Thursday, October 22, 2009

Green printing tip no. 20: How to create a green packaging job?

We have another tip for you on our weekly series of green printing tips, where we bring you information on green printing in collaboration with Greg Barber, an experienced eco-friendly printer.

Today Greg discuss the greening options of a part of the job that is as important as the printing job itself -
the packaging.

How to create a green packaging job?

Tip #20

OK, so you did everything you needed to green up your printing job, whether it's a new brochure, reports, or promotional materials for your customers. But what about packaging?


Sometimes we tend to forget this part, but not only does packaging has its own footprint, its also a visible part that represents your business. The box is no less than what's inside of it, and therefore it's important to green it up as much as you can, making sure all the components you send talk the same language: the sustainable one.


So here are couple of things you can do when it comes to packaging:

1. Use 100% post-consumer waste paper, and less coated stock.

2. Eliminate plastic in the construction of your boxes.


Packaging and box making use enormous amounts of plastic. We have a way to eliminate (90%) of the plastic.

USE E-FLUTE for platforms, instead of vacuum form or injection molding. Our platforms are 100% recycled, are recyclable, and besides saving our environment from all the unwanted plastic in the items you buy everyday, we can save the buyer a ton of money.

You will save money and be environmental: The dies are 1/10th the price of what vacuum form/injection molding dies cost. This would be a revoluntionary, environmental change in our
packaging.

I am having a kraft box made to send my sample kits in and will be able to show my clients the platforms made from recycled material, instead of plastic.

3. Design your box to have minimal waste of paper.

4. Print with soy based inks.

5. Use a plant that is environmental to start with. FSC, Wind E, etc.


Need a recommendation about a manufacturer of "green" packaging supplies? check out ARES Printing & Packaging at http://www.aresny.com/, which I also represent.

If you have any further questions about today's tip, please email me at greg@ecofriendlyprinter.com

Also, if you have any questions you would like us to address in future tips please email us to info@ecolibris.net .

Latest tips:

Green Printing Tip #19 - What is rock paper and why is it considered a green paper?

Green Printing Tip #18 - What is rock paper and why is it considered a green paper?

Green Printing Tip #17 - How do you save money on your next printing job?

You can find links to all the tips we published so far on our green printing tips page, which is part of our green printing tools & resources.

You can also find further valuable information on Greg Barber Company's website - http://www.gregbarberco.com.

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: promoting green printing!