Sustainability Watch September 2010

NORDENIA Receives DuPont Sustainability Award

JACKSON, Mo.—Packaging for Clorox Fresh Step Cat Litter produced by NORDENIA USA's Jackson plant received the DuPont Gold Award and the Institute of Packaging Professionals' (IPP) Ameristar Award. Key factors for the award winner were material reduction and convenience. The amount of packaging material was reduced by 80 percent, while a slider and back handle provide maximum ease of use.

"Combining sustainable packaging with innovative features that give their products a distinctive edge in the market is one of the key issues for our customers," says Bill Burke, NORDENIA USA's managing director. "That two awards at the same time have been given to a sustainable product manufactured by us is a great achievement for us and confirms that we are on the right track with our take on sustainability initiatives."

Cutting packaging materials by 80 percent also involves a cost reduction across the supply chain, from inbound freight to finished goods storage and warehousing. Clorox achieved the huge cut in materials by replacing a rigid polypropylene container with a flexible bag by NORDENIA for its heaviest product. Although the film is notably thinner, it still holds up to 42 pounds.

"A flexible bag for such a product weight, as well as a back handle that can hold that much weight, are both very exceptional in the industry," emphasizes Kevin Dorris, marketing coordinator at NORDENIA USA.

P&G to Use Renewable Plastic

CINCINNATI—The Procter & Gamble Company (P&G) announced plans to use renewable, sustainable, sugarcane-derived plastic on selected packaging on its Pantene Pro-V®, COVERGIRL®, and Max Factor® brands. The new material is made using a process that transforms sugarcane into high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic. It remains 100 percent recyclable in existing municipal recycling facilities.

P&G will source the sugarcane-derived plastic from Braskem SA, which produces the material using ethanol made from sustainably-grown Brazilian sugarcane. The pilot will be rolled out globally over the next two years, with the first products expected to be on shelf in 2011.

"This innovation is truly consumer-driven," says Gina Drosos, group president, Global P&G Beauty. "As we talk with women around the world, they tell us that they want to make themselves more beautiful without making their environment less beautiful. With this new packaging innovation, women can have confidence that their favorite brands are helping to make a difference."

"Using sugarcane-derived plastic represents another step in P&G's commitment to environmental sustainability and the development of sustainable innovation products," says Len Sauers, P&G vice president, global sustainability. "P&G is making significant progress in environmental sustainability through our work with external partners. Together, we are working on creative solutions that deliver science-based sustainable innovations."

Durst, Dupont, Mohawk Fine Papers Support Sustainable Green Printing

LOVELAND, Ohio—The Sustainable Green Printing (SGP) Partnership acknowledged the continued support of Gold Patrons Durst and DuPont Packaging Graphics, as well as that of Mohawk Fine Papers, newly upgraded to Gold from Silver level. According to SGP, the support of these companies demonstrates both their commitment to sustainability in the graphic communication industry and their belief in SGP's role in facilitating this endeavor. Patron sponsorships keep certification fees low for printers, enabling them to focus on environmental performance.

"We are excited to see these leading companies continue their sustainability journey with the SGP Partnership," states Marcia Kinter, SGP Board of Directors Chair. "Each of these businesses understands the importance of sustainability in today's marketplace and has chosen to support the SGP Partnership's leadership role of setting sustainability benchmarks for the graphic communications industry. With the synergies of like-minded organizations –working together, sustainability certification is growing to become an adopted standard in the graphic communication industry."

Multi Packaging 
Solutions Gets Greener

NEW YORK—Multi Packaging Solutions (MPS) has expanded its commitment to sustainable solutions with a switch to 25 percent green energy at both its Dallas and South Plainfield, N.J. manufacturing facilities.

MPS has worked during the last few years to develop earth-friendly products, technologies, and manufacturing processes. It is now turning to its supply chain to lower its carbon footprint with electricity powered by renewable energy. By purchasing 25 percent green energy, the company will reduce its annual carbon dioxide emissions by more than 1,200 metric tons.

"Our transition to renewable energy is the next logical step in developing our sustainable solutions platform," says Dennis Kaltman, president of MPS. "We can now help customers layer sustainable features into their products, including recycled, recyclable, or renewable materials, chain-of-custody certifications, responsible manufacturing practices, and a lower carbon footprint."

Sonoco To Reduce 
Global GHG Emissions

HARTSVILLE, S.C.—Sonoco announced it is voluntarily targeting a 15 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) from the company's more than 300 global manufacturing plants by 2014. Harris E. DeLoach, Jr., chairman, president, and CEO, announced the new emission reduction goal in a letter to stakeholders from the company's recently issued 2009-2010 Sustainability Report. The report is available on the company's Web site (www.sonoco.com).

"Last year, we committed to reducing GHG emissions from our uncoated recycled papermills in the United States and Canada by approximately 15 percent by 2013," DeLoach says. "I am pleased to report that our efforts in 2009 led to an approximate 13 percent reduction. We have put in place a global Web-based environmental management system which collects GHG emissions from all of our international manufacturing facilities. We have taken this data, established 2008 as our baseline year, and set a goal of reducing GHG emission from our more than 300 manufacturing facilities by 15 percent by 2014."

Sustainability in 
Personal Care Packaging

ARLINGTON, Va.—Sustainability concerns are impacting personal care product packaging in a variety of ways, according to a new study from PMMI, "2010 Personal Care Package Market Assessment."

The study reports that the market for personal care packaging in North America is expected to total between $70 and $80 billion in 2010. Currently, plastics (59 percent) and bottles (41 percent) dominate package materials and formats, respectively. However, PMMI researchers expect to see increasing rates of growth in tubes and pouches over the next five years.

"Personal care producers are being forced to seek efficient and cost-effective ways to alter packaging and reduce the overall amount of materials used," says Jack Aguero, vice president of business development and marketing, ProMach, Inc., who chairs PMMI's Business Intelligence Committee. "And, tubes and pouches are seen as having smaller environmental footprints than bottles.

"Personal care products are traditionally very diverse in their primary packaging and come with a great deal of secondary packaging to increase shelf appeal," he adds. "Retailers and consumers are demanding more environmentally-friendly packaging practices—including reductions in packaging materials, changes in package formats, and demands for smaller carbon footprints." pP