Business Management - Sustainability

Since arriving on the package-printing scene two years ago, I have come to appreciate the thought that goes into designing a package. And even though I consider myself a “stick-to-the list” type of shopper, there are still those occasions where a package catches my eye, for whatever reason, and I make the impulse buy. It’s usually in the supermarket, and I’m usually hungry at the time—the perfect storm for such a purchase. It happened recently when I bought brownie mix that was on sale for 10 boxes for $10. No, I did not buy all 10, just one. Was it the image of the

More than 20 years before “sustainability” became the buzz word it is today, Flower City Printing (FCP) was already rethinking the inks it was using in its pressroom. In 1985, Executive Vice President Bill Oliveri began replacing petroleum-based inks with vegetable-based inks, as well as eliminating alcohol in press fountain solutions. “Inks made from renewable resources were already in existence, but mainly used for newspaper production,” Oliveri reflects. “FCP was one of the first printers to experiment with vegetable-based inks for the offset sheetfed industry. Switching to vegetable-based inks [resulted in] a reduction in VOCs (volatile organic compounds), less ink [required] in the

HEIDELBERG, Germany—During drupa 2008, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) announced it is expanding its Saphira range of consumables with the launch of an extended system solution for its InkLine automated ink supply system, which will be renamed InkStar. The new solution includes InkStar cartridges made from recycled materials, and Heidelberg is also introducing a two-stage cutting and shredding system for disposing empty cartridges that helps cut waste volumes by up to 70 percent. Heidelberg launched InkLine in 1998 and since then has installed more than 16,000 units around the world, even under license on presses from competitors. Due to its high level of automation, InkLine

Innovia Films’ biodegradable packaging material, NatureFlex™, is helping a raw snack food company—Superfood Snacks—to fulfill its ideal for natural eco-friendly sustainable bags to package its first product, Chocolate Goji Treats. They are a synergistically balanced fusion of some of the world’s most nutritious ancient superfoods and specialty ingredients, including Goji berries, Raw Cacao, Maca Root and sundried Vanilla Bean. Superfood Snacks will also use its signature NatureFlex™ design for two new flavors to be launched later this month. Superfood Snacks uses a range of pure, raw and organic fair-trade ingredients in all its flavors of raw chocolate Superfood truffles, which not only provide superior

WIGTON, CUMBRIA, England—Innovia Films has achieved CarbonZero status on its full range of NatureFlex™ coated biodegradable and compostable packaging films through the implementation of carbon-reduction schemes. NatureFlex™ is one of the few packaging materials that has been tested to and complies with the specification required for soil, home composting and waste water applications at ambient temperatures, as well as for industrial composting. It has now built on its environmental credentials with its new CarbonZero status. Following a comprehensive Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) on its NatureFlex products during 2007, which was conducted to allow the company to quantify the environmental impact of the product on

Innovia Films has achieved CarbonZero status on its full range of NatureFlex™ coated biodegradable and compostable packaging films through the implementation of carbon-reduction schemes. NatureFlex™ is one of the few packaging materials that has been tested to and complies with the specification required for soil, home composting and waste water applications at ambient temperatures, as well as for industrial composting. It has now built on its environmental credentials with its new CarbonZero status. Following a comprehensive Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) on its NatureFlex products during 2007, which was conducted to allow the company to quantify the environmental impact of the product on a ‘cradle

Sustainability is a worldwide concern that is getting well-deserved attention. It’s going to impact every phase of our lives, so it’s not surprising that package printing will be in the thick of things (packagePRINTING, too). If melting glaciers, disappearing rain forests, depleting oil reserves, and increasing CO2 levels weren’t enough to get you’re attention, those playing in the packaging arena got a kick start (maybe a kick in the pants) from their friendly neighborhood Wal-Mart store. Much like it did with RFID technology back in 2003, Wal-Mart helped bring sustainability to the forefront of the packaging supply chain with its “Packaging Scorecard.” This was

Adhesives have a thankless job. Unlike specialty inks or innovative packaging, adhesives tend to go unnoticed by consumers. But, they discreetly carry an enormous amount of responsibility to reliably bond a wide range of substrates. Because adhesives have to work with such a diverse spectrum of materials, many times they are tailored to specific applications. For instance, adhesive trends have been influenced by the use of package decoration materials that originate from sustainable resources, says Philip Emery, director, applied surface technologies, FLEXcon. “PLA film, which is created from corn rather than petrochemicals, as a packaging-grade plastic, is a notable example,” he says. “Adhesives are

TAMPERE, Finland—At the March 6 opening ceremony of UPM Raflatac’s new self-adhesive laminate factory in Changshu, China, UPM Raflatac President Heikki Pikkarainen discussed how the company will address sustainable development. According to Pikkarainen, “UPM Raflatac is placing environmental issues ever higher on the agenda. Environmental compliance is a matter of rising importance throughout the whole labelling value chain. Therefore, we at UPM Raflatac have decided to take an active role in developing the sustainability of self-adhesive labeling technology. Moving forward, we will continue to search for new eco-friendly solutions to exceed our customers’ expectations while reducing environmental impact. We’re aiming for a sustainable future.”

TAMPERE, Finland—Speaking yesterday at the opening ceremony of UPM Raflatac’s new self-adhesive laminate factory in Changshu, China on March 6, UPM Raflatac President Heikki Pikkarainen took up the issue of sustainable development, saying, “UPM Raflatac is placing environmental issues ever higher on the agenda. Environmental compliance is a matter of rising importance throughout the whole labelling value chain. Therefore, we at UPM Raflatac have decided to take an active role in developing the sustainability of self-adhesive labelling technology. Moving forward, we will continue to search for new eco-friendly solutions to exceed our customers’ expectations while reducing environmental impact. We’re aiming for a sustainable future.”