How green is the New iPad - part 3: Packaging

Last Thursday we started a 7-part series in which we explore the carbon footprint and environmental impacts of the new iPad, compare it to those of the iPad 2 and try to figure out if Apple has made any progress from environmental perspective with its new iPad and what's the new breakeven point between books and ebooks on the iPad.

Every day we're looking into another part of the carbon footprint of the new iPad. We already covered production and energy efficiency. Today we're looking at packaging.

Packaging:

Here is the information on the packaging of the new iPad (source: Apple's report):

The packaging for iPad is highly recyclable. It uses corrugated cardboard made from a minimum of 28 percent post-consumer recycled content and molded fiber made entirely from recycled content. In addition, its packaging is extremely material efficient, allowing up to 52 percent more units to be transported in an airline shipping container compared with the original iPad. The following table details the materials used in iPad packaging.

Packaging Breakdown for iPad (U.S. Configurations, in grams)

Material	Retail box	Retail and shipping box
Paper (corrugate, molder fiber)	212	445
High impact polystyrene	70	70
Other plastics	9	9

Here is the information on the packaging of the iPad 2 (source: Apple's report - revised version):

The packaging for iPad 2 is highly recyclable. It uses corrugated cardboard made from a minimum of 28 percent post-consumer recycled content and molded fiber made entirely from recycled content. In addition, its packaging is extremely material efficient, allowing up to 52 percent more units to be transported in an airline shipping container compared with the original iPad. The following table details the materials used in iPad 2 packaging.

Packaging Breakdown for iPad (U.S. Configurations, in grams)

Material	Retail box	Retail and shipping box
Paper (corrugate, molder fiber)	207	440
High impact polystyrene	68	68
Other plastics	9	9

Here's a comparison of the data presented in these tables, showing the change in %:

Material	Retail box	Retail and shipping box
Paper (corrugate, molder fiber)	2.4%	1.1%
High impact polystyrene	2.9%	2.9%
Other plastics	0.0%	0.0%

Our take: Nothing has really changed in the packaging. Apple basically provided the same specifications on packaging it provided for the iPad 2. In terms of weight the packaging of the new iPad actually uses more materials and weights more, which also means it has a larger carbon footprint.

Bottom line: Apple has failed to make any improvements whatsoever in the packaging of the new iPad. If anything, it only made it heavier.

Next part on our series: Restricted substances.

Here are the parts of the series that were released so far:

Part 1 - production

Part 2 - energy efficiency

More resources on how green is the iPad can be found on our website at www.ecolibris.net/ipad.asp

More resources on the ebooks vs. physical books environmental debate can be found on our website at www.ecolibris.net/ebooks.asp.

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: Promoting sustainable reading!

What can change the way Amazon is dealing with environmental issues? Lessons from the Green Grades report and a NYT article

Last week Dogwood Alliance and ForestEthics published the 2010 Green Grades Office Supply Report Card. The goal of this report is to inform "American consumers and large purchasers of paper products on what companies are doing—or not doing—to safeguard the environment and the world’s forests."

This report is very important and reader-friendly and I warmly recommend to read it. But today we'll focus on just one of the companies presented in the report, which is a significant player in the book member. Yes, we're talking about Amazon.com.

So how Amazon.com did on the report? See for yourself:

As you can see, Amazon got the lowest grade in the mass market retail sector. Just to give you a perspective - Amazon got the lowest grade not just in its category but in the whole report. What's behind these Amazon's grade?

The report explains in further details:

Amazon.com does not have a meaningful paper policy or other basic safeguards and goals. Indeed, the company appears to have no problem with buying and selling paper from Endangered Forests and other controversial sources, including in the US South. Some Amazon.com subsidiaries are also using the SFI greenwash logo on their paper-based packaging, and Amazon.com has publicly expressed support for the SFI.

If you're wondering how Amazon did last year on the 2009 report - well, there are no big surprises - the company got an F. One change from last year, except of the slight better grade, is that last year it was reported that "The giant online retailer ignored our survey, so questions remain about their paper sourcing practices." This year there was no mention of such behavior, so I can only assume that Amazon did cooperate this year.

Amazon's grade doesn't come as a surprise to anyone who is watching Amazon's behavior when it comes to environmental issues, whether it's is paper policy or transparency regarding the Kindle's carbon footprint. In all, the company doesn't really care much about these issues.

So it got me wondering - what can possibly change the way Amazon.com is dealing with environmental issues? What can make Amazon care about it? And only couple of days passed by before I got a hint from a New York Times article.

The article (Packaging Is All the Rage, and Not in a Good Way) was about how Amazon is trying to get manufacturers to make packages easier to open, hoping to reduce consumer “wrap rage.” It was very interesting as I learned from the article that Amazon is trying to promote packaging solutions that have environmental benefits (for example, using less packaging materials). How come? Very simple - it wasn't about the environment at all.

There are two reasons Amazon was promoting alternative packaging solutions (frustration-free packaging options) to the products it sells. The first one is that they receive a lot of complains from customers on the current packaging, where "“you’ve got a ton of packaging and a ton of work ahead of you". Customers simple hate it and find it unjustified, so they write their complains to Amazon. And Amazon doesn't like customers that are not happy, even if it's not its fault as the manufacturers are the ones responsible for the products' packaging.

The second one is because “it’s such a win-win proposal,” as Nadia Shouraboura, vice president for global fulfillment at Amazon explained in the article. And again, he didn't refer to the environmental benefits - he referred to the facts that these packages that are more user-friendly (it's easier to open them) and actually cost less to the manufacturers.

So what do we have here? simply a combination of two elements - customers that care and aren't satisfied with the current way things are done and win-win solutions. Is it enough for Amazon to generate "green" solutions? The beauty here, as well as in other cases, that "green" is embedded in these solutions - you talk about saving materials or more efficient packaging and you're actually talking about green solutions, just without mentioning the word "green".

So the bottom line is that maybe we don't need to look on ideas how to make Jeff Bezos and other Amazon's executives more empathetic to environmental issues - it may take forever. Maybe the shorter and better way is to motivate Amazon's customers to act and voice their concerns and also come up with win-win solutions for Amazon. Then you might see suddenly how Amazon's executives start looking for alternatives with environmental added value. Otherwise don't be surprised if next year the company that will receive the lowest grade in the Green Grades report will be again no other than Amazon.com.

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Plant a tree for every book you read!

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!

New green wrappings at Wishrap.com for Valentine's Day (and a giveaway!)

Valentine's Day is almost here (guys, I hope you have it on your calendar - February 14!) and it's time to think not only how to do something nice for your loved once, but also how to do it in a green way.

One place where you can always go green and save paper is wrapping. Did you know that in the U.S., an additional 5 million tons of waste is generated during the holidays and four million tons of this is wrapping paper and shopping bags?

So what you can do? well, there are many ways to make packaging more eco-friendly. If you look for a specific recommendation, one company that is also taking steps about it is Wishrap.com. They're launching new environmentally-friendly packaging with two featured Valentine's Day packages - Double Shot of Love and Nuts About You.

The new bags and boxes for these gifts are made of a natural jute fiber - a plant that is harvested and grows faster than bamboo and in a smaller footprint. The included cards and tissue are made of post-consumer recycled paper and the boxes and bags are reusable, designed with practicality in mind so that they can be reused over and over again. The boxes are collapsible, great for storage, and the bags make great reusable totes.

Wishwrap.com is a unique gift site that puts the thoughtfulness back into gift giving. Every Wishwrap gift comes with a custom greeting card created especially for the recipient and is "wishwrapped" in luxurious packaging at no extra cost. The two featured Valentine's Day packages will be the first to ship in the new green packaging, which will then be transitioned in for all packages.

For further details on their offers please visit their website at www.wishwrap.com.

And we have a special giveaway!

Wishrap.com are giving away cool set of plantable greeting cards. Each card is handprinted with soy-based ink on 100% recycled paper embedded with seeds. The card itself is biodegradable and can be planted in the backyard or a community garden, all set to flourish. The set includes two cards with wildflowers and a third with basil and chives.

To get a chance to win this cool prize please add a comment to this post with the best gift you gave or received for Valentine's Day.

Submissions are accepted until Valentine's Day, February 14, 12PM EST. We will pick the comment we liked best and the winner will be announced the following day.

Happy Valentine's Day,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Plant a tree for every book you read!

Greenbottle - the green future of milk bottles is already here and its made of recycled paper

I really love milk, so I was very happy to hear about this new great idea that is coming from the UK: a milk bottle that is made mainly of recycled paper and can be recycled again. In one word: Greenbottle.

Greenbottle (http://www.greenbottle.com) has developed a much greener solution which can replace plastic milk bottles. The outer shell is made from recycled paper which can then be further recycled, or if left it will just decompose within a matter of weeks. The inner liner, which takes up less than 0.5% of the space of a plastic bottle if dumped in a landfill, prevents liquid from contaminating the paper outer.

The GreenBottle, according to their website, consumes about a third of the energy required to make a plastic bottle and has a carbon footprint that is 48% lower than plastic.

The Telegraph reported last month that Asda, the big supermarkets chain, is stocking its Lowestoft store in Suffolk with the Greenbottle after a successful trial in a move that could herald the demise of the plastic bottle. According to the article the supermarket chain hopes to agree a roll-out of the packaging to stores across the east of England, with the potential to take it nationwide further down the line. Sounds like great news to all the UK green milk lovers!

Just to give you an idea what this bottle can save - according to the article, Britons drink around 180 million pints of milk every week, of which around two-thirds is bought in plastic bottles.
More than 100,000 tons end up in landfill each year - equal to 260 jumbo jets. They take 500 years to decompose.

One last fact that made me fall in love with Greenbottle - Its inventor, Martin Myerscough, came up with the idea in the pub. You can never be wrong with such ideas :-) of course, later on he worked on it for 18 months before Asda started a 'concept' trial last year.

Kudos to Martin and Greenbottle. This is the kind of innovation we need to move the green revolution forward. I hope to see these bottles very soon on the shelves of the supermarkets here in the U.S. (and actually everywhere) as well.

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Plant a tree for every book you read!