The amount of packaging used in the UK has remained at a near-constant level in the past decade, while the recycling rate more than doubled, figures published by the European Commission have revealed.
via Incpen praises impressive UK recycling effort as rate doubles | packagingnews.co.uk.
Kimberly-Clark Professional (KCP) has launched a new global campaign to persuade its customers that sustainability is about more than just a product’s packaging.
via Sustainability is more than just recycled packaging, says Kimberly-Clark | packagingnews.co.uk.
Really interesting article, nice to see that the UK have been named number 1 for something so positive. (Jane)
For decades European countries have been among the most innovative on the planet when it comes to drug development. Scientists at stellar academic centers like the Karolinska Institute in Sweden and the Oxford/Cambridge university axis in the UK have produced some of the best thinking on new drugs the industry has seen. And clusters of developers in Switzerland, the UK and places like the Medicon Valley in northern Denmark and southern Sweden have spawned their share of start-ups. Germany has seen a whole generation of biotech companies launched with public assistance from the BioRegions it began to establish more than a decade ago.
via European Biotechnology, European Biotech – FierceBiotech.
Kraft Foods is investing EUR 15m in a new European biscuit development facility in France.
via Kraft invests EUR 15m in biscuit brand development | packagingnews.co.uk.
Simeon Goldstein, packagingnews.co.uk, 08 October 2009
This is a really interesting insight into the diverse nature of retail outlets across the globe and it’s good to think for a minute (or three) about the affect that has, not only on the shopping habits of consumers, but also on pack design. All four of the markets mentioned (Brazil, Russia, India & China) work to a totally different supply-model and designers should be aware of this when developing market-specific packs for each of those regions. Even in the same market (e.g. India) there is a huge difference between the requirements for packaging in the huge new department stores sprouting up and the small ‘mom & pop’ stores that exist out in more rural areas. Just think for a moment about the different requirements for each ‘outlet’ in terms of information:
1. The need to read bar codes in some areas and not in others
2. The requirements of self-selection in a department store versus an ‘endorsement’ by ‘mom & pop’ in the smaller stores
3. The greater degree for branding & shelf stand-out required in the bigger stores, where products are ‘fighting’ against a far bigger range of competing products
4. The more stringent shelving requirements in department stores in terms of shelf height, ‘facings’ and fit on gondola ends.
To name but a few…. and then there are the different transit & product-protection requirements to get to the store and to be ‘managed’ therin. I.e. The use of an automated (potentially) delivery & stock-handing system in a modern department store to that of ‘horse & cart’ delivery & manual booking in system to a store in the outer reaches of Goa.
Food for thought – Chris Penfold
Changing retail landscape helps define cosmetics in BRIC markets
The fast-changing retail landscapes in Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRIC markets) are creating new opportunities for cosmetics and personal care players to market products.
Although the retail landscapes are developing in quite different ways in each market, the key to successfully marketing personal care and cosmetics products will be determined by how effective companies are at tapping into these channels.
Speaking at the recent HBA conference program, held in New York City last month, Kline Group’s Carrie Mellage lifted the lid on each of these markets to show how the retail channels are evolving and to describe how companies are taking advantage of this.
By By Simon Pitman, 05-Oct-2009 www.cosmeticsdesign-europe.com
You can read the full article here: http://tinyurl.com/ydyggt4
Unilever has signed a research agreement with a US company in order to explore transdermal delivery technologies. Massachusetts-based BioChemics developed its transdermal drug delivery system VALE Vasi-active Lipid Encapusulated initially for use in the pharmaceutical sector, but it believes it has potential cosmetic applications. The company has signed the agreement with the Anglo-Dutch consumer goods
via #atssh-twitter.
By Katie Bird , 06-Oct-09Â www.cosmeticsdesign-europe.com
It’s an interesting idea and definitely one to keep an eye on. Whether the consumers will really have the influence to change much remains to be seen but it’s certainly an idea on how to generate interest in the general public.  I hope they will be vetting panel members to ensure that they don’t work for a rival store! (Jane)
Supermarket giant Asda is to consult its customers directly on packaging design as part of new plans to earn long-term loyalty from shoppers.
via Asda to consult customers on packaging in transparency drive | packagingnews.co.uk.
Josh Brooks, packagingnews.co.uk, 05 October 2009
Design Cognition have teamed-up with Top10Tips.co.uk to provide support to small businesses. The Top10Tips website provides a range of resources for Small to Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs) covering all sorts of areas pertinent to a business start-up, including the following:
Top 10 Tips Logo
* Packaging Design
* Search Engine Optimisation
* How to Choose a Marketing Mentor
* Strategic Marketing for Start-Ups
* Brochure Writing
* Social Responsibility for Small Business
* Brochure Design
* Email Stationery Design
* Marketing your Small Business
In terms of packaging design, I’ve provided my Top Ten Tips to help get you started. As I state there, “Packaging is often the last thing to be thought about in a long chain of events during the development of a product; often an after-thought. However, packaging is the main component to deliver consumer convenience and something that can vastly affect the satisfaction or otherwise of a products performance.”
So if you’d like to ‘get it right first time’, you can read the full article (all 1 -10 Packaging Design tips) by clicking the following link. Have read and let me know what you think. Cheers Chris Penfold
