Advances in Adhesive Technology Contribute to Green Packaging Initiatives
Ask someone to describe “green packaging,” and odds are, they’ll start talking about boxes manufactured from post-consumer content and plastic bottles designed for easy recycling. But, have you ever stopped to think about the role that adhesives play in efforts to create sustainable packaging solutions?
If not, consider this: According to a recent article in Adhesives Magazine, it takes one pound of oil to make one pound of adhesive. That means that for every 315 pounds of adhesive saved, manufacturers are conserving one barrel of oil –and 7,560 gallons of water.
For more details, take a look at the article, titled “Advances in Adhesive Dispensing Technology Move Packaging to Greater Sustainability,” It outlines several ways that adhesive manufacturers are working to develop not only eco-friendly alternatives to petroleum-based, energy-intensive hot-melt materials, but more sustainable processes and best practices, as well.
Here’s just one example. We’re all accustomed to seeing packages sealed with long, continuous beads of adhesive, right? Well, if companies simply replace that long, continuous bead with short, intermittent beads, they can reduce adhesive consumption by up to 50%. What’s more, in addition to reducing adhesive use (and cutting costs), adhesive “stitching” like this improves the recyclability of PET and paperboard stocks and decreases the amount of adhesive and non-recyclable material that ultimately ends up in landfills.
For many businesses, “greening the supply chain” involves transforming traditional packaging practices. Whether it’s Frito-Lay’s new eco-friendly SunChips bag, Amazon.com’s new packaging feedback program, or advances in the development of adhesives technology, it’s great to see the progress being made in this rapidly evolving field.
So not really on the same topic as your post, but I found this today and I just can’t resist sharing. Mrs. Agathe?s dishwasher quit working so she called a repairman. Since she had to go to work the next day, she told him, ?I?ll leave the key under the mat. Fix the dishwasher, leave the bill on the counter, and I?ll mail you the check. Oh, and by the way?don?t worry about my Doberman. He won?t bother you. But, whatever you do, do NOT under ANY circumstances talk to my parrot!? When the repairman arrived at Mrs. Agathe?s apartment the next day, he discovered the biggest and meanest looking Doberman he had ever seen. But just as she had said, the dog simply laid there on the carpet, watching the repairman go about his business. However, the whole time the parrot drove him nuts with his incessant cursing, yelling and name-calling. Finally the repairman couldn?t contain himself any longer and yelled, ?Shut up, you stupid ugly bird!? To which the parrot replied, ?Get him, Spike!?
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