Innovations in Plastic Packaging to be More Sustainable

packaging More than 25 million tons of plastic packaging is sold in the US every year, less than five percent gets recycled. Although plastic packaging is not always recyclable it is lightweight and thus, reduces transportation emissions when product is distributed. Changes are slowly being made in the plastics industry to help reduce waste, improve recycled content and use of materials.

 According to one article, Innovations in Plastic Packaging Help Lighten Environmental Footprint the changes will result in:“lighter packaging, less fuel to transport products, reduced use of natural resources, fewer greenhouse gas emissions, and less waste.”

A company called SmartCycle processes recycled content from beverage bottles to make packaging for food, box or thermoformed applications. Through creating a use for recycled bottles, the company is able to support recycling efforts while utilizing energy-saving manufacturing process.

Of course, reducing plastic materials altogether in packaging is ideal but not necessarily feasible for some manufacturers. If plastics packaging must be used it is important to choose plastics that can easily be recycled, such as resin numbers 1, 2 and 5. Or utilize plastic packaging that uses recycled-content. And finally, consider reducing the amount of plastic content used in the packaging as the bottled water industry started to do back in 2011.

 For more information about sustainable packaging and other eco-friendly trends for your business please contact us.

 

 

The Lexicon of Sustainability

In today’s sustainability world, one of the biggest barriers for most individuals is to understand all the phrases and terminology associated with sustainability. Phrases like Farm to Table, Natural Capitalism, Pasture Raised, Food Miles, Food Security and Biomimicry can be confusing to consumers, workers and employees on what they mean and how they apply.

There are two projects that are helping in this sustainability terminology confusion. The Lexicon of Sustainability is a project by Douglas Gayeton who has done photographs and images to represent these sustainability words. They have a program whereas you can display these photos in your local community or office building for a period of time, to help educate staff.

The International Society of Sustainability Professionals (ISSP) also has a lexicon project in progress. This project brings together a diverse group of sustainability professionals to build a common consensus and definition on the terminology used by sustainability professionals.

The following is a list of resources that provide a glossary of sustainability terminology;

Watch About The Lexicon of Sustainability 

PBS Series The Lexicon of Sustainability

Douglas & Laura Gayeton: Lexicon of Sustainability

You can also offer training to your staff or community on sustainability that helps educate them on the terminology, frameworks and theories of sustainability. Contact us for more information.

10 Things I’ve Learned on the Road to Sustainability

Mitch Jackson, Vice President of Environmental affairs and sustainability at FedEx, wrote a good and distinct article on how businesses can start sustainability within their organizations.  This was published by GreenBiz.com July 6, 2010. Click here to see the full article.

To learn more about FedEx corporate sustainability program, click here.