Field Guide to Sustainable Packaging: Book Review

BY DENNIS SALAZAR

The Field Guide to Sustainable Packaging by Steve Sterling includes the tagline, “The journey begins here.” If that is the case, it is a very small step for mankind and the environmental movement, though perhaps a step in the right direction. A “field guide” is typically a compact reference manual. By that definition, the author and publisher delivered what they promised but they definitely left me hungry for more. I usually have the same issue with French restaurants but never mind that, this is a book review. 

To give credit where it is due, Mr. Sterling does provide some historical background on the sustainable movement, which is quite interesting. Did you realize the environmental and sustainable movements can trace their roots back to 1972? I didn’t, and as a lifelong student of the packaging industry, I enjoyed those few pages of background very much. What the author wrote, he wrote well. Mr. Sterling is very obviously a capable and talented writer - but I wish he had finished what he started.    

EPIC Cleaning Products

EPIC (Environmental Products for Important Causes) is a line of environmentally friendly cleaning products made by a small San Diego-based company.  The company's product line covers a variety of cleaning products and combines smart choices in stock packaging with well done graphic-design to appeal to its eco-conscious customers.

The company prides itself in using biodegradable ingredients in its products and donates 100% of its after tax profits to environmental charities.  Founder Noelle Morris comes from a background in the non-profit sector and decided to start EPIC after realizing she could use products to raise money to support charitable causes.  One example is her company's partnership with Save our Seas.

Dani ECO Collection

Oregon-based Dani Bath has added new ECO products to its popular line of candles and diffusers.  The new products debuted last month and feature a number of eco-friendly characteristics including packaging made from NatureWorks PLA.

The new ECO pure soy candles feature cotton wicks and use 100% biodegradable soot free soy wax.  The candle's come in a small attractive glass container with a recyclable aluminum lid. After the candle is spent, the glass container can be cleaned with soap and water and reused as a glass, vase or simply recycled.

The food grade soy wax used in the candles is made from US soybeans and is pesticide & herbicide free.  The candles are 100% biodegradable containing to paraffin, petroleum or genetically modified materials.

The ECO natural reed diffuser oil also comes in a glass container and offers consumers a safe alternative to incense sticks.  The diffuser oil comes with natural reeds in the package and will distribute all natural fragrance throughout a room.   

Epicurean Cutting Surfaces

Minnesota-based Epicurean Cutting Surfaces is producing a variety of professional and consumer paper fiber cutting surfaces for in home kitchen use. 

The products are made from Richlite, a material made from layers of paper fiber soaked with phenolic resin and cured to create a solid sheet.  During the production cycle the layers of paper are gradually bonded with each other to create solid, durable sheets.

Epicurean claims its cutting surfaces are ideal because they do not dull knives, are maintenance free, dishwasher safe, durable, environmentally friendly, temperature resistant up to 350, NSF approved and their nonporous surface prohibits bacteria growth.

Epicurean Cutting Surfaces are made with eco select paper from trees harvested under guidelines of the North America Sustainable Forestry Standards.  Epicurean's Lesley Patterson told us the company considers their cutting surfaces to be an "eco-friendly alternative to other options currently on the market."

The cutting surfaces are available in natural and slate colors in two different lines the Kitchen and Chef Series.  The cutting surfaces are sold with no packaging other than an informative product label on the surface.  The minimal presentation works well for Epicurean as consumers are drawn to the cutting surface itself and can examine it directly in store displays.

We had the opportunity to try several Epicurean Cutting Surfaces and found them easy to use.  The cutting surfaces worked well with both forged and ceramic knives and are extremely easy to clean using soap and water.  The cutting boards are designed with a hole or handle (depending on model) for easy hanging/display.

Epicurean cutting surfaces are available at Whole Foods Market, Williams Sonoma and other stores as well as online at Amazon.

Apple iLife 09 Packaging Design

Mac|Life Magazine is running an interesting piece on packaging design ideas for Apple iLife 09.  Three designers not connected with Apple were asked to present ideas for the packaging design.  The three different designs represent an fascinating view of the wide range of approaches/functionality packaging can provide a product. 

Apple is known for its modern minimal packaging design so it will be interesting to see their design for this product.

ROBIN DICK: Mac|Life Art Director
We’re going to call this one the “luxe model.” Robin’s case-within-a-case design doesn’t skimp on material, but nonetheless aims for a certain functionality in service of aesthetics. The recycled cardboard shell whispers environmental sympathies, while the colorful, action-packed belly band communicates all that iLife stands for. “It’s a simple, sleek, modern way of giving the consumer a permanent disc case, while duplicating the experience of opening a gift,” Robin says. “The contrast in materials adds a splash of color and vibrancy that attracts the eye.”

NAU Blender Glove

NAU is known for their use of advanced recycled fabrics and natural materials for their modern outdoor clothing products.  Their new Blender Glove is no exception.  Made from Teijin recycled polyester, Merino wool and Pittards goat leather, it is a top choice for those seeking an advanced technical glove. 

NAU markets the Blender Glove as a more sustainable option since it uses recycled polyester fabric instead of virgin polyester (petroleum). 

The glove is designed to be durable while offering stretch as well as water repellent and breathable. 

We found its build quality to be exceptional - the gloves should yield years of use.  The interior Merino wool lining is also a welcome addition.  Breathability is quite good which is a positive in some conditions but may not be desirable in others.  The gloves seem ideal for all applications requiring dexterity and durability in a glove.  Warmth in cold climates may require a more insulated glove.  It should also be noted the glove is relatively lightweight at 6 oz.

The Blender Glove is available directly from NAU.

NOTE:  We contacted Vermont-based Ibex for product information on their Climawool glove, which is similar to the Blender Glove.  Despite repeated attempts at contact we never received a response from Ibex.

Dr. Woods Soap

Several months ago one of our contributors was in New York on a product search and a real gem was uncovered.  Apparently there was this brand of soap models were using during NY Fashion week to ensure fantastic skin.  The soap was from a small natural products brand, Dr. Woods. 

In particular we heard the black soap is relied upon by many for flawless skin.  We had to check it out and when we did were quite impressed.  Not only is the soap exquisite, its inexpensive and comes in easily recycled stock #2 HDPE packaging.

The star of the Dr. Woods soap line is the black soap.  The soap gently exfoliates dead skin skin cells to reveal healthy, radiant skin and is excellent for clearing up blemishes - this explains why the soap is so desirable. 

The company markets their black soap as, "the idea complexion cleanser."  Black soap is made from a process using the skin of a plantain - a natural source of vitamins A&E and iron.  The skin of the plantain is dried and then roasted in a clay oven in order to achieve a particular color, texture and smell.  The roasted plantain skin is mixed with palm oil and palm kernel oil to form the soap.

All Dr. Woods liquid soaps contain organic shea butter which is a wonderful addition making the soaps ultra moisturizing cleansers.

We are particularly impressed with the black soap it works incredibly well and does not dry skin like many other facial soaps do. 

Dr. Woods liquid soap is available in almond, black, peppermint, lavender and tea tree formulations in 8, 16 and 32 oz bottles.  The soaps are available at specialty natural food stores including Whole Foods (Northeast), Fairway Market (NYC) Akins Natural Foods (Oklahoma), Chamberlins Natural Foods (Florida) and others as well as online.

The packaging is all stock #2 HDPE bottles - highly recyclable virtually anywhere in the US. 

dropps Laundry Detergent

Pennsylvania-based Cot'n Wash, Inc. makers of dropps laundry detergent are trying to capitalize on the intense interest in more eco-friendly mainstream laundry detergents.  The makers of dropps are marketing their product as one that saves significant amounts of water as well as plastic.

dropps is unique because it comes in dissolvable "toss-and-go" packs instead of liquid or powder format like many traditional detergents.  The packets are made from a polyvinyl alcohol cast film by Aicello.   

The company is making a push to get consumers to use its product as an eco-friendly alternative to even the concentrated laundry detergents on the market.  Recently concentrated laundry detergents have received a significant amount of attention due to major retailers like Wal-Mart making them a focus of their environmental initiatives.

According to Cot'n Wash, Inc. even 2X concentrated detergents are still 50% water and come in a bottle often not made from recycled plastic.  dropps products have no wasted water the company says as the dosage is pre-measured and all ingredients in the packs are "active".   

The company is also focusing on its packaging with a new clamshell style container made from lightweight recycled PET (RPET) plastic.  The new clamshell packaging is made by Placon. 

According to published reports, in January, Cot'n Wash switched to the clear, RPET clamshells, "because they are made from 100-percent recyclable packaging," says Jonathan Propper, Cot'n Wash president.  The new packaging is a major eco-friendly improvement over their original hanging clamshell packaging made of clear polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

"Our company is passionate about reducing the waste of both water and plastic, enabling consumers to make a small person contribution in minimizing their own impact on the environment," said Propper.

According to Placon's director of marketing and product development, Laura Stewart, Cot'n Wash selected the packaging for its 20-load and 1-oz trial-size packages from Placon's variety of stock clamshells.

dropps can be purchased at select Target, Wal-Mart, and Whole Foods Market stores or online at Amazon. The products are currently sold in 20-load and trial packaging in fresh scent and fragrance-free varieties.

dropps are biodegradable and NPE and phosphate-free.

Simon & Schuster's New Paper Policy: Progress or ? Policies Role in Determining a Company's Greenness

We haven't focused on green marketing/ corporate policy issues much of late but a recent post over on the Environmental Paper Boy (EPB) raised some interesting questions in these areas. 

The piece focused on publisher Simon & Schuster's announcement last week of a new corporate policy related to their paper use.  Being a leading book publishing company their actions in regards to paper are important since they use so much of it.

Josh at EPB found the company's new policy to be a "joke" and was highly critical over the conditions the company set on some of their green goals outlined in the plan.  While the EPB site clearly has a more green slant to the issues it covers - the piece raises some interesting questions.

In a period when just about every aspect of corporate America is trying to "go green" is it helpful or hurtful to publish a policy that really doesn't seem to accomplish all that much? 

Or is Simon & Schuster's policy actually a realistic paper usage policy and we are so heavily inundated with greenwashing and green claims these days that as a result their policy seems insignificant?

Is the fact Simon & Schuster is making an attempt to increase the amount of FSC certified paper they use to 10% by 2012 (with three conditions applied to it) something to highlight or has such an action already become a norm or minimum standard in assessing greenness these days? 

Its an interesting question and one with much relevance to the packaging industry.  When store brands like Target's Archer Farms Organic are using FSC certified Mixed Source paperboard packaging doesn't that establish a baseline? 

So if another company comes out with a sustainable packaging policy that stipulates in five years they plan to convert 10% of their paperboard packaging to FSC certified Mixed Source paper - its not all that impressive.  Others in the industry are doing it and have been for a while. 

Preserve Kitchen

Recycline has added a new series of products to its popular Preserve line.  The new products are called Preserve Kitchen and include two types of cutting boards, food storage containers and a colander.  Most of the products will be sold exclusively at Whole Food Market, several are available directly from Recycline. 

"The idea behind the line was sparked over a year ago when Whole Foods Market approached us about our ideas for green housewares," said Recycline's Marketing Director C.A. Webb.  "Many of their stores have housewares sections and they saw an opportunity to better align that part of the store with the rest of their organic and natural offerings."

The products themselves are the result of a partnership between Recycline and Connecticut-based industrial design firm Evo Design.

"We wanted our designs to take their cues from natural shapes found in the kitchen and to be eye popping and exciting both in shape and color," said Webb.  Evo Design did exactly that taking their design cues from nature.  For instance, the food storage container gets its inspiration from an apple, the colander resembles a strawberry.

But beyond the simple organic designs, making sure that the design and the design process met environmental standards every step of the way was challenging. “We are working hard to ensure that the design supports sustainability,” says Aaron Szymanski, President of Evo Design

The Preserve Kitchen products are the first Preserve products designed by Evo.  "They've shown an amazing knack for understanding our brand and have a total commitment to helping us deliver on Preserve brand's promise:  high performance, high design, eco-friendly products," said Recycline's Director of Product Development Ben Anderson. 

"Whole Foods Market (WFM) has been one of our strongest retail partners and was a natural place for us to launch the Preserve Kitchen line," said Webb.  "WFM sells the entire line of Preserve products -toothbrushes, razors, toothpicks, and tableware, all popular with their customers.  We also, of course, saw the synergies in launching our first foray into the kitchen with one of the most innovative food retailers in the world," she said. 

Most of the Preserve Kitchen line will be initially sold exclusively at WFM and hits store shelves this week in all regions except three (Midwest, Florida, and Pacific Northwest) but will roll out to all regions by spring.  WFM will carry a cutting board, food storage containers (large & small) and a colander all made from 100% recycled #5 polypropylene (PP) plastic - like Preserve's other products.

We've had a chance to test out the new products and have nothing but praise for their design and material usage.  Recycline has become the master at making useful products from pure recycled #5 PP plastic, and Preserve Kitchen products are no exception. 

Like other Preserve products the packaging is minimal to non-existent.  The food storage containers come in minimal paperboard packaging (100% recycled/ 35% PCW) while the cutting board and colander simply have a Preserve label affixed to them with no packaging at all.

 Preserve adds Paperstone Cutting Boards to Product Line Up

In addition to the Preserve Kitchen products made from #5 PP, the company  has added two new cutting boards made from Paperstone to its Preserve Kitchen product line.

Paperstone is a material that has been used in green countertops for several years now.  "We were also curious to explore a new material and developed a cutting board from Paperstone," said Webb. 

The Paperstone cutting boards are available directly from Recycline or at Whole Foods Market in two sizes and are both Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and RainForest Alliance certified made from 100% post-consumer recycled paper.

The addition of the new Paperstone cutting boards is exciting - its always good to experiment with new materials.  We see this new line as an area Recycline can continue to explore, hopefully developing more products from this material.  It is durable and easy to clean and the fact its made from post-consumer recycled paper is a tremendous positive in terms of its greenness.