into toothbrushes, plates, mixing bows, cutting boards and other products. This is another example of a “win-win” partnership where various companies can band together to send a powerful message about their commitment to sustainability.

10. No more “greenwashing.”

In the past, it was easy for some companies to pay lip service to their environmental/sustainability initiatives (“We are committed to protecting the environment”) even if it was not true.

That kind of “green washing” (like “whitewashing” but in “green”) does not work anymore. Consumers are smarter, savvier and more environmentally conscious than ever before – and with the research power of the Internet, it is easier than ever for people to find out which companies are serious about sustainability, and which ones are just pretending.

Environmentally motivated consumers are increasingly able to make their environmental activism into part of their daily shopping trips. As one example, the iPhone App Store now offers a free application called GoodGuide¹² which enables people to scan the bar codes of consumer items (right there in the store) in order to find out the environmental impact of the product and see how it is rated for sustainability. Consumers don’t need to read newspapers and do research to find out about a company’s record for sustainability – increasingly, the information is right at their fingertips, right while they are about to make a purchasing decision.

Conclusion

2010 will be another interesting year in the Consumer Packaged Goods industry. Even in a slow economy, companies still have a multitude of opportunities to use sustainability as a competitive advantage. CPG companies will pursue these 10 sustainability trends to reduce their costs, improve their customer experience, upgrade their marketing outreach, and enhance the profile of their companies and our industry as a whole.

The Consumer Packaged Goods industry is ultimately about touching people’s lives. Every time someone opens a bottle of water or takes a package off the shelf, they are benefiting from the convenience and time savings, physical nourishment and emotional appeal contained within that package. Consumer packaging is central to the human experience in the modern world – and sustainability is an increasingly important concern for every interaction that a customer has with consumer packaged goods. By staying true to the sustainability-driven “Triple Bottom Line” – People, Planet, Profit – CPG companies can realize great achievements and continuing success in 2010.

Weatherchem Corporation is an innovative manufacturer and marketer of convenient plastic dispensing closures and controlled access packaging. As the creators of the original Flapper® dispensing closure, Weatherchem now offers one of the industry's most innovative closure product lines. In addition to LiquiFlapper® these include: NutraFlapper®, FlapMate®, Grinder NR, NutraGen II®, and Agricap®.

Hildebrandt, Stephanie – “A Glimpse into 2010.” Brand Packaging, Dec. 11, 2009
Association for Dressings and Sauces – “December Edition Newsletter”
McCormick Corporation. “Sustainable Operations Create More Business Opportunities.”
Wal-mart Corporation. Sustainability Fact Sheets – Packaging.
Procter & Gamble. “Designed to Matter: 2009 Sustainability Overview.” Pg. 2
Mohan, Ann Marie. “Nestle Waters launches next-generation 9.3 g Eco-Shape bottle.” Dec. 16, 2009
BevNet.com – “Bottled Water Recycling Rate Increases 32%, According to New Studies” – Nov. 12, 2009
Coca-Cola, URRC Open World’s Largest Plastic Bottle-to-Bottle Recycling Plant – Jan. 14, 2009
West, Larry. “Pros and Cons of the Corn-based Plastic PLA.” About.com
Aveda Web site: “Recycle Caps with Aveda.”
Earth911: “Whole Foods Helps ‘Preserve’ Resources With Plastic Recycling.” Jan. 29, 2009
EcoSalon – Top 10 Green iPhone Apps – July 2009

Fusion kicks it up a notch on WEBpackaging

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 11:40:02 GMT

Fusion Packaging, a global leader in the design, manufacturing and distribution of packaging for the skin care and cosmetic markets and an existing WEBpackaging® member, has added some new features to its WEBpackaging® profile.

Fusion Packaging has gone through some changes over the last year, which isn’t surprising, it’s a fast-growing company. In 2009, Fusion launched its new website (www.fusionpkg.com) and established a presence on WEBpackaging® in order to get the word out on its innovative products. Here at WEBpackaging®, we’re glad Fusion’s also decided to take advantage of what we consider to be one of our most powerful marketing tools: the online WEBpackaging® catalogue.

Check out Fusion’s new catalogue and surf through its products to get a feel for just how much they actually produce, including jars, airless dispensing systems and dip tube systems.

Congratulations to Fusion Packaging on its continued growth!

Alpha Packaging creates new sales position

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 11:13:36 GMT

Effective February 8, 2010, Lenore Campites will join Alpha Packaging's outside sales force. Campites will develop business with both pharmaceutical and health & beauty customers on the East Coast, with a special focus on growth opportunities for Alpha’s personal care packaging and decorating.

Campites is already very familiar with Alpha’s primary customer base of leading pharmaceutical and nutritional supplement manufacturers, and also has extensive experience with printed packaging components. As Senior Accounts Manager for Cortegra Group (a division of Menasha Corporation), she was responsible for developing multi-year supply agreements with companies such as Forest Labs, Bristol Myers Squibb and URL Pharma.

Prior to her role at Cortegra Group, Campites spent three years as an Account Manager in the healthcare division of Rexam Plastic Packaging. While with Rexam, she handled both direct accounts and distributor relationships. Other past experience includes managing logistics programs and inventory control for leading beauty brands such as Estee Lauder, Revlon and L’Oreal.

Campites will report to Jack Baily, Alpha’s Vice President of Sales. Baily says the addition of a fourth East Coast sales representative will help Alpha and its Technigraph decorating division reach more potential customers in the personal care market. “Alpha has invested in new blow molding and decorating capabilities in our Pennsylvania and Florida plants, and now we are ready to support that with additional sales resources” Baily says. “Lenore not only understands the demands of our customer base, but her past experience and results-oriented approach to sales makes her a perfect fit within our existing sales team.”

Baily also says that with Alpha’s planned expansion into Europe during 2010, one of its current East Coast sales representatives will be spending more time in Europe and less time calling on domestic accounts. “With Lenore on board early in the year, we won’t have to worry about losing any of the East Coast sales momentum we’ve been building in recent months,” he says.

Dave Spence, Alpha’s President and Chief Executive Officer, says Campites is perfect for the new sales role because she understands what it takes to carve out opportunities in new markets. “Lenore has proven in each of her past roles that she can build a book of business from scratch,” he says. “I have no doubt she will hit the ground running, and open doors to new opportunities.”

Cosmogen joins WEBpackaging

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 08:14:53 GMT

Founded in 1982 by Gerard Gieux, Cosmogen is a French pioneer in the design and production of cosmetic brushes, accessories and packaging. The company enjoys an extensive sales network all over Europe and the United States, and ships daily to every continent (except for Antarctica, of course). Cosmogen has had the opportunity to grow alogn with some of the world's largest cosmetic firms, such as Armani, Dior, Givenchy, Revlon, L'oreal, Avon, Estee Lauder, YSL, Lancôme, and more.

WEBpackaging warmly welcomes Cosmogen and hopes that it benefits from the experience!

New: Larger Sizes of PET liquid bottles from Alpha Packaging

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 10:43:16 GMT

Alpha Packaging has recently introduced four 32-ounce narrow-neck bottles that are made using a 2-stage blow moulding process. Each of the new 32-ounce bottles represent the largest size in Alpha’s four most popular polyethylene terephthalate (PET) liquid lines: Boston Rounds, Cosmo Rounds, Modern Rounds and Capri Ovals.

These bottles are typically used for large quantities of hand sanitizers, liquid soaps, shampoos and conditioners, and other liquids used around the home or in larger institutional settings. The overflow for each bottle exceeds 1000ml (1 litre), so they are ideal for items marketed as either 32 liquid ounces or litre-size.

All four bottles are made from the same 50-gram, 28-410 pre-forms on 2-stage (reheat and blow) machinery at Alpha’s Salt Lake City plant. Reheat and blow is a stretch blow moulding process in which a plastic pre-form is injection moulded in one process, and then at a later time, that pre-form is fed into a machine, reheated, and stretch blow moulded in a second step. Often, pre-forms are made by one company and purchased by another company to make the finished bottle. However, in the case of these 50-gram pre-forms, Alpha manufactures both the pre-form and the bottles in its 2-stage process.

Alpha’s 50-gram pre-forms are available in standard colours of clear, light amber, cobalt blue and white for any of the four styles of narrow-neck bottles. Minimums for coloured bottles are 50,000 pieces; clear bottles have a one-pallet minimum.

The 2-stage process has several advantages over Alpha’s usual single-stage injection stretch blow moulding (ISBM) process, especially for the larger bottles Alpha is using it for. According to Bob Wilson, Director of Alpha Technology Centre, “The 2-stage stretch blow moulding process offers the ability to produce fairly lightweight containers with very high impact resistance, which is ideal for these large PET bottles,” he says.

The bottles are featured in Alpha's online catalogue as well as in their WEBpackaging catalogue, in the PET Narrow Neck Bottles" section.

New cosmetic pack concepts for UNE Natural Beauty

Fri, 22 Jan 2010 02:30:59 GMT

The appeal of the 3 packs lies in their single-material creation: Polypropylene offers the benefit of optimizing the recycling rate for packaging. These eco-designed packs are perfectly suited to the natural ingredient based formulations in order to keep the end product’s environmental impact to a minimum. Most of the products have obtained an ecocertification.

A sleek white design with sea-green pad printing reflect the naturalness of the UNE woman. Touches of color enable the consumer to identify the colors on offer.

The range also conceals make-up innovation secrets. Alcan Packaging Beauty has selected three applicators that fulfill precise cosmetic requirements with a guaranteed natural effect:

“Sheer Lips” Gloss, an applicator that deposits a thin film for gloss that doesn’t overdo it.
Volume Mascara, a flexible fiber brush that feeds the lashes, thickening them as the consumer wants.
All in one Mascara, fitted with an APB1 plastic brush, maximizes the lash in all directions, delivering volume, length and curve without bunches and with easy access to the finest lashes in the center and edge of the eye.

UNE Natural Beauty chose Alcan packaging Beauty for its ability to combine eco-design with attractive packaging that perfectly matches the brand’s spirit and manifesto.