by Traci Jensen - Adalis
If you’re like the growing numbers in the packaging industry thinking more about ways to build sustainability in your manufacturing processes or enhance current efforts, you’ll want to tune into Packaging Digest’s sustainability webcast next Tuesday, December 15 at 2 p.m. EST. This webcast comes on the heels of the fourth comprehensive research survey that reveals the industry’s growing awareness of sustainability and its influential role in packaging decisions today.
Featured in the webcast is Walmart’s Amy Zettlemoyer-Lazar who will discuss how companies are adopting sustainability in their day-to-day business, and the importance of current research to understand attitudes in the packaging industry. Packaging Digest’s editorial director John Kalkowski and Anne Johnson of the Sustainable Packaging Coalition will then delve into the results of the jointly sponsored research survey that drew more than 1,100 respondents from CPGs, packaging designers, converters, contract packagers and suppliers of packaging equipment and materials.
H.B. Fuller and Adalis are proud to sponsor this upcoming webcast along with several other sustainability focused suppliers to the industry. Together, H.B. Fuller and Adalis deliver an integrated approach to packaging sustainability that helps our customers achieve business objectives and green objectives. Our full range of capabilities run from packaging design and sustainability assessments to high performance packaging adhesives advantra® and Clean Melt® or Sesame® Tape reinforcement and shelf ready solutions.
We hope you’ll join us to hear the latest about the important topic of sustainability in packaging. You can register for the webcast at
www.packagingdigest.com/webcast
“See” you there!
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Thursday, November 19, 2009
CERTIFIED: Frustration Free
by Eric Carlson, CPP - Adalis
CERTIFIED: Frustration Free
Amazon has advanced their position in the market from just naming and promoting “Frustration Free Packaging” to creating a program to CERTIFY a package as Frustration Free according to their criteria. The criteria have been mainly driven by consumer feedback. Consumers say they don’t like wire ties or impossible to open clamshells and prefer a minimal amount of packaging for disposal.
Directly from their website:
Our vision is to offer our entire catalog of products in Frustration-Free Packaging. The certification program supports that goal by providing manufacturers an easy process for getting their product packaging certified Frustration-Free Packaging.
Benefits of the Frustration-Free Packaging Program:
· Improved customer experience by offering easy-to-open, recyclable packaging.
· Simple work flow for the items you want to be reviewed for certification.
· Amazon.com will not charge you for the certification evaluation--you just need to ship us the samples you want us to review.
How much thought has been put in by you and your company on the frustration created by your packaging and how does that affect your customers?
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Plastic Bag Bans – Good, Bad or Ugly??
by Eric Carlson, CPP - Adalis
Last week the ban on non-biodegradable plastic bags in Mexico City went into effect, joining many communities around the world from municipalities to countries. Mexico City is the second large city in North America after San Francisco to have outlawed the free distribution of thin plastic shopping bags; Washington DC has implemented a tax. Other worldwide bans or restrictions include Wales (complete ban) and Ireland with their 0.15 euro cents plastax on each bag, New Dehli, China, South Africa & Belgium. Many cities and towns are discussing the merits of imposing a ban including San Jose, CA.
In my readings, there have been 2 issues driving the move to ban the ubiquitous and highly utilitarian plastic bag; 1) visible litter; 2) joining the environmental bandwagon. With regard to the litter issue, these bags are reported to make up less than 0.5% of the US refuse; however, they are an easily identified object wherever they happen to land, so they are an easy target.
It seems that the litter issue is more an issue of consumer behavior and responsibility than an issue with the bags themselves. In the distant past – about 20+ years ago – trash was frequently flung out of cars, filling our roadsides with all manor of garbage. There has been a huge shift so that we as a society legislates and castigates against this behavior; we also utilize community service to clean our roadsides. The roadsides are now a mostly clean and verdant oasis across the country.
With regard to the environmental bandwagon, we could probably do more for the environment by simply keeping our tires optimally inflated to save money, reduce greenhouse gasses & global warming, etc. In a recent post from About.com …
Poorly Inflated Tires Increase Fuel Costs and EmissionsThat may not sound like much, but it means that the average person who drives 12,000 miles yearly on under-inflated tires uses about 144 extra gallons of gas, at a cost of $300-$500 a year.
I am sure that the cost of the bags we each use is well under $100/year/person. It seems that our behavior (the hardest thing to change) is the key to responsible use, re-use and disposal of the lowly but highly useful plastic bag.
Other reading includes:
Do we really need to ban plastic bags? – Gardian.co.uk
N.C. retailers hurry to prepare for bag ban – The Virginian-Pilot
Plastic Bag Wars Poised to Continue – NY Times
Debunking myths about plastic bags:
http://www.savetheplasticbag.com/
Tracking the bans & fees of plastic bags:
http://www.chicobag.com/t-track_movement.aspx
Last week the ban on non-biodegradable plastic bags in Mexico City went into effect, joining many communities around the world from municipalities to countries. Mexico City is the second large city in North America after San Francisco to have outlawed the free distribution of thin plastic shopping bags; Washington DC has implemented a tax. Other worldwide bans or restrictions include Wales (complete ban) and Ireland with their 0.15 euro cents plastax on each bag, New Dehli, China, South Africa & Belgium. Many cities and towns are discussing the merits of imposing a ban including San Jose, CA.
In my readings, there have been 2 issues driving the move to ban the ubiquitous and highly utilitarian plastic bag; 1) visible litter; 2) joining the environmental bandwagon. With regard to the litter issue, these bags are reported to make up less than 0.5% of the US refuse; however, they are an easily identified object wherever they happen to land, so they are an easy target.
It seems that the litter issue is more an issue of consumer behavior and responsibility than an issue with the bags themselves. In the distant past – about 20+ years ago – trash was frequently flung out of cars, filling our roadsides with all manor of garbage. There has been a huge shift so that we as a society legislates and castigates against this behavior; we also utilize community service to clean our roadsides. The roadsides are now a mostly clean and verdant oasis across the country.
With regard to the environmental bandwagon, we could probably do more for the environment by simply keeping our tires optimally inflated to save money, reduce greenhouse gasses & global warming, etc. In a recent post from About.com …
Poorly Inflated Tires Increase Fuel Costs and EmissionsThat may not sound like much, but it means that the average person who drives 12,000 miles yearly on under-inflated tires uses about 144 extra gallons of gas, at a cost of $300-$500 a year.
I am sure that the cost of the bags we each use is well under $100/year/person. It seems that our behavior (the hardest thing to change) is the key to responsible use, re-use and disposal of the lowly but highly useful plastic bag.
Other reading includes:
Do we really need to ban plastic bags? – Gardian.co.uk
N.C. retailers hurry to prepare for bag ban – The Virginian-Pilot
Plastic Bag Wars Poised to Continue – NY Times
Debunking myths about plastic bags:
http://www.savetheplasticbag.com/
Tracking the bans & fees of plastic bags:
http://www.chicobag.com/t-track_movement.aspx
Monday, October 5, 2009
Packaging & Supply Chain Optimization Article
Here is an excerpt from a Supply Chain Digest Article:
Achieving Bottom-Line Sustainability with Packaging Optimization
Optimize Packaging to Drive Cost Reductions and Sustainability in the Supply Chain
Packaging optimization can yield considerable opportunities for supply chain productivity improvements and substantial transportation cost reductions. In today’s challenging economic climate, showing improvement to bottom-line results is crucial. Packaging can be leveraged to provide measurable cost savings and sustainability improvements, ensuring the success of supply chain improvement initiatives.
Read the full article here
Achieving Bottom-Line Sustainability with Packaging Optimization
Optimize Packaging to Drive Cost Reductions and Sustainability in the Supply Chain
Packaging optimization can yield considerable opportunities for supply chain productivity improvements and substantial transportation cost reductions. In today’s challenging economic climate, showing improvement to bottom-line results is crucial. Packaging can be leveraged to provide measurable cost savings and sustainability improvements, ensuring the success of supply chain improvement initiatives.
Read the full article here
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Barcoding On The Way Out – Don’t bet on it!
by Eric Carlson, CPP - Adalis
There has been some buzz in the press lately about a new visual type of tag to replace barcodes called Bokodes. These tags have traditionally used a mask and lens over an LED. The advantage is that the bokode can contain about 1000x more information than a barcode and supposedly the tags can be read from a longer distance – typical reported distance is 12 feet (It seems to me that many barcodes can be read from a long distance as well). Because these tags have been projected to be expensive (dollars/tag) and need to be powered with an LED, the market has shown little interest since their development in 1994. The reason for the current resurgence in interest is that there have been some developments that will take advantage of reflected light or camera flash to provide sufficient illumination of the screen. At the SIGGRAPH Conference & Exhibit there will apparently be a demonstration of some new bokode technology – although it is not clear that this demonstration will be utilizing the reflected light technology.
Despite all the renewed interest in the bokode, I am quite certain that the ubiquitous and nearly cost free barcode will be around for a very long time. Many of the current barcode applications do not need 1000x more information. This reminds me of the RFID buzz that was around some years ago. RFID was going to change the entire supply chain infrastructure, tag prices were going to fall to pennies a tag, the technology was going to overcome signal scattering by metal & liquids AND they were going to make the barcode obsolete. Well, lots of the predictions came true, prices of the tags have fallen steadily, some early adopters helped (Walmart, DOD, and now the pharmaceutical industry). Some of the physics has been worked out; tag architecture and ink technology for printing the antennas has improved steadily and yet, the barcode is still alive and well!
I expect the barcode will remain as the universal solution for most supply chain applications and in most of the other applications that have adopted its simplicity. So even if the bokode overcomes its cost and design hurdles, expect to continue to see the barcode in as many, and likely more applications than today.
It has been reported that these codes could be read by cell phone cameras … how about that for another cool app for your snazzy new iPhone!
For a great introduction to the technology, check out the video below.
There has been some buzz in the press lately about a new visual type of tag to replace barcodes called Bokodes. These tags have traditionally used a mask and lens over an LED. The advantage is that the bokode can contain about 1000x more information than a barcode and supposedly the tags can be read from a longer distance – typical reported distance is 12 feet (It seems to me that many barcodes can be read from a long distance as well). Because these tags have been projected to be expensive (dollars/tag) and need to be powered with an LED, the market has shown little interest since their development in 1994. The reason for the current resurgence in interest is that there have been some developments that will take advantage of reflected light or camera flash to provide sufficient illumination of the screen. At the SIGGRAPH Conference & Exhibit there will apparently be a demonstration of some new bokode technology – although it is not clear that this demonstration will be utilizing the reflected light technology.
Despite all the renewed interest in the bokode, I am quite certain that the ubiquitous and nearly cost free barcode will be around for a very long time. Many of the current barcode applications do not need 1000x more information. This reminds me of the RFID buzz that was around some years ago. RFID was going to change the entire supply chain infrastructure, tag prices were going to fall to pennies a tag, the technology was going to overcome signal scattering by metal & liquids AND they were going to make the barcode obsolete. Well, lots of the predictions came true, prices of the tags have fallen steadily, some early adopters helped (Walmart, DOD, and now the pharmaceutical industry). Some of the physics has been worked out; tag architecture and ink technology for printing the antennas has improved steadily and yet, the barcode is still alive and well!
I expect the barcode will remain as the universal solution for most supply chain applications and in most of the other applications that have adopted its simplicity. So even if the bokode overcomes its cost and design hurdles, expect to continue to see the barcode in as many, and likely more applications than today.
It has been reported that these codes could be read by cell phone cameras … how about that for another cool app for your snazzy new iPhone!
For a great introduction to the technology, check out the video below.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Somebody is listening to your packaging concerns
by Bob Fiedler, CPP, Fellow - Adalis
Amazon.com has added a listening post to their website to get feedback on their packaging for shipments. What a great way to collect complaints and compliments to see how effective their shipping system is working. So many companies ship and hope for silence as the measure of their effectiveness. It is good to see someone asking for feedback at the outset.
Sometimes I think of packaging designers and shippers as sending out arrows trying to hit a target, and then never looking to see how many are in the center and how many miss the target completely. Feedback can help to adjust the sights for the next shot. Here is a snapshot from the Amazon.com website about how their feedback program works.
Amazon.com has added a listening post to their website to get feedback on their packaging for shipments. What a great way to collect complaints and compliments to see how effective their shipping system is working. So many companies ship and hope for silence as the measure of their effectiveness. It is good to see someone asking for feedback at the outset.
Sometimes I think of packaging designers and shippers as sending out arrows trying to hit a target, and then never looking to see how many are in the center and how many miss the target completely. Feedback can help to adjust the sights for the next shot. Here is a snapshot from the Amazon.com website about how their feedback program works.
Packaging Feedback Program Overview
At Amazon, we are working to improve all aspects of our business. This includes the way in which we ship packages to our customers. The Packaging Feedback Program is designed so you can tell us if your items arrived in good condition and in appropriate-sized packaging. We'll use your input to improve product and Amazon packaging.
Entering Your Packaging Feedback
1. Visit www.amazon.com/packaging
2. Review the list of shipments for orders placed within the past 60 days.
3. Click the Leave Packaging Feedback button next to the shipment.
4. Fill in ratings and answers to questions. You'll also have the option to upload a photo of your shipment.
5. Click the Done button.
Monday, August 3, 2009
Will Urban Moles and PRT change the future of Supply Chains?
by Eric Carlson, CPP - Adalis
Bayer MaterialScience has announced its second annual VisionWorks Award this ye
ar called CargoPacks 2020. This is a student contest with industry & university partners. Second place this year was called Urban Mole by Philipp Hermes at Folkwang Hochschule in Essen Germany. The concept is to utilize existing underground infrastructure to provide an automated delivery network (sewer). How is that for an every changing supply chain, how quickly do you think ISTA and ASTM can come up with test standard to simulate the Urban Mole? The ick factor is supposed to be avoided by having the Mole travel at the top of the tube, the Mole is hermetically sealed, etc. The intent is for small parcels to be ferried around the city at minimal cost and a reduction of congestion; items like books, CDs, small parts/tools delivery, documents, etc. This is the type of last mile delivery innovation that many companies are looking for to reduce or defer supply chain costs. I think I might prefer the small upcharge for a bike messenger or wait an extra day for the overnight delivery service. 
This appears to be WAY out of the box thinking, similar to a concept for moving people that has been around for a while called Personal Rapid Transit. There are a variety of concepts worldwide. The Skyweb Express by Taxi2000 was the solution posed for the Minneapolis area to better move people around non-stop directly from point to point. The system utiliz
es vertical space and would be have stations attached to buildings & transit hubs. There will be a PRT in place at London’s Heathrow Airport later this year using guided track vehicles. If this system moves people, it most certainly would only be a short time before it becomes part of your packaging supply chain as well.
More general info on PRT: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_rapid_transit
Heathrow PRT intro: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kI3qadusfNA&NR=1H
ar called CargoPacks 2020. This is a student contest with industry & university partners. Second place this year was called Urban Mole by Philipp Hermes at Folkwang Hochschule in Essen Germany. The concept is to utilize existing underground infrastructure to provide an automated delivery network (sewer). How is that for an every changing supply chain, how quickly do you think ISTA and ASTM can come up with test standard to simulate the Urban Mole? The ick factor is supposed to be avoided by having the Mole travel at the top of the tube, the Mole is hermetically sealed, etc. The intent is for small parcels to be ferried around the city at minimal cost and a reduction of congestion; items like books, CDs, small parts/tools delivery, documents, etc. This is the type of last mile delivery innovation that many companies are looking for to reduce or defer supply chain costs. I think I might prefer the small upcharge for a bike messenger or wait an extra day for the overnight delivery service. 
This appears to be WAY out of the box thinking, similar to a concept for moving people that has been around for a while called Personal Rapid Transit. There are a variety of concepts worldwide. The Skyweb Express by Taxi2000 was the solution posed for the Minneapolis area to better move people around non-stop directly from point to point. The system utiliz
es vertical space and would be have stations attached to buildings & transit hubs. There will be a PRT in place at London’s Heathrow Airport later this year using guided track vehicles. If this system moves people, it most certainly would only be a short time before it becomes part of your packaging supply chain as well.More general info on PRT: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_rapid_transit
Heathrow PRT intro: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kI3qadusfNA&NR=1H
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