Fwd: advantages of green packaging 4 companies

[Richard Anthony]

Subject: advantages of green packaging 4 companies

Dear Mr Anthony, I am one of the interpreters in the booth in Florianópolis and we spoke briefly. 

I would like to copy that text I mentioned that describes the idea I have been talking about for over a decade to any business who will listen. 

I was happy to see at the conference today, that bugging P&G's  PamPers global mkt research team for years on end (I used to translate for them whenever they were in Brazil, and never lost an opportunity to tell them that if they missed the opportunity to make biodegradable products, someone else would do it) may have had some effect... the Italian presentation showed reusable Pampers....

Actually, the Italian presentations showed ideas that were quite similar to what you will find in my text...  Well, here it is....

 

 

Reducing Waste at the Source

A Proactive Idea for Green Packaging and Distribution of Products

 

 

Years ago, I lived in Spain for a year, when my children were small. We lived in a lovely little cabin by a lake, right inside a pine grove.  I made a small vegetable garden and a compost heap. We separated our garbage and I often shopped in a near-by pueblo, from the farmers who would sell their surplus produce right on the sidewalk. I had a wicker basket to carry the goods home and all was well and green on that front.

 

However, sometimes I would have to go to the supermarket for other supplies. Upon coming home, we would carry the shopping down the hill from the car to the cabin.

 

While storing the goods I realized how much garbage one produces during the simple act of accommodating shopping into the refrigerator and pantry…

 

A large bag full! Layers and layers of wrapping that I had not expected when purchasing the products. Carrying that bag back up the hill to the recycling pick up bins, made me start thinking of this idea that I would now like to share with you.

 

This story could have happened almost anywhere on the planet at present, but in those days, a decade ago, not all countries, especially the least developed ones, had such highly complex forms of packing their products, that involve several layers of plastic, Styrofoam, etc…

 

However, back to the underdeveloped world, I see that same process of multilayer packaging has invaded even the greener farmer markets!

 

That is why I believe the time has come to take this shelved project into the sunlight.

 

The basic idea is to have consumers tell businesses how they would like to receive their products.

 

This could be done by introducing the concept of Green Packaging and Distribution to Companies, who could literally “ask” consumers by launching promotional campaigns to invite consumers to submit their ideas for packaging design and distribution techniques. These ideas would then be evaluated to reward the best with prizes such as a year of free products, trips, or whatever each company can come up with in terms of rewards or recognition.

 

The immediate advantages of Green Packaging and Distribution that I can visualize for Companies are the following:

 

·        Visibility as a Green Business

·        Innovation (support to innovation programs)

·        Savings in terms of market research

·        Cost reductions in packaging materials

·        Cost reductions in distribution (deliver in bulk)

·        Cost reductions in packaging design

·        Cost reductions in Logistics

 

To conclude, I wish to say that I don’t know if this has ever been thought of, or applied, but I believe that just recycling is not enough, since the more we recycle, the more layers of packaging and complexity I see on point of sale shelves. Therefore, It might be worth at least brainstorming with businesses and environmentalists to see if this idea has any value.

 

By value I don’t mean just money, I mean a cleaner economic activity on this planet.

 

Please think a bit about this, and let me know of your opinion at marin...@gmail.com  - I will be a happier “concerned mum” to have been able to make a contribution

 

Thank-you for your attention,

 

Marina Poggi