Will the Green Police Come After Your Packaging?

by Rob Kaszubowski, CPP - Chainalytics

The Superbowl is traditionally known for two things: great football, and great commercials. During Superbowl XLIV, Audi launched its witty and humorous “Green Police” commercial where consumers are arrested and reprimanded for various environmental violations.

Sustainability, recycling, global warming and saving the environment have all been hot button topics for the past decade. Even though there are no such “Green Police” roaming the streets today, it does beg to ask the question: What “green” packaging violations does your company have?

Here’s a quick list of some possible infringements:

- Using EPS (expanded polystyrene) foam for protective packaging

- PVC (polyvinyl chloride) plastics

- Poor cube utilization

- Improper material selection

- Under utilized distribution systems and warehousing

How has your company been working to move away from these packaging violations?

If there really were “Green Police” for packaging, what should some of the penalties or fees be?

Small changes in packaging can pay huge dividends in helping the environment and improving your packaging’s overall sustainability rating. Make sure you’re not on the wrong side of the law!

BONUS: If you dig the tunes from the Audi commercial check out Cheap Trick’s “Dream Police” circa 1979. The word “dream” was substituted for “green” for Audi’s “Green Police” commercial.