Green Packaging Supplies and Environment Friendly Products

Green packaging supplies and materials are environment friendly products. You will also hear them referred to as “eco friendly packaging supplies” or “Eco Products” for packaging applications.

There are many packaging manufacturers responding to this growing market that want to replace packaging materials with more environment friendly products and why not? This growing trend stands to replace all non eco friendly options sooner rather than later. The general eco industry is growing rapidly rushing to deliver materials, processes and technology solutions to supply the ever growing reduce environment impact demand. According to ETAP (Environmental Technologies Action Plan), “The global eco-industry is forecasted to be worth some €700 billion by 2010”.

New green packaging solutions that reduce environment impact to varying amounts are being created every day. Common green packaging characteristics often include the following:

• Made from recycled materials (100% or varying lesser percentages)
• Made from annually sustainable materials (ex: bamboo farms, corn, soya, cotton)
• Made from organic farmed materials (ex: organic bamboo, organic corn)
• Biodegradable materials (ex: clam shells, unbleached paper)
• Recyclable material (ex: cardboard papers, corrugated paper, glass)
• Reusable products (ex: glass bottles)
• Energy efficiency, such as achieved by reduction in packaging processes, packaging systems, manufacturing process or distribution savings (ex: using plastic bottles instead of glass bottles because of reduced carbon output in the shipping of a lighter product).

Popular green packaging supplies on the market include:

• Recycled Cardboard Boxes
• Compostable Food Containers (ex: biodegradable take out food containers, starch based biodegradable and disposable food containers)
• Biodegradable Products ex: biodegradable bags, biodegradable trash bags, biodegradable garbage bags, biodegradable plastics, biodegradable paper, biodegradable films, biodegradable green materials)

Business and industry realize that materials, systems and processes needs to be greener as caring about the impact for the environment is not only the ethical choice but the market of the future. Businesses that don’t come up with solution alternatives for greener packaging supplies and environment friendly products stand to lose their market share to environment friendly businesses that create the new generation of eco friendly alternatives and solutions.

References:

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/etap/pdfs/dec06_eco_industry_report.pdf

How Stretch Wrappers can improve your bottom line!

How Stretch Wrappers can improve your bottom line! The benefits of using an automated stretch wrapper may depend upon many factors such as the floor real-estate space available for stretch wrapping, throughput requirements of the packaging operation and type of load to be unitized.

Businesses with smaller stretch film packaging capacity needs (with as little as 15 to 20 loads a day) will benefit from using a semi-automatic stretch wrapper. They can expect

• Lower labour costs resulting from the additional efficiencies brought on by automating
• Lower packaging material costs.
• Lower film usage over hand wrapping.
• Less film wastage
• Lower expenses resulting from shipping damages
  

Larger packaging operations using fully automatic stretch wrappers will accrue the same advantages as smaller operations but to a much greater degree. Additionally fully automatic packaging equipment

• Increased packaging line throughput.
• Stretch wrapping operation will require less floor space for higher throughput speeds.
• Ability to meet demands of just in time (JIT) operations.
  

In the final analysis the decision to automate your stretch wrapping operation comes down initial capital outlay for the equipment purchase/lease versus the long term financial gains.

Stretch Wrap Automation – Good for Business and the Environment

Automating the processes of pallet wrapping can provide great savings. Stretch wrapping machines will reduce stretch film required to wrap a pallet and will provide consistently more secure containment. Operations changing to automation will achieve faster throughputs and the elimination of the many worker injuries associated with hand wrapping.

Pallet wrapping operations with volumes over 15 pallets a day are capable of achieving full return on automation investment within the first year. When looking for a system it is recommended to source through a distributor that provides full support services in house such as: packaging equipment consulting, training, maintenance, installation, repair services and parts. When considering a stretch wrap system, look for brands that offer a longer warranty as this is a good indication of quality and reliability. Some good brand names recognized as industry leaders include Lantech Stretch Wrappers, Wulftec Pallet Wrappers and Cousins Stretch Wrappers .

Stretch wrap automation systems will vary in their performance depending on type of system, its performance capabilities and how well it is maintained. To ensure maximum efficiencies, regular preventative maintenance with a factory trained technician is the best assurance.

Automating a pallet wrapping operation with the right system will use less film than hand wrapping, and as such will reduce environmental impact, reduce operation supply costs and improve the bottom line.