| The Environmental
Assistance Office for Small Business at UNC Charlotte 9201 University City Blvd. 258 Cameron Building, UNC Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28233-0001 Phone number: 704-687-3968 Fax number: 704-687-3115 (Link to EAO Newsletter Archive) |
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In partnership with Mecklenburg County
LUESA Air Quality and Solid Waste Divisions, and
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities Mecklenburg Utility Sponsored by the Environmental Assistance Office (EAO) for Small Business at UNC Charlotte, The Environmental Corner is designed to serve as an environmental management and pollution prevention resource. |
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The Environmental Corner e-Letter April 2009 |
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Packaging Industry: Green Packaging
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Green Packaging, Inc. was founded in 2007 by
an environmental activist who was concerned about the increasing amount
of petroleum-based, non-degradable packaging materials that are being used around the world.
Green Packaging specializes in environmentally friendly packaging solutions that protect your product and the environment. By providing industries with environmentally-friendly, biodegradable, recycled packaging alternatives, Green Packaging hopes to help preserve the earth for future generations. Green Packaging Products :
Green Packaging offices only use 100% recycled paper, have stopped using disposable plastic bottles, combine short trips, and have even had employees walk. All of the products they carry are manufactured in the U.S. by companies who are also committed to the environment and sustainable packaging products. |
Benefits of Packaging
| Not all packaging is wasteful.
Packaging protects food products from contamination and spoilage, from damage during
shipping and sometimes is needed to be tamper-evident. Many manufactures are redesigning
their products and using “smarter packaging.” For example, one company is marketing silicone
sealant with a hole in the bottom of the tube, so it can easily be hung on a display rack.
Many brands of deodorants are being sold without any paperboard box or secondary packaging around them.
These smaller containers mean that fewer materials are needed for the container itself and for shipping it.
Some companies have developed programs for reusing shipping materials like foam "peanuts" and wooden pallets. Inflated polyethylene bladders altogether replace foam or cushion packaging. Others are switching to packing materials like shredded newspaper, which can be recycled or composted. |
Reusable Transport Packaging
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When a company ships items in reusable packaging, such as plastic pallets or
reusable bins, they are taking advantage of the benefits of reusable transport packaging.
Reusables reduce waste and can cut company costs while conserving energy and natural resources.
Replacing single-use containers with reusables supports both the environment and your bottom line.
Reusable transport packaging replaces one-time (and limited-use) pallets and boxes with reusable totes, bins, and pallets. Companies that ship in closed loop systems are ideal candidates for reusables because the return of empty reusables can be easily arranged. |
| Reusables are typically made of virgin or recycled-content plastic.
These reusables are resistant to chemicals and moisture offering strong insulation, durable wood, or
durable metal. Designed for many years of use, the sturdy containers protect products, especially in
rough shipping environments. Reusable transport packaging is a smart alternative to shipping with materials that can only be used one time. Using reusables can lower company costs, support the bottom line and assist the health of our environment. | |
Local Charlotte Industry Trane - Implements Reusable Transport and Storage Packaging
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Trane uses steel skids to ship commercial air conditioning compressor units to clients as they experience equipment needs. Their systems become fully functional as the Trane inventory of remanufactured compressors enables a rapid delivery of equipment on metal skids which enable the clients to return the broken units to be remanufactured. They have adopted an equipment system with a “cradle to cradle” approach. The commercial units which no longer function properly are returned to the remanufacturing plant to be disassembled, cleaned, remanufactured, and painted to create another fully functioning unit. The packaging using a steel skid to ship the unit allows the broken unit to be shipped to the remanufacturing plant and stored using the same skid. |
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What’s YOUR Strategy? Business Packaging Strategies |
| Packaging materials are an essential part of our lifestyle and perform several important functions. For example, they protect products by their journey from the manufacture and distribution process to the end user, marketing a product brand and providing information to consumers. | |
The choice of materials is influenced by many factors including the move some retailers are making towards shelf-ready packaging in order to reduce handling costs. Too much packaging means unnecessary use of materials, higher carbon emissions and extra cost. There are 3 main ways to effectively reduce the quantities of packaging materials used by industry.
Reusing packaging materials: Reusing reduces the amount of material requiring disposal, preserves raw materials and saves the energy used in the manufacture and transport of virgin containers such as bottles & cans. Numerous studies have been carried out into the relative benefits of reusable versus one-way packaging. | |
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Results
vary, but in the majority of environments, reusing packaging does appear to be an environmentally preferable option although
it does, to a large extent, rely on the assistance of retailers and consumers. One positive method
of obtaining support for re-using containers would be to encourage customers to recycle in exchange
for cash or other products. Recycling content: There are technical limits to how far packaging materials can be reduced and reusing package materials is not always appropriate for the market. In these circumstances, it is particularly important that the recycled content of a packaging material is maximized. It is vital that efforts to facilitate the recycling of waste are maintained by providing an end-market for recycled material and encouraging appropriate disposal. Working with local authorities, national government, |
| local communities and volunteers to collect and recycle packaging waste is paramount. | |
 READ WAL-MART'S PACKAGING PLEDGE HERE |
READ MORE ABOUT REUSABLE BAGS HERE READ MORE WAL-MART CASE STUDIES HERE |
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| Sustainable Packaging Coalition (SPC) envisions a world where packaging is sourced responsibly, meets market criteria for performance and cost and made entirely using renewable energy. SPC | |
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envisions a “cradle to cradle system” for all
packaging. SPC is a respected expert in the world of sustainable packaging and is dedicated to transforming packaging into a system that encourages economic prosperity and a sustainable flow of materials. What does “cradle-to-cradle” mean? Cradle to Cradle is a phrase coined by Walter R. Stahel in the 1970s. It became popular in 2002 thanks to the book titled Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things by William McDonough and Michael Braungart. |
When thinking of a cradle to cradle system, think of how packages can be recycled or reused without losing quality. The items you use for packaging purposes have the ability to be recycled multiple times with capabilities for reuse into other applications creating a cradle to cradle system. | |
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Germany Packaging Take-back | |
Germany’s Packaging Ordinance of 1991 was the first to shift the costs of collecting, sorting, and recycling used packaging from municipal government to private industry. The goal of Germany’s take back system is to encourage recycling and reuse of electronic products. | |
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The packaging take-back system originated because of a
shortage in landfill space. Germany wanted to decrease the
amount of wasted material going into landfills and increase
recycling to alleviate waste. At the close of 1991, the
three-step law emerged. Step one required all manufacturers and distributors to take back the cartons and crates that they ship to retailers. In April 1992, the ordinance required the recycling of product packaging like cardboard boxes. Finally, in January 1993, the final step required that retailer’s packages be sent back for recycling. |
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Environmental Assistance Office (EAO) for Small Business The Environmental Assistance Office for Small Business provides non-regulatory, client-confidential pollution prevention assistance to small businesses in the greater Charlotte region. The EAO is designed to assist regional businesses in their efforts to voluntarily prevent pollution. The EAO staff can provide timely assistance for pollution prevention planning, including information about industry-specific case studies, waste-specific case studies, and new technologies. The office provides links of resources to needs between the region's business community, government, municipality, and university. If there is a particular issue or question you would like to see in an upcoming edition, please send an e-mail to EAOforSB@email.uncc.edu. Contact Information: Environmental Assistance Office for Small Business: 9201 University City Blvd. 258 Cameron Building, UNC Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28233-0001 Phone number: 704-687-3968 Fax number: 704-687-3115 Email: EAOforSB@email.uncc.edu Services:
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