Small Size Changes Make a Big Difference

We have spent a great deal of time suggesting the idea of “right sizing”, which is essentially only using as large of a shipping container as is truly needed for any product being shipped. Minimizing the size of a shipping box is green and economical because it also minimizes everything that goes along with it such as the necessary void fill and tape used to seal the box.

Disturbing Trend – Minimum Allowable Box Size

Two months ago we found out about a major electronics retailer who instituted an 8” cube minimum box size. Keep in mind that an 8” cube box is actually EIGHT times larger and eight times the waste compared to a 4” cube box. Then, just a week ago a large ladies accessory retailer notified their suppliers and vendors that they too had adopted a new “minimum allowable inbound shipping container.”

It appears this policy is designed to eliminate product loss because smaller boxes have a tendency of becoming lost or damaged in a high volume receiving environment at many large retail operations. This policy is not very positive in terms of packaging sustainability but perhaps it is necessary and important.

Greener Options

In the spirit of “you can’t fight city hall,” perhaps the best we can do is offer some suggestions to minimize the negative green aspects of this change, as well as minimizing the cost. Read the rest of this entry »

With sincere hope and belief that our readers are not going to shoot or even blame the messenger, I have to let everyone know that we received our first price increase notice (this round) earlier this week. Yes, this follows two previous increases earlier this year in March and June, and I will not attempt to justify this unprecedented third increase in one year, but rather deliver an advance warning and perhaps some cost-reducing options.

How to Minimize the Impact of this Increase

First and foremost, buy ahead of the rush and before the increase takes hold. All indications point to this increase being implemented the third or fourth week of September. If you are in a position to do so, I suggest ordering the boxes you will need through the end of the year, ASAP. For many of our e-commerce customers, this increase comes before the busiest time of their year so getting ahead of it may really help your year-end profitability.

Is available space an issue? Talk with your suppliers about holding product for you to minimize the space required and maximize the cost savings. For example, we have been known to hold stock product for future release and have even agreed to hold custom (customer specific) product under the right conditions.

Other Ways to Reduce Your Corrugated Costs

1. Use less corrugated by downsizing your shipping boxes. If you have not reviewed and right sized your packaging, there is no better time to do so. Please see this ISP post on downsizing your shipping boxes

2. Are you using the most efficient and cost effective style of box for your application? RSC versus die cut mailer, RSC versus tray or sleeve, are just a few of the options available to you. Many people use RSC style boxes even though they may not be the lowest cost option.

3. Replace corrugated shipping boxes with other options such as paper or plastic mailer envelopes. Here is another ISP post about mailer envelopes.

4. This could be a great time to consider reusable packaging options, especially if you are in a “closed loop” scenario where it is easy to justify the initial higher cost. Here is an ISP post discussing several reusable packaging options.

What Can We Look Forward to in 2011?

Like most of our lives and businesses these days, it will all come down to the economy. If the economic signs are improved, you may see this trend of higher prices continue. “Get while the getting is good” appears to be the new strategy so you may see another small increase in early 2011.

On the other hand, if holiday spending is a bust and if the economy tanks after the holidays, you may even see a small price decrease as a hungry corrugated market attempts to create tonnage rather than margin.

Bottom line: no one knows for sure, but I can pretty much guarantee that paper based packaging is NOT going to become less expensive in 2011. How much more expensive it becomes is the big unknown but every shipping box used will be more expensive than it has been.

Please contact us if you have any questions or a desire to develop a cost containment strategy for your packaging materials.

There is no doubt most people know us for our 100% PCW recycled content corrugated, stock, shipping boxes, but over half of the boxes we sell are custom printed with our customers’ brand or design. One of the things we have noticed is that an increasing number are going well beyond the traditional one color logo and using their boxes to make a very memorable and positive impression on their customers.

Some Great Examples of Boxes Designed to Impress and Save Money

Pasolivo Oil – opted for a unique design that wraps around the box creating a lattice or gift ribbon look. They also went against conventional thinking and printed with white ink on a brown, natural Kraft box. The end result is a very natural, and unique white wash look.

Sennco Solutions – when they decided on a new company logo, there was no better way to promote it to their customers than to print it on all of their shipping boxes. We helped them to consolidate their box sizes, while minimizing their printing plate costs. They also discovered that by increasing the number of boxes they ordered, they were able to minimize the additional cost of the printing.

Stonyfield Farm – for a special promotion they chose Globe Guard boxes for their eco consistent message and printed their return address and even the postal indicia directly on the box to minimize labor and labeling. They also decided to reinforce the standard Globe Guard eco message by adding their own use and disposal message on the highly visible side panels.

Earth Turns.com – without a lot of additional expense, two PMS colors can be duplicated for a first-class and consistent image. Earth Turn’s easily recognizable brand is important to them, so how could anyone possibly print this unique brand image in one color or colors that do not match how they look elsewhere in their marketing?

Custom Printing a Box Typically Adds Less than 5% Per Color to Cost

Most people are surprised when they can print their boxes for not much more than they are currently paying for boring brown boxes. Yes, a second or third color adds cost, but after many years we can tell you that in most cases, that is less than 5% per color, so even an elaborate three-color design is likely to add less that 20% to the box cost.

Most customers print two panels, the two that are not obscured by the tape that will eventually be used to tape the box closed. However safety messages and other information can be easily printed on the top flaps where the boxes are usually opened. As I suggest to customers, ink is inexpensive so once you decide to print, don’t hold back. Eliminate costly labels and/or the labor consumed to add additional, often-time handwritten markings and messages.

Keep in mind that printing plates are required but they too are less expensive than most people imagine. Plates vary in cost, depending on the image and box sizes, but they are a onetime expense, normally in the $200 to $300 range per color. Plates are also the customer’s property to be used elsewhere or for other purposes. We are always eager to help with the artwork design so that the same plates can be used for multiple and varying box sizes.

Creating an “Image of Difference”

Thanks to the Internet and a tough economy, regardless of what we sell, our markets are becoming crowded and tougher. Standing out is a challenge but graphics on packaging are relatively inexpensive ways of retaining current customers and capturing new business as well.

With our experience and capabilities, we can help you take the fear, headaches and cost out of the process.

The printing industry was using paper for void fill and water activated paper box sealing tape, long before they became trendy and popular again. Perhaps it was out of appreciation for paper as a valuable, versatile and renewable resource, or maybe because they were simply smarter than the rest of us and understood the economic benefits of using paper based packaging products.

Five Printer Shipping Box Sizes Now in Stock!

We are very pleased to be able to offer five printers box sizes in addition to our ever growing list of standard stock sizes. The following Globe Guard 100% PCW recycled content boxes are now in stock and available in the following sizes:

• GG11 – 11.25” X 8.75” X 6” high, 32 C Kraft, Plain RSC shipping box
• GG44 – 11.75” X 8.75” X 4.75” high,  32 C Kraft, Plain RSC shipping box
• GG45 – 11.75 x 8.75 x 8.75” high, 32 C Kraft, Plain RSC shipping box
• GG46 – 17.25 x 11.25 x 8” high, 32 C Kraft, Plain RSC shipping box
• GG50 – 11.25 x 8.75 x 4” high, 32 C Kraft, Plain RSC shipping box

Additional Green Packaging Supplies for Printers

At our GlobeGuardProducts.com store you will also find a nice selection of packaging paper for wrapping, interleaving or void fill applications. Our products include industrial tissue sheets, 30# newsprint rolls, the ever popular 40# Kraft; 50# recycled gray bogus and even 60# heavy duty indented Kraft rolls for the toughest applications. Most are available in 24” wide rolls as well as 36” wide rolls. If you need a paper that is not in stock, let us know and we’ll get it for you.

Most printers still use reinforced paper tape because it does the best job of holding heavy cases together. We stock plain, our own Globe Guard print and we are a leading distributor of custom printed water activated paper tape. We can quickly and easily print your logo, web site or message on your tape for security and branding purposes.

Most of Our Products Were Once a Specific Customer Request

We have rapidly and steadily increased our list of stock products and are eager to add even more. Usually all that is necessary is a customer who takes the time to tell us what they need and it becomes a stock item for all to use. Our willingness to add new sizes or grades applies to boxes, stretch film, mailers and even packaging papers.

Regular ISP readers probably get tired of hearing it but I too have to remind myself that we are adding new readers all of the time who may not realize that over half of what we do is custom grade, custom size or custom print. Browse through the pages of this blog and you will see we are leaders in custom printed and branded sustainable packaging products.

Please let us know how we can best help you deliver a greener and lower cost package to your customers.

We are firm believers in branding and our customers notice and appreciate the fact that every Globe Guard box we make has our logo proudly printed on the bottom for all to see. However, every once in a while we are involved in a packaging application that really makes us think about the non-business messaging we communicate to others.

Sennco Solutions Custom Printed Tape

Chris Marszalek, the president and co-founder of Sennco Solutions, has become a close friend as well as a valued customer. Anyone who has ever met Chris will tell you he is a savvy business man, a loving husband and father, and an incredibly hard worker, but what is most notable is that Chris is a devoted Christ follower. His faith and God are important to him and he does not hesitate to allow his faith to influence his business life, in fact he would be the first to tell you, he wouldn’t have it any other way.

That is why we were not totally surprised when Chris told us he wanted to print one of his favorite Bible verses on his box sealing tape. Proverbs 16:20 – “Blessed is he who trusts in the LORD”. Certainly a request we don’t hear every day but one not totally unexpected from a man like Chris.

Sennco Solutions is a leading designer and manufacturer of retail, anti-theft devices so you could say they are in the business of keeping honest people honest. If his new tape was going to communicate a marketing message, he could have easily selected a different Bible verse directed at dishonest behavior or even printed the quite appropriate Eighth Commandment on his tape – Thou shall not steal. That would have been clever and eye catching, but this was not about marketing or being clever, it is about communicating who Chris is and what he believes.

Read the rest of this entry »

Our new cooler made of water-resistant corrugated board has attracted a lot of attention, and what’s not to like? After all, it is reusable, disposable, recyclable, repulpable, biodegradable, compostable, and can even be branded with your logo and artwork. It is great for personal use but also makes a great retail add on, impulse item or even a useful and memorable custom printed giveaway item for your customers.

Here are some typical questions people have asked:

How many times can The Globe Guard cooler be reused?

We have used ours several times and it still appears it could handle several more uses. There is no definitive number of times it can be used because it really depends on what it is filled with and for how long it is used, as well as how it is dried and stored. For example, after each use, we empty ours and let it dry flat and it still looks like new.

How much will it hold?

The quick answer is 15 quarts, which is approximately a case and a half of 12 ounce cans and a large bag of ice.

What makes it water resistant and water proof?

The water resistance results from a special coating that is applied to the inside of the cooler. What makes it unique is that the coating is NOT plastic (natural gas) or wax (petroleum) based so there is no adverse affect on the cooler’s ability to be recycled or re-pulped. The water proofing is due to the unique patent pending design. There are no exposed seams on the bottom or side of the cooler.

What is the minimum for custom printing?

250 coolers or one pallet. Smaller quantities can be run but require an up charge for set-up time. The one time plate cost for printing on both sides of the cooler is usually less than $300 per color but can be accurately priced when artwork is provided for review.

How many colors can you print?

As many as you want or need, though one to three colors is the norm.

Do you offer wholesale pricing for retailers?

Yes we do, and we also offer retail POP displays and guidance. This is a great item to feature in your store and we do everything we can to make it easy and profitable for you.

How can you dispose of the cooler when done?

First of all we hope you will re-use it as many times as possible but when it finally reaches the end of its initial life cycle, we hope you will recycle it anywhere paper and corrugated can be recycled, which for most people is at curbside. If that is not possible, the cooler, like most corrugated products, will biodegrade and can even be composted in your backyard compost heap.

Remember, the Globe Guard Eco Friendly, Reusable Cooler is on sale through the end of August for as low as $3.99 each.

For a purchasing professional, there are many good reasons to visit and use our new and unique eco friendly packaging site but based on initial feedback, most fall into these two broad categories:

Green Packaging Group.com will save you, the B2B buyer, time and money.

You can search through the many “green” websites offering everything from soy candles to organic cotton baby diapers, but packaging is all the five charter companies do and feature on the site. Five distinct vendors at one site, with products listed in an easily sorted format. You will also find an interesting and valuable new connection and link in the section we call “additional green resources and products.” But the primary focus of our site is green packaging, and we offer it in more forms than many people realize are available.

Most purchasing professionals we know these days are short handed, so being able to find the green packaging product you need, without having to weed through pages of Google results can save you a lot of time. Packaging is a broad industry, and from our home page and throughout, our site is designed to get to what you need quickly. On www.greenpackaginggroup.com, you are only a click away from the appropriate and best vendor.

The other thing you will find at Green Packaging Group.com is guidance and “how to” advice, written by experienced industry experts with a proven record of showing clients how to use less and greener products. Chances are we have already worked with hundreds if not thousands of packaging applications similar to yours, so we can help you avoid a costly mistake with personal consultation or one of our informative, related blog posts. Also, don’t be surprised if someone at Nashville Wraps suggests Salazar Packaging or someone at Eco Bags directs you to Distant Village. We will not hesitate to refer you to a different participating company if it is the right thing to do.

Green Packaging Group.com will help you save the planet.

Green typically saves money by reducing waste and your carbon footprint. Whether you believe in global warming, climate change, or neither, most everyone agrees we all have to minimize the amount of packaging we use for the economics as well as the appearance.

Even in the down economy, one of the few market segments that has shown continuous growth is green because more and more customers see the need to change old, wasteful and careless habits. If you sell one of the many new, green products available today, you will send an eco consistent message by utilizing the green packaging vendors we have united for your benefit and that of the earth in bad need of repair.

Please let us know how we can help you save some money, time and a planet.

One of the things I find most interesting about sustainable packaging as well as quite frustrating at times, is that it is constantly changing. We know firsthand that what was considered green just a short two years ago is no longer acceptable as the products, processes and popular thought have all changed.

The packaging for a new Canon desk top printer we recently purchased is a perfect example of this.

What Canon Used in Terms of Packaging

To get the printer from Thailand to us, Canon used a virtual smorgasbord of packaging and unfortunately most of it is not very green by today’s standards. The products they used are shown in the photo below and included:

• Almost 2,700 square inches of heavy-grade corrugated (4.9 lbs. worth)
• 4 molded poly styrene corner protectors
• 4 paper board tubes
• Various corrugated pads and inserts
• A few flexible foam surface protectors
• A wide variety of high density polyethylene sheets and bags

To their credit, everything that was not a paper based product included a recycle code, even the polystyrene corner protectors. They were clearly molded to show their PS, #6 recycle code. Good luck with that since there are few facilities able or willing to take in polystyrene in any form.

Current and Greener Alternatives

We know enough about interior, protective packaging to know that the molded EPS could have been easily replaced with die cut, ideally high-recycled content, corrugated inserts. The outer shipping box did not have to be a heavy duty box with a five color printed virgin grade litho label. Most of the plastic bags and flexible foam pads could now be made with plant based, oxo-biodegradable or other more eco friendly formulations.

As a company that does this for a living, the most startling fact is that most of these product alternatives would REDUCE the packaging cost, not increase it.

Green Beyond Words

The most ironic thing we noticed was Canon’s “Generation Green” emblem proudly displayed on the box. It states: Environmentally Conscious Products with the Next Generation in Mind.

That is a great, green marketing slogan but the packaging is not consistent with the message or mission. For that matter, how about offering some help figuring out what we can do with the old Canon printer we are replacing? You see we love the products, but the packaging? Not so much.

The interest level in our newest Globe Guard product is high, so we have doubled the offering to include a light and heavy-duty version of our hand wrap as well as our machine wrap films. Our oxo-biodegradable stretch films now include:

• High Yield, 47 gauge, 18” oxo-biodegradable stretch film hand wrap with 1,500 feet per roll and four rolls per case, for when film economy is crucial.
• Heavy Duty, 80 gauge, 18” oxo-biodegradable stretch film hand wrap with 1,500 feet per roll and four rolls per case, for heavier pallet loads or high abuse stretch bundling applications.
• High Yield, 50 gauge, 20” oxo-biodegradable machine length stretch film with 9,000 feet per roll and packed 40 rolls per pallet.
• Medium Duty, 63 gauge, 20” oxo-biodegradable machine length stretch film with 7,500 feet per roll and packed 40 rolls per pallet.

Read the rest of this entry »

It’s a picture reminiscent of “Where’s Waldo?” but can you find the missing component in the photo below? A stand for a bag-making machine shipped to us in this box filled with shredded corrugated and twisted paper void fill. Both are excellent and very green products for that type of application. The problem is that a small rubber foot slipped off of the stand during shipment and we had to search through the void fill to find the missing component.

The Right Green Void Fill for the Total Application

We tend to talk a lot about application appropriate green packaging but that is not just about the packaging materials being used. Among other factors, it is also about who is using it, where it is being used, how it is being used, the volume of packages being produced and what is being shipped. The best, green packaging product for shipping an ornamental glass vase is probably not the same green packaging product we might recommend for shipping a machine stand like this. I love shredded corrugated and paper based void fill but whenever shipping products with small, expensive and/or removable pieces, there are probably better options to be utilized. Namely, void fill and cushioning packaging options that do not make it easy to possibly lose critical components.

Replacement Cost for Lost Components

Years ago I worked with a company and learned that in addition to the lost good will and positive shopping experience, they experienced an eighty dollar cost, above and beyond the cost of the missing component which in most cases had a value of less than five dollars. We recently worked with a distributor of high value, small size goods and their “product lost” claims dropped by over 80% when they switched from a loose fill product to an inflatable pillow void fill solution.

Whether product and component loss is real, perceived or even intentional, the cost to you as the shipper is very real and it can quickly make the packaging product cost almost insignificant.

Void Fill Cost versus Price

In addition to the green aspect of any given packaging product, we must also evaluate the true cost rather than just the basic price. Considerations such as shipping cost, storage space, labor costs and even product loss have to be factored in order to perform an accurate cost comparison and analysis.

Let us know if you would like us to help you determine the best and most cost effective solution for your packaging challenges.