In the packaging world, efforts are constantly being made to create packaging that will benefit consumers as well as the environment. By reusing packaging, there is a great stride in creating an environment that is more geared towards sustainable packing. In an effort to encourage companies to reduce waste and reuse more, eco-friendly packaging company, Globe Guard, invented Globe Guard® Reusable Box Sealer™. The patent-pending reusable box sealer “Makes Every Box a Reusable Box.”

The product is designed to help companies reduce packaging waste during testing, product development, shipping preparation and other applications. The sealer does not require any sort of wasteful packaging materials such as packaging tape or glues. Instead, the product allows a box to be sealed and reopened many times until it is ready to be shipped. The reusable seal also allows you to open and reopen a box without any knives or scissors. In turn, this allows for a considerable amount of reduction in the amount of corrugated waste that companies produce.

As described by Globe Guard themselves, there are two very common scenarios in which the Globe Guard Reusable Box Sealer is particularly important:

1. “The box is going to be handled or shipped internally (closed loop) and not shipped via UPS, FedEx, or USPS.”
2. “Immediate or repeated access to the contents is advantageous or necessary.”

The sealer works very easily and quite simply. It works by slipping the reusable sealer between the top major flaps of any box and holding them closed until the box is to be reopened again.

Quite simply, the Globe Guard® Reusable Box Sealer™ is a great new product and a great way to motivate companies to create a more eco-friendly work environment by promoting reusable packaging.

It has been almost 2 years since the catastrophic earthquake that devastated Haiti and the relief efforts are still in full force. The Hemp 4 Haiti Project is an effort focused on providing sustainable, reusable goods to victims of the disaster. It’s a great project with a packaging twist.

Using high quality hemp, packaging is created to provide many of the victims with non-perishable goods. After the goods are consumed, the packaging can easily be unwoven and used in many practical applications that are vital to the relief efforts. Hemp 4 Haiti packaging also eliminates waste and pollution by being reusable and sustainable. Check out the photos below.

The holiday season is very close, with Christmas being tomorrow. The thoughts of candy canes, cookies, ornaments, decorations, and presents dance in the air. Along with the holiday cheer comes added waste. Americans throw away 25% more trash between Thanksgiving and New Year’s as compared to the rest of the year. This extra waste amounts to 1.2 million tons per week. Although this time of year produces so much waste, there are ways to help reduce the amount and help the environment.

Here are 8 ways to make the holiday season greener:
1. Consider no-waste gifts such as music or sports lessons, gym memberships, or concert tickets
2. Buy products made from recycled or organic content
3. Purchase vintage clothing or accessories from consignment or second hand stores
4. Give potted plants, flowers, or trees
5. When shopping, bring reusable cloth bags
6. Make your own wrapping paper by using old maps, posters, newspapers, or magazines
7. Use email for holiday greetings, photos, and letters
8. When entertaining, use washable utensils, plates, glasses, napkins, and table coverings. You can also send leftovers home with guests in reusable containers or donate them to local shelters or soup kitchens

By using a little imagination and putting in some effort, we can all contribute to a greener holiday season and hopefully reduce the amount of waste we produce during that time.

Merry Christmas!!

KFC, famous for its red and white buckets full of chicken, plans to replace its old Styrofoam side dish containers with a reusable eco-friendly version to cut down on packaging waste.  This has been influenced by a watch dog group called Dogwood Alliance Team, which has criticized KFC for using its buckets that contribute to the destruction of southern U.S. forests.

These new containers are 100% propylene that are used for side orders such as coleslaw and mashed potatoes. They are actually dishwasher and microwave safe, meaning customers can actually reuse them! They also require 25% less energy to produce than the old containers and generate fewer greenhouse gases.

KFC’s goal is to eliminate the use of foam from all of its restaurants. The implementation of their new philosophy “reuse, renew, rejoice” will help meet these goals along with looking for other ways to cut its carbon footprint.

I came across a great ad campaign designed by Brunner for Zippo Manufacturing Co.  This collection of print ads brings perspective to the eco-conscious consumer.  It reminds people that for lighters, a refillable Zippo is the greener choice.  One lighter may not seem like much waste, but when you see these pictures, you can really see that it adds up in our landfills.

Their tagline, “Disposable.  Just another word for garbage.” can really get people thinking.  This was a very clever way to show how Zippo stands out from the competition of disposable lighters, and it reminds people to be more environmentally-friendly.

Zippo lighters are refillable and durable, making them guaranteed for life.  Just like that, we have our Dura Series of CD/DVD albums.  These long-lasting albums with extra reinforced spine hinges are made to withstand frequent opening and closing.  And since they are so durable, they happen to be our most popular library packaging product.  With the clear overlay and nickel-plated ring metals, these albums can be used over and over again.

Did you give up smoking and no longer have a need for your favorite Zippo lighter?  Reuse that lighter to make your own stylish USB drive.  Or if you have a few old BIC lighters laying around, you can turn those into USB drives, as well!  These designs make your USB drives more creative and fun, but don’t forget about USB flash drive cases to help store and protect your devices!

May is Green Packaging Month at Sunrise. In May, we focus on communicating ways to create packaging that is unique, helps you stand out from the crowd, and is also environmentally responsible… yes, you can have all three. Check out our Green Packaging Pages for more information.

To get us started, since Mother’s day is next weekend, we found a web site that will help you turn an unused CD case into a beautiful card for Mom!

Here’s a picture of the completed project. check out the craftylife blog for complete instructions.

Be sure to let us know how your card turned out. In fact, send us a picture and we’ll highlight it in a post! (We’ll wait until after Mother’s Day to keep the surprise)

The next time you need a binder, CD/DVD/USB case, box or sales kit, give your favorite Account Manager a call and we’ll help you create a work of art that will be environmentally friendly too.

Even though many forms of plastic packaging are now recyclable, hardly any are actually being recycled. According to a study by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, in 2003, out of the 11.9 million tons of plastic packaging in the municipal solid waste (MSW) stream, only 1.06 million tons were actually recycled. That comes to about 8.9 percent that is recycled.

Earthcycle wanted to come up with a form of packaging that did not require recycling, but was biodegradable. They made their packaging alternative from a renewable resource called palm fiber, which is a waste product that is disposed of when the palm fruit is harvested throughout the year for its oil. Palm fiber used to be incinerated or landfilled, which brought negative impacts. Now Earthcycle’s natural packaging alternative can biodegrade into a healthy addition for the soil in a compost pile.

Earthcycle came up with a line of sturdy packages for fresh produce to protect your fruits and vegetables. The packaging is biodegradable, but you do not have to worry about it falling apart on you. The packaging is strong and water resistant. Among some of the cover options are a compostable NatureFlex film, recyclable plastic lid, or a reusable netting.

There are many options available for green packaging. Whether using recyclable paper/plastics or biodegradable materials, you can know that you are doing your part for the environment with sustainable living.