Packaging Materials Sustainability “Packaging innovation is leading to the development
of more environmentally considerate air-fi lled bubble packaging”
Box clever: plastics packaging has a number of hidden benefi ts
the pack-
aged product is weighed to ascertain the drop height at which the product should stand and the speed at which it
shelf life, ensures fresh delivery of goods and reduces the amount of overall waste aris- ing from packaging.
Packaging innovation is leading to the development of more environmen-
“Companies should take an analytical approach when reviewing the role and performance of their tertiary packaging”
should be vibrated. For the vibration test, a packaged product is placed on a fi xed vibration table and subjected to 14,200 impacts, and includes a 10-sequence drop test. Once the PVA is completed, the most effective packaging materials can be determined. It is at this stage that packaging manufacturers should continue to work with companies to help them understand the full lifecycle of the packaging material as well as the product that is being packaged. This promotes a comprehensive understanding of the actual environmental performance of the different packaging options.
CORRECT PACKAGING
Plastic packaging has a number of hidden benefi ts that offer huge advantages to the environment and to consumers. Follow- ing use, the energy component of plastic packaging can be recovered through incineration, converted to transportation fuels, or recycled into granules that can be used to make other plastic packaging. Increasingly, new techniques are being used to recover plastics from the waste stream for use as feedstock for other prod- ucts. In addition, it is light-weight, extends
tally considerate air-fi lled bubble packaging. Sealed Air launched AirCap E last year, a barrier-sealed bubble packaging that saves up to 46% in volume compared with standard bubble wrap. This performance means that 46% more AirCap E bubble can be stored in warehouse space com- pared with standard AirCap bubble; and 46% more can be transported in the same truck, lowering CO2 emissions by 30%. Moulded foam packaging, such as Sealed
Air’s Instapak, can enable companies to realise improved sustainability through re- duced packaging volumes and lower carbon emissions during transportation. The liquid foam based solution, which moulds around a product within its outer packaging, has been chosen by a number of companies to provide blocking and bracing, and cushioning for products. The foam is transported in liquid form and created on-site by companies. This means more packaging material can be shipped per square foot of lorry and ship space, even before the packaging is used to protect a product and reducing the number of deliveries required to move packaging from the packaging manufacturer to the company.
www.shdlogistics.com
RENEWABLE REALITY
A packaging company’s primary role is to create the most protective packaging possible in the most straightforward way. To improve sustainability, it is important that companies consider the whole life cycle of these packaging products to understand how environmentally friendly they are. This is of growing importance due to the pressure of meeting government set environmental targets and satisfying customer needs. Sealed Air has developed a new initia- tive called Smartlife - shifting the focus on packaging from ‘minimisation’ to ‘optimisa- tion’. This initiative has allowed Sealed Air to work alongside its customers to improve operational effi ciencies, maximise resources and purge waste - a total systems approach that positively benefi t multiple areas of our customers’ operations to drive effi ciencies and business value from the plant fl oor to their customers’ doorsteps Though the SmartLife approach, compa- nies can quantify the impact of packaging design decisions and changes, estimate the contribution packaging makes to a total product system and demonstrate the value that packaging brings by reducing waste. Key decision makers and thought leaders across Europe increasingly understand the value that packaging brings at enhancing sustainability. Smart operators are tak- ing holistic views of how packaging can help improve their sustainable practices, meaning they are able to meet both perfor- mance and environmental demands.
www.sealedairprotects.com Storage Handling Distribution August 2012 23
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