Bundling Configurations There are multiple ways to bundle product  but two basic ones.  They involve creating the bundle in line, like soldiers or in layers side by side. Creating the Bundle In the first one the boxes are lined up like soldiers.  Since the most preferred method is to put the tuck and fold on […]

Packaging Waste Packaging waste is a big topic these days. Solid waste landfills are overflowing. Some states and municipalities are now requiring restaurants to compost food waste. As of January 2015, Fed Ex and UPS are charging not simply by weight but for volume.  The shipper  has to provide the dimensions of the package and is […]

Huge Growth in Candy and Food Entrepreneurs There seems to be a explosion of candy and food entrepreneurs.  And it makes sense.  Not only are many consumers looking to buy more locally, they want higher quality ingredients. Major food companies are buying up successful food entrepreneurs. So a food entrepreneur can exploit his or her […]

Changing the Packaging Process It is wonderful to see our customers embracing waste reduction. When they call us, it is to talk about changing the packaging process to reduce their materials consumption. Two blogs crossed my computer today and they both relate to this indirectly.   The first – Why Going Lean is the New […]

I was reading an article on Clay Christensen’s MilkShake Marketing and applying it to what we do at Package Machinery.   It made me realize that Bundling is a job to be done by many of our customers and what we provide is a means to help them do it with our bundle wrappers. It […]

Sometimes it helps to think about why products are wrapped in the first place. In a dynamic packaging market, this is a useful first step toward sustainability and cost reduction. Whether we are talking bananas, which come with their own built in wrapping, or a delicate piece of glass, products are wrapped for a very […]

In 2014 sustainability in packaging will make serious progress. 2014 should be a fascinating year for sharing best practices in packaging with our customers and for seeing our customers share internally and externally themselves. What do  I mean by that?  Beyond simple changes in process,  I see much greater sharing of knowledge leading to improved sustainability […]

What is Packaging Sustainability? One thing I have learned is that packaging sustainability is not simply about making the earth greener. No company looks at sustainability without internal motivations to strengthen their brand, increase their profits and improve their market position. Usually those motivations relate to savings or branding. Let’s face it: packaging is a […]

I find the process of creating a new wrapping machine fascinating, perhaps even more because I am not an engineer. From there I wonder about how the packaging is created from a brand owner’s viewpoint. A lot of thought goes into the package appearance on the shelf, the tensile strength of the packaging materials to […]

What is Packaging Waste? Packaging waste is unnecessary packaging that does not provide protection, integrity and security to products from the manufacturer to the consumer. I was just reading about food waste is approximately 30% of total food.  This is scary in a world of growing population and shrinking agricultural lands with a little global […]

The mantra for packaging waste is reduce, reuse and recycle. The EPA on its web site has the following statements. “In most parts of the developed world, packaging constitutes as much as one-third of the non-industrial solid waste stream. As the developing world races to raise living standards, more countries are seeing significant growth in […]

There has been a significant increase in demand for bundle wrapping. Half our our machine volume in the past year has been bundle wrappers, so it seems bundle wrappers are useful all of a sudden. This is because bundle wrappers improve corporate social responsibility and corporations care more and more about that. The reason for […]

Analyzing Packaging Alignment to Brand Strategy When a customer comes to see us about wrapping their product, I am always curious about the alignment of their packaging to the brand strategy.  This article on Kind snack bars caught my eye because of the things that made sense about the product packaging. Its name Kind is […]

Consumer product packaging trends show increasing pushback on packaging. Whenever I say we make wrapping machinery for consumer products, I get immediate feedback from frustrated consumers.  Usually they launch into packaging they hate such as clamshells, but sometimes they extend it to all packaging as a complete waste designed to frustrate consumers, create waste and […]

Usually we are providing an overwrapper for the end of the primary packaging line. Recently we were asked to provide an overwrapper for both end of the primary packaging line but also to replace the intermediate box that is used at the start of  secondary packaging. Primary packaging is defined as that which the customer […]

Choosing wrapping material is as important as your choice of wrapping machine.

Food waste is something that should be controlled. Sustainable packaging can help.

Engineers, manufacturers and shippers know that shrink wrapped packages use 20% more film than overwrapped packages and some of them know that switching from shrink wrap to overwrap saves them at least half their current energy costs. Consumers are becoming savvy about packaging, too. Consumers have been environmentally conscious for decades, but never has “reduce, […]

In honor of Earth Day, I was reading Anton Steeman’s blog on Earth Day and the Future of Packaging. Steeman thinks (rightly in my opinion) that Extended Producer Responsibility is coming to more countries. (it is in 30 countries now.)  EPR will make the manufacturer responsible for disposing of the leftover product and packaging. Steeman […]

Last week I attended a packaging sustainability conference in Houston. One speaker was from Coca Cola and I finally learned what they mean by the Plant Bottle.  As you probably know, most soda, water and juice bottles are made from PET (Polyethylene terephthalate) – try saying that 3 times fast and you know what it […]

Clear messaging about packaging sustainability will resonate with hurried consumers, if done properly.

USADA Certification for use of biobased materials in products and packaging is coming of age.

When we sell an FA-ST overwrapper to replace a shrink wrapper, we always ask if they are calculating the energy savings. To a person, they never do. They calculate the film savings but never the energy savings. Last year I was touring a production facility with seven shrink wrappers. It was a lovely warm March […]

many views on packaging need to lead to sustainability and reduction of waste.

What tradeoffs should be made on product waste and packaging? Is there a perfect wrapping material? Progress is being made. See the discussion.

If consumers are going to be shopping for sustainable products, should your products already be there?

Choice of wrapping materials is not easy when the total cost assessment is considered.

Consumers consider recycling to be most important of the 3 Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle) but green is of growing concern. How will that impact packaging?

Retailers have led the working to reduce waste in the system. Worldwide Wal-Mart has led the way by working with its vendors to find new ways to reduce packaging. For five years Wal-Mart has hosted an annual Packaging Sustainable Vendor Network and conference. This conference is designed to support Wal-Mart vendors in search of ways […]

WalMart’s Packaging Sustainable Vendor Network conference is a chance to engage in improving packaging.

Green means more than reducing the carbon impact of product manufacture. Consider energy and water use too.

wrapping sustainably can mean savings

Food is the number one municipal solid waste. Packaging is a distant second. What we should do about it.

The product has an impact on packaging options. Keeping the needs of the product and its consumer in mind may alter the selection of packaging.

packaging trends and thoughts for 2011 – What to expect and how to think about the issues.

A recent suit in England over excess packaging leads me to wonder what constitutes excess. The article illustrates the continuing concern of consumers for reduction in packaging due to shortages of landfill space and the methane gas creation by landfills. In the December 25, 2010  New York Times, Elizabeth Rosenthal writes, “British regulations on excess packaging […]

Package Machinery will be presenting at PAC Green Den at PACK EXPO. The inventive program, “Fast Tracking Sustainable Innovation,” takes place Tuesday, Nov. 2, 1:00–4:30 pm; at McCormick Place. Lakeshore building Level 3 Room 350. PAC Green Den brings together the ingredients of successful reality television and business matchmaking: “Innovators” will present their solutions to […]

Manufacturers should help educate consumers about packaging disposal

As we were reading Green Your Supply Chain: 7 Questions and 7 Tips, we were thinking about how inexpensively one can buy new packaging machinery these days. The question is what value do you get for your money? One critical point this article makes is that more durable and reliable equipment usually costs more. What makes […]

There has been an interesting dialog this week on the Green Packaging Forum on LinkedIn. It started with someone looking for clear but green packaging for sandwiches “for a retailer who still wants to show the sandwich ingredients while still being green.” The cool parts was this was a global conversation. Comments ranged from specific suggestions […]