sustainable packaging

Grow Design is a sustainable product development firm in Torrance, California. In this interview, Barent describes a unique reusable packaging solution his firm designed for the purpose of shipping small items. It is made from PET, and the advantage would be its all inclusive inner and outer protection, with the possibility for continuous reuse for mail delivery.

Interesting milk bottle design for ASDA supermarkets in the UK. Has a recycled paper shell with an inner bag made of corn starch. Nice idea.

News stories from the green marketing & packaging sector. Includes summer 2008 thought pieces on sustainable packaging, and news stories including: PLA (polylactic acid) used for meat/poultry/seafood trays, biodegradable coffee bags, alternative food containers, Method products using 100% recycled PET, recycled LDPE air pillows, and eco-design for 11th hour DVD packaging.

Sustainable is Good does a review on the Radius Source Toothbrush calling it comfortable like a fork or knife? Say what?

One of the leading UK supermarket chains Sainsbury'sis launching milk sold in a recyclable plastic bag pouch in thirty five of its stores.

The chain expects to have the bagged milk available in as many as 500 stores within the next year.

The popular Hefty brand of consumer trash bags has recently launched new “Space Saver” packaging that is both smaller and makes more efficient use of resources.

Pactiv Corporation, makers of Hefty created the new packaging which is 40 percent smaller and more compact than the existing packaging for the same number of bags.

Earthopoly is a new earth-friendly board game made by Cinncinati-based specialty game manufacturer Late for the Sky.  The game follows the format and style of the legendary classic Monopoly, only nearly every aspect of the game right down to the board is eco-friendly.

Jeff asks us just how green is our toothbrush? He admits he does not spend much time thinking about the "eco-ness" of his toothbrush.

Brazil's state-owned development bank is backing (with bonds and stock purchases) a young company that makes biodegradable and compostable products and packaging from yucca/cassava/manioc (a renewable source) that will compete with plastic resins such as polystyrene ("styrofoam").

Wal-Mart's current national advertising circular distributed in Sunday newspapers across the country this week features a 3/4 page focus on green products with a strong message on reducing packaging. The top of the page reads "Now you can save the planet while you save money." The new ad is a first for Wal-Mart and is very similar to an ad Target ran (sans the focus on packaging waste) in May in their national circular.

The ubiquitous "standard" DVD case is everywhere, but is not at all sustainable. It's made of plastic, meaning it encourages pushing persistent poisonous chemicals into the environment, and it is not very space efficient. There are alternatives, and An Inconvenient Truth showcased some of them.