Stockholm, Sweden — Experts from 15 countries are meeting this week to begin developing standards to cover environmental issues related to packaging such as reuse, recycling and composting.

About 70 delegates from China, Japan, Korea, the United States and 11 European countries are meeting in Sweden for the first gathering for the SC4 Packaging and Environment committee.

Published on Greenbiz.com 12th Dec 2009 and brought to our attention by our Twitter friend @packagindiva – thanks JoAnn! It would be good to get some consistency in this area. Well overdue. What to you think? Chris

The full article can be read here: http://bit.ly/4UB8ZK

I suppose there are pros and cons – is it better to protect the food with more packaging so that it can be stored for longer and there is less food waste – or better to scrap the food and save on the packaging?  I think if they can find a way of making the film from a biodegradable material then this has the potential to be a real step forward.  It would take some selling to the general public though, there appears to be a large number who believe that all packaging is evil, regardless of it’s use or benifit. (Jane)

 

Health-conscious consumers bananas are a welcome part of a convenience store’s offering. That is, until they turn brown. Which is why Del Monte developed a new plastic wrap for bananas that promises to more than double their shelf life by keeping out air and moisture. 7-Eleven has been trialling the second skin in 27 of its Dallas-area stores. If the trial is successful, the bananas-in-bags could be stocked in the majority of the chain’s 5,787 shops by early 2010.

From the perspective of consumer health that’s a thumbs up, but some have criticized the extra packaging as environmentally unsound. After all, bananas come wrapped in their own protective layer. Del Monte is looking to develop biodegradable packaging, but also stresses that the new plastic wrapper reduces the overall carbon footprint by enabling a reduction in deliveries. The company is also introducing specially packaged bananas in vending machines, underlining the wider context of increased consumer demand for food that’s both healthy and convenient. (Related: Vending machines for healthy food — Vending machines for farm produce.)

via New packaging prolongs shelf life of bananas – Springwise.

I found the following article via a LinkedIn packaging group and it gives an interesting overview of size, trends, obstacles, opportunities and predictions pharma packaging industry. Have a read of the full article and let us know what you think. Chris

According to a survey conducted by Pharmaceutical Technology Europe (PTE), almost 50% of you believe that cost is the biggest limiting factor to innovation in the pharmaceutical packaging industry, while regulations were also thought to present a major hurdle to new development, accounting for almost two-thirds of the remaining votes.¹ The pharmaceutical industry recognizes the importance of good packaging design, in particular because of the continuing pressure to aid patient compliance, meet regulatory demands, and increase a brand’s life and appeal; however, manufacturers must also innovate while improving efficiency and adapting to the growing threat of drug counterfeiting.

You can read the full article here (but may need a LinkedIn account):

http://fb.me/3mDlBhX

Via LinkedIn link to Pharmaceutical Technology Europe, Volume 21, Issue 11 Nov 1, 2009
Article by: Fedra Pavlou, Stephanie Sutton, Corrine Lawrence

It has been mandatory since 2005 in the European Union to include Braille text on the pack of every newly approved medicine, including uncontracted forms of the drug name and its strength if more than one is made available. By 30 October 2010 the requirement will be applied to all products, regardless of when they were approved.

Annie Dallison - CTO at Design Cognition

Indeed our Chief Technical Officer Annie Dallison has been at the ‘cutting edge’ of this legislation for a number of years as a member of The European Committee for Standardization (CEN) working group on Braille standards. Annie, as a leading industry expert, already had over 8 years of experience in the application of Braille on pharmaceutical packaging developing processes and establishing & setting standards for blue chip companies, making her an ideal member of the working group.

CEN working group

The CEN working group is made up of dedicated representatives from the packaging industry, trade associations, regulatory bodies and blind associations from across Europe. The group has been working for over 3 years to determine and agree standards, including the Braille font style and measurement of Braille cell dot height that can be applied across the whole of the EU.

The following article provides an interesting insight, from a packaging supplier’s perspective, into the implementation of the imminent Braille legislation. Craig Jasper, Director of Sales for the paperboard converting equipment at Roberts PolyPro, a division of Pro Mach, discusses the obstacles facing Braille embossing on pharmaceutical packages.

Craig Jasper - Director of Sales at Roberts PolyPro

In the article Jasper confirms that “It is a very noble cause. Yes, the number of blind people is less than 2% — and older people that become blind late in life cannot read Braille — but, try to imagine an elevator or an ATM without Braille. It has become part of the fabric of our lives in so many places and it is the right thing to do for those that need some assistance in everyday functions. Also coming up next year it is the 200th birthday anniversary of Louis Braille.” He goes on to talk about obstacles that pharmaceutical companies face with regards to incorporating Braille embossing on packages, and how he feels that the regulation will encourage countries outside of the EU (South America are expecting it to happen there very soon!) to adopt a similar mandate regarding Braille embossing.

You can access a FREE Braille factsheet at The Pharma Gateway HERE

You can read the full PharmaTech article here: http://bit.ly/611BQv (Via Pharmaceutical Technology Europe, Nov 1, 2009)

Interesting article and data  on the importance of continued investment into innovative packaging and graphics (Annie)

Year long survey consistently finds that structure might best communicate innovation, especially with supportive graphics. Materials and production also are good barometers. In any economic environment, innovation is key to growth. But, during a recession, many companies are tempted to reduce spending on innovation to save money. Luckily, this is not an absolute rule. Daring brands still pushed the boundaries of packaging innovation in 2009.Earlier this year, Shelf Impact! and international brand consultancy Dragon Rouge formed a partnership to ask branding and packaging professionals to evaluate recent product and packaging innovations. Each quarter, we asked a sample of hundreds of Shelf Impact! readers, from brand managers to designers to materials suppliers, to rate a selection of packages on matters of innovation. View an image and brief description of each of the 10 packages reviewed this quarter.

via Shelf Impact: “Achieving attention-getting innovation” Filed In:.

Despite the current economic climate manufacturers are still pushing forward with making their products more sustainable.  More sustainable doesn’t have to mean more expensive and I think that’s the key to this – it might appear all very ‘trendy’ at the moment to talk about sustainability, but in the long run it can help to cut your costs and more importantly help your profits. (Jane)

Most grocery manufacturers have either maintained or increased their investment in sustainability during the recession a survey has found, indicating the importance it will play for businesses in the coming decade.

via Sustainability no less important in recession, survey.

Sounds like there will be a lot of artworks that will need changing – I hope the smaller businesses out there fully understand the regulations (Jane)

Canadian manufacturers of antiperspirant products have until the end of 2011 to alter product claims and labeling under new regulation. Following new guidance on the classification of products on the cosmetics drug interface, aluminium containing antiperspirants are now classified as cosmetics in Canada.

via Antiperspirant labels and claims change in Canada.

Factory Tour and Buffet, 7pm start

Why not come and spend an informal evening with the

East Midlands Packaging Society

- people that know how to organise a p*** up in a brewery!

EVERYONE WELCOME.

The tour will last approximately 3 hours

& includes a fully guided tour of the Victorian Brewhouse,

Fantastic beer! Why not come & try one?

Burton Union Systems and the Bottling Plant,

plus a great opportunity to sample 4 x half pints of their

superb ales (soft drinks also available) & opportunity to purchase Marstons merchandise.

Cost of tour inc refreshments £10 per head.

Marston’s Brewery, The Brewery, Shobnall Road,

Burton-on-Trent DE14 2BW (get directions here)

For further details please contact David Smalley:

0115 847 7007, dtmsmalley@btinternet.com

More details about EMPkgS events can be found at

http://thepackagingsociety-em.ning.com/