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Saving pounds, and the planetDavid Elliott, 11 May 2009Be the first to comment on this article The ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’ mantra has been a feature of the packaging landscape for some time. Now there is a new ‘r’ to contend with – recession. Only a year ago many were confident that consumers would be prepared to pay more for more environmentally friendly products. Now brands and retailers are concerned with getting consumers to buy their wares at any price. Recycling – once the darling of the green lobby – has come under scrutiny after the national media was filled with images of waste piling up rather than going on to a new life. However, all is not lost. The environment has not been abandoned. Reductions in material use, waste and energy can also produce cost savings. Running more efficient manufacturing equipment can save pounds and the planet. And using recycled material can have financial, as well as environmental, benefits. In this year’s Packaging News environment report, we find out what you can do to make your equipment and factories more energy efficient. Eco-expert Rob Holdway talks about how carbon footprinting can help make your business leaner and greener, while we’ve also weighed up the eco-credentials of different packaging materials. And, to put an end to stories of stockpiling of recyclable materials, we’ve followed the contents of a kerbside recycling box to find out exactly where they go. There’s also an analysis of energy from waste and the potential for packaging to be designed with reuse in mind. Public attention may be focused on the purse strings rather than the planet at the moment. But as financial pressure eases, the packaging industry needs to be ready to promote the job it does getting goods to people in a cost and carbon-efficient way. Although the banks have fallen into the red, the packaging industry needs to stay green. Speak Your Mind |
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