During my recent travels and conventioneering, I noticed that MBE (Minority Business Enterprise) firms are seriously underrepresented in the world of sustainability, especially when it comes to sustainability and MBE packaging firms. Here are a few cases in point.

• Four weeks ago I attended the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) Conference in Las Vegas. We met with many large companies that work very hard to identify potential suppliers that are minority business enterprises. Few of these companies were flying the “green” flag, but when questioned, they revealed that their companies indeed had green initiatives - and they were high on the priority list. (more…)

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Timothy Johnson takes a high altitude look at developing a sustainable strategy within large corporations.

Jackie DeLise explains how less packaging can be more with a great real life example.

Here’s a UK perspective on automobile sales trends from Eco Street. Interesting to see which models are selling and which are not. (more…)

One of our favorite blogs is Sustainable Is Good because they do an exceptional job of exposing examples of over packaging. This photo ran on SISG a couple of months ago, much to the embarrassment of Amazon. Obviously someone at Amazon made a mistake and shipped out an order for ten thin books, in ten separate boxes complete with tape and void fill. That was a plain and simple error on someone’s part and I am sure “inspector #25” or “packer #17” heard about their lapse in common sense. As bad as mistakes like that can be for the companies making them, what is even worse is deliberate lapses in basic concern regarding the importance of secondary packaging, especially when it is done by companies that should know better.

I believe that now more than ever, a green company making a green product MUST be consistent throughout their entire customer serving process, including the secondary packaging they ship out. Here are some reasons why. (more…)

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The late sportscaster Howard Cosell would often refer to well seasoned athletes as “veterans of many campaigns”. I guess except for the athletic part, that description could easily apply to guys like me who will soon be attending our 17th PACK EXPO show on November 9th through 13th.

This year’s PACK EXPO is expected to feature 2,000 exhibitors and over 45,000 attendees. (The show is held every other year, in Chicago’s McCormick Place.) It is a chance for many of us to catch up with old friends we rarely get to see, as well as a unique opportunity to review the newest innovations in packaging products and especially packaging equipment.

I personally am very excited to attend this year because it promises to be the greenest PACK EXPO ever. For those unable to be there, we plan to provide you with show updates on this blog featuring the newest and hottest green packaging products.

For those able to attend, especially for those new to the show, I offer some basic, practical advice to make PACK EXPO as productive and enjoyable as possible. (more…)

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It would be a beautiful and greener world if these two goals could be met as one and the same, but unfortunately life and being green are not that simple. So as a business person, serving a predominantly green customer base, which way do you go?

Survey after survey indicates consumers are indeed willing to give up some degree of convenience in exchange for greener packaging but are they willing to forgo safety, security, freshness, or even product cleanliness? In most cases the answer is no, especially if there is a good option available. There is indeed a limit to how much most consumers are willing to sacrifice for the environment.

At the risk of further angering packing peanut manufacturers, a perfect example of this dilemma is foam peanuts, shells, or any other shape of this controversial product. I recently met with a customer who proudly proclaimed he was using an eco-friendly foam peanut product that would degrade in water. In over thirty years I have never won an argument with a customer so there was no way I would debate the merits of the product, or the science behind it. I am sure his void fill product will indeed dissolve if exposed to water, and I have no idea on the content of the watery goo that is sure to result in the process or where it winds up in the environment. (more…)

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The world of sustainability is obviously much larger than just packaging and we work hard to develop relationships with companies able to provide answers for our customers and friends. TerraLocke Sustainability Consultants is a company that focuses of sustainability from an operational and facilities perspective. They are a leader in their field and are well known for their thorough Sustainability Audits. There is much confusion and misinformation on greenhouse gases and the resulting carbon footprint so I asked TerraLocke co-founder and managing director, Peter Locke to bring some clarity to this important area of sustainability.

DS: Why might our readers be interested in conducting a greenhouse gas inventory for their business?

PL: There are a few reasons. One, they want to use the inventory results to help identify potential risk areas within their business. Two, companies want to gain experience conducting inventories so they are prepared for when potential federal legislation requires them to do so. Three, companies might be able to make money trading greenhouse gas (GHG) credits on a GHG trading market such as the Chicago Climate Exchange. Four, management feels it is necessary or advantageous to report their emissions to their shareholders or potential investors. (more…)

One of the sure signs that you are getting old is when you realize you unintentionally and often make references to characters and things that were popular long before younger people you may be speaking to were even born. That may be the case with the above title.

When I was a kid, one of the most popular Western series on television (black and white no less) was a series called “Have Gun - Will Travel”. That incredibly cool line (for that time) was neatly printed on the lead character’s business card indicating he was a gun for hire. The lead character was known by the single name Paladin and I think he may have started the one name thing, inspiring others like Madonna, Cher or Sting. As I recall his fee was $1,000, which must have been an enormous amount of money back then, so I doubt he had steady work but always managed to find at least one client in desperate need of his services in time for each weekly, exciting episode. (more…)

Not only can Republicans be green, it turns out a lot of them are. Check out Republicans for Environmental Protection, an organization with this mission statement –

Republicans for Environmental Protection was founded in 1995
to resurrect the GOP’s great conservation tradition
and to restore natural resource conservation and sound environmental protection
as fundamental elements of the Republican Party’s vision for America

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Stereotyping Gets in the Way of Green Action
One positive message coming from both sides in this year’s presidential campaign is the need for change. Our Federal government isn’t getting things done because of partisan politics, with each party characterizing the other by its most extreme elements — in other words, stereotyping. This kind of communication leads people to dig in their heels, become combative, stop listening, and stop communicating. Political discourse has devolved into special interest advocates reciting a familiar litany of charges against the opposition. Not an atmosphere where things get done.

Why Is Washington Stuck in the Mud? (more…)

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This month represents an anniversary of sorts for me because it was one year ago when I submitted my first, above titled article to Rider Thompson of Sustainable Is Good and he chose to publish it. The article was a tongue in cheek recap of my career in packaging and how it relates to sustainability. Much to my surprise, it was picked up and run by numerous other internet outlets including Reuters and GreenBiz.

It seemed like a good time to share with you some observations and what we have learned about sustainability during the last year. (more…)

Since starting our own business almost two years ago, I have to admit we do not get to Sunday service as often as we used to. Ironic that at a time we need more Divine guidance and support than ever before, we are too busy to get there, but that is a completely different problem and story.

I honestly would have preferred to sleep in but my wife lured me to church with the promise of a nice breakfast out, which has become an equally rare weekend treat. I sat in church, feeling guilty because my thoughts kept reverting back to my breakfast options. As my mind debated the benefits of bacon and French toast versus a Feta cheese and broccoli omelet, I listened to our pastor talking about the beauty and wonder of God’s work in the great outdoors.

Most suburban Chicago guys like me usually get their nature on a flat screen TV, while our pastor is a “hike in the wilderness” type of guy so he really got my full attention when he mentioned that God speaks to him through nature. He also stated that it does his heart good to know that even a non-believing tree hugger has felt God’s presence through the wonder of His work in nature. (more…)