Author Archives: Alex Knight

The benefits of packaging need to be heard

The benefits of packaging need to be heard. The world has changed enormously since INCPEN was established in 1974. Yet today, some of the issues the packaging industry has to deal with seem depressingly familiar.

The benefits of packaging need to be heard

 

One of the first challenges we faced in 1974 was the growing problem of litter, with environment groups blaming packaging. They were also critical of increasing consumerism and people’s changing lifestyles but they criticised packaging instead because this put the blame on industry, not individuals.

Litter, especially marine litter, remains a problem and packaging is still singled out as the main culprit. The reason given by politicians for introducing charges for carrier bags is typically to prevent them ‘spoiling the landscape’ as litter. The facts are conveniently ignored. According to the latest (2014) survey of litter by Keep Britain Tidy, commissioned by INCPEN, carrier bags were less than 1% of littered items. But the charge has set a precedent for adding costs to packaging and there are now campaigns to impose deposits on drinks containers and taxes on other types of packaging.

No one points out that there is a huge difference between a carrier bag charge, which can be avoided simply by using your own bag, and deposits or taxes which everyone has to pay. In response to the public’s negative perception of packaging, policymakers are tending to propose measures that typically focus on used packaging.

The industry needs to continue to develop clever packaging that responds to changing demographics, lifestyles and shopping habits and helps make supply chains more sustainable. But if companies want the freedom to be able to use the best pack for the job, they will also have to explain the role of packaging and that it has a net positive enviroment benefit in protecting more resources than it uses.

BoxMart launch cancer charity drive

BoxMart launch cancer charity drive in Birmingham.

BoxMart launch cancer charity drive. Gift packaging firm BoxMart is raising money for the Teenage Cancer Trust by offering its service at Grand Central, Birmingham this weekend. (10th-11th Dec 2016).

BoxMart launch cancer charity drive

The company has been involved in charity events in support of Stephen Sutton, the teenager who raised over £5m for Teenage Cancer Trust.

Callum Woodward from BoxMart said: “Stephen’s Story has already raised in excess of £5.6m, so we encourage everyone to visit Grand Central, Birmingham on 10th and 11th December and let us gift wrap their presents in return for a small charitable donation.”

Packaging specialist joins DS Smith

Packaging specialist joins DS Smith.

Packaging specialist joins DS Smith

Packaging specialist joins DS Smith. DS Smith has turned to the former head of EU packaging at Amazon to head up its new e-commerce team.

Isabel Rocher has joined the corrugated and paper packaging giant as head of e-commerce. She was previously head of EU packaging and shipping supplies at Amazon.

Rocher has 15 years’ experience in packaging, sales and marketing. She has held roles at Neopack Solution (e3neo) and Savoye Pack. In her most recent role at Amazon, Rocher was responsible for the multi-million pound EU shipping supply budget, the development of packaging solutions and ensured a standardised approach to packaging types across Amazon’s EU network.

Rocher said: “E- commerce Packaging has traditionally been seen as a means to an end: to preserve, promote and protect a product. But its role is so much more important than that, especially in today’s omnichannel world with the explosion of e-commerce. Of course products must arrive in pristine condition, but supply chain efficiencies, sustainability and creating that ‘wow’ factor that customers have traditionally experienced in bricks and mortar stores is vitally important.

“To a certain extent, the packaging industry is still finding its feet in this area, and with DS Smith’s proud history of innovation, I’m looking forward to working with customers to better understand their needs and to communicate the very real value that packaging can bring to the e-commerce supply chain.”

Mark Shaw, market development director of DS Smith’s European packaging division, said: “We’ve made some significant investments in our packaging business in recent years to ensure that we stay at the forefront of our industry. We have a strong investment programme and are committed to introducing new technology that delivers value for our customers. The introduction of a dedicated European e-commerce team, that is able to draw insight from all of the countries in which DS Smith operates, is the next step to ensure that we continue to deliver sustainable propositions for our customers that support their e-com ambitions. Isabel brings a wealth of experience and I am delighted to welcome her to the team.”

Mondi warns rise in UK packaging prices as pound tumbles

Mondi warns rise in UK packaging prices as pound tumbles.

Mondi warns rise in UK packaging prices as pound tumbles

Global suppliers such as the South African paper and packaging giant usually insert clauses into contracts allowing for price recalculations in light of currency fluctuations.

“We export many of our products from Europe to the UK and most of these contracts have currency agreements in place, so they have been repriced to take in the currency movements,” he said.

This price increase could eventually hit consumers.

Mondi has seen an improvement in profits – operating profits rose 3% to €227m (£205m) in the third quarter, compared to the same period last year.

This was after a turbulent second quarter which saw a 12% dip in operating profits.

Energy costs were down on the comparable prior year period due to lower energy prices and the benefits of various energy efficiency investments.

Since June 30 the company’s sales volumes were in line with last year, and its costs for components such as wood and chemicals had remained stable during the period.

Additionally, the average cost per tonne of paper for recycling was up 8% on the comparable prior year period and up 10% on the second quarter.

Mondi’s €450m investment and modernisation programme to upgrade its equipment is expected to contribute less to its operating profits than previously forecast – some €50, down from €60m.

UK fails to recycle almost 50% of its plastic bottles

UK fails to recycle almost 50% of its plastic bottles.

UK fails to recycle almost 50% of its plastic bottlesUK fails to recycle almost 50% of its plastic bottles each year the average UK household uses 480 plastic bottles , but only recycles 270 of them – meaning nearly half (44%) are not put in the recycling.

This means that nationally, of the over 35 million plastic bottles being used every day in the UK, nearly 16 million plastic bottles aren’t being put out for recycling. New data from Recycle Now reveals the number of plastic bottles evading recycling could reach 29 billion over the four years up to the end of 2020.

If a year’s worth of the UK’s unrecycled plastic bottles were placed end to end, they’d reach around the world 31 times, covering  just over 780,000 miles.

Alice Harlock, from Recycle Now said: “The number of plastic bottles not being recycled is staggering and will increase further if we don’t take action.  Householders are often unsure if items are recyclable especially from the bathroom, bedroom and living room. An easy way to tell is, if an item is plastic and bottle shaped its recyclable.”

Commonly used items people might not know are recyclable include: empty bleach; shampoo; conditioner; bathroom cleaners and hand soap dispenser bottles.

In a bid to encourage people into taking action to recycle more plastic bottles, Recycle Now is calling on the UK public to open their eyes to all potential recycling opportunities in the home.

Harlock added: “We need to challenge ourselves when it comes to what we could be recycling. Every plastic bottle counts. We’re asking people to think more about what they can recycle every time they go to put something in the waste bin. If you’re having a shower and using up the last of the shampoo – don’t just think replace, think Recycle. When you run out of your favourite moisturiser in the morning – don’t just think replace, think Recycle.  If you’re not sure whether you can recycle plastic bottles at home check out our Recycling Locator.”

How to recycle plastic:

Nearly all local authorities in the UK collect recycling from the home, and recycling plastic bottles has never been easier.  To ensure consumers recycle at home, Recycle Now recommends:

  • Making sure plastic bottles are empty
  • Rinsing the bottles
  • Squashing the bottles to save space in the recycling bin (then put the lids back on)
  • If you’re on the go; pop your plastic bottle in a bag and recycle it when you get home rather than throwing it in a waste bin

TOP THREE PLASTIC RECYCLING MYTHS DEBUNKED

Keep your plastic lids 

Plastic bottles with plastic lids – water bottles, milk bottles, shampoo and bleach bottles can be squashed to save space in your recycling bin, and the lids can be put back on for recycling too.

What about bleach?

Some people assume bleach and kitchen cleaner bottles can’t be recycled because of their contents – but it’s easier than you think to safely recycle them. Ensure the bottle is empty and leave the lid on.

What’s the point of recycling plastics?

Using recycled materials in the manufacturing process uses considerably less energy than required for producing new products from scratch – 75% less in fact, meaning the impact on the environment is lowered.