2Sustain

Finally, here is a common-sense initiative that can help make all of our offices a little more eco-friendly.

Last week, Office Depot announced the launch of a new program, its GreenerOffice Delivery Service, which enables business customers to receive their supplies in a paper bag instead of a cardboard box.

The new service is available to all Office Depot business customers, but customers can choose to opt-out at any time. Here’s how it works:

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Over the past few years, there have been dramatic developments in sustainable packaging options for the world’s leading beverage manufacturers.

First, the Coca-Cola Company developed the recyclable PlantBottle, made partially from plant-based material.

Then, PepsiCo unveiled the world’s first PET plastic bottle made entirely from plant-based resources, and began offering eco-friendly cup options to its foodservice customers.

Now, PepsiCo Beverages Canada has announced the introduction of the 7UP EcoGreen™ bottle, Canada’s – and North America’s – first soft drink bottle made from 100 percent recycled PET plastic. (more…)

Mattel’s recent progress report on a variety sustainability issues was counterbalanced with a global campaign by Greenpeace targeting the toy company’s paper packaging allegedly derived from Indonesian rain forests.

According to the Greenpeace website, Mattel’s packaging includes paper from Indonesia’s most notorious rainforest destroyer Asia Pulp and Paper (APP). As a result, “Critical wildlife habitat and carbon-rich rainforests and peatlands are being wrecked for cheap, throw-away toy packaging,” Greenpeace says.

Other toy companies are implicated in the Greenpeace campaign, as well. In fact, Greenpeace reports that its forensic testing shows regular use of rainforest fiber (MTH) in the packaging of major toy brands manufactured in China or Indonesia. In addition, chain-of-custody evidence in China and Indonesia shows that APP is an important supplier of packaging materials for major toy brands.

Mattel, which according to the LA Times is “under siege” by environmental critics responding to the Greenpeace report, announced that it will develop a new policy to make its packaging suppliers “commit to sustainable forestry management practices.”

In addition to addressing current concerns about packaging sourcing, Mattel’s policy will also cover other wood-based products in its toy lines, such as paper, books and accessories. The company says it is focused on minimizing its footprint throughout the value chain and across the organization. (more…)

After forging new partnerships with recyclers and mastering what the company calls “diligent efforts” at each of its facilities, Kellogg Company has already exceeded its aggressive 2015 goal for reducing waste sent to landfill.

More specifically, Kellogg reported a few weeks ago that nearly half of its facilities worldwide send 5 percent or less of the waste they generate to landfill, and that overall, the company has reduced its waste sent to landfill by 51 percent since 2005.

The highlights of Kellogg’s impressive waste reduction efforts are included in the company’s third global Corporate Responsibility Report, released last month on Earth Day. The report also includes updates on other key corporate responsibility initiatives in the environment, marketplace, workplace and community.

With regard to environmental stewardship, Kellogg has: (more…)

The global packaging industry continues to view sustainability as a top priority.

Among 500 packaging professionals surveyed by DuPont earlier this spring, more than 40 percent consider sustainability the toughest challenge they face.  One-third (33 percent) of those in the poll named cost as a major factor.

DuPont also found that survey participants who are working on sustainable packaging reported a wide range of different strategies. For example: (more…)