This annual show held in Chicago attracts the best the industry has to offer from around the world. Everything from cooking utensils to products designed to make clean up easier is on display, as is the packaging these manufacturers hope will catch our eye and motivate consumers to buy their product from an ever crowded competitive field. There has been a growing trend to make these products as well as the packaging “greener” for a very eco conscious market and I was eager to see if the trend continued.

IHA Promotes Green to the World

One of the many things the International Housewares Association does to educate industry people and visitors in the area of sustainability is to sponsor an exhibit on sustainability which is divided into two categories. One is for green products and the other is green packaging. For the second year in a row, I have served as a “reviewer” of the packaging entries to help determine just how green the packing examples being submitted, truly are.

The State of Green in the Housewares Industry

I visited the show last week and was a bit apprehensive because of all the bad economic news we all hear and see on a daily basis. I was concerned that this downturn in the economy would serve as a good excuse to stray from green and revert back to old, unhealthy eco habits. I am very pleased to say that green awareness and interest continues to grow steadily and the entries in both the product category and packaging category were outstanding and made it worth the trip to McCormick Place on a Sunday afternoon. (more…)

The primary reason we decided to create our own blog is to be able to serve as a resource on sustainability and packaging to our many friends and customers. We have had numerous articles published as well as postings on other eco conscious blogs but the opportunity and responsibility to be able to manage overall content and direction is one we simply could no longer resist. I am told by much more knowledgeable and experienced bloggers that our blog will undoubtedly change and evolve over time but I hope we never stray too far from this initial purpose.

Inside Sustainable Packaging will focus on three major aspects of this complicated and often confusing topic of sustainable packaging. These are:

People – Over the course of thirty plus years in the packaging industry, we have been blessed in many ways but none is as important as the many fine people we have met and are fortunate to be called friends. You can expect to see interviews and links to some of these difference makers.

Products – Our position in the industry often gives us first look at new packaging products that are often developed by companies without huge marketing budgets to promote them. We hope to be able to bring some of these to you for your own evaluation and consideration.

Perspective – Anyone who has ever read anything our marketing director, Brad Shorr or I have written know you can always count on us sharing our thoughts and ideas freely, even and especially if they are not the conventional view point . You may not always agree with what we post but your feedback will always be encouraged as will your ideas, suggestions and your own sustainable and/or packaging industry insight..

We sincerely appreciate your visiting our blog and hope you will find enough value here that you will become a regular visitor and contributor.

With warmest regards,

Dennis Salazar, President, Salazar Packaging, Inc.
Brad Shorr, Director of Marketing, Salazar Packaging, Inc.