Packaging News You Can Use

“Baby’s Got Bling – You can Packaging Anything” November 06

The latest dirt on Intel comes in a three-ounce bottle for $20
Austin American-Statesman (subscription) – Austin,TX,USA
Take the Berlin Wall, which was boxed up in small containers after it was torn down and sold at malls in commemorative packaging. Then there were the wooden …

“What Can Nascar Teach Us About Packaging?” Febuary 06
MARKETING FLAG DROPS ON NASCAR
Retailers and brands again illustrated the popularity of auto racing by ushering in the 2007 NASCAR season with a bevy of promotions.

“10  Packaging Trends – Trend #10 Code Orange” January 07

FDA Announces New Safety Guidelines for Fresh-Cut Produce

In light of contaminated produce scares that have rattled American consumers since September, U.S. health officials on Monday (March 12) released a draft of proposed guidelines for commercial processing of fresh-cut vegetables and fruits.

The voluntary guidelines from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration suggest ways that food industry processors can minimize contamination of ready-to-eat produce by harmful bacteria that are common in the processing of these products.In light of contaminated produce scares that have rattled American consumers since September, U.S. health officials on Monday (March 12) released a draft of proposed guidelines for commercial processing of fresh-cut vegetables and fruits.

“Has Your Packaging Going To The Dogs?” March 06

Is Man’s Best Friend Really a Hedgehog?
KVOA.com – Tucson,AZ,USA
… for the exotic pets many of the stores sold, I began formulating, manufacturing, and packaging products for the exotic-pet trade,” Korecky says. …
http://kvoa.com/Global/story.asp?S=6127424&nav=HMO6HMaa

“10 Packaging Trends That Will Make Consumers Buy in 07″ January
07 – Negative Trend Don’t Fix What Isn’t Broken.

The Perils And Payoff Of Changing A Brand
 
NEW YORK, N.Y. (CBS)  — It has to be the most overused phrase in marketing: “New and improved!”

But in business new isn’t just a selling point, but it’s a mantra. Companies walk a tightrope to balance the need to be the newest, the freshest; the best while staying stay true to the product that put them on the map.
 

What Wal-Mart Wants – Wal-Mart Gets 06

Wal-Mart Back Under Fire—Policy Group Slaps Retailer with Allegations of “Organic Fraud”

Working in Wal-Mart’s PR department lately seems akin to crossing a minefield—every step is treacherous, and more trouble lingers around every bend. With worker’s unions, consumer advocates, civil rights groups and even politicians still breathing down the neck of the retailer, a policy research group is now…

Packaging Diva’s Consumer Trends That Can Make Or Break Your Business TeleSeminar

“10 Packaging Trends That Will Make Consumers Buy in 07″ January 07

6. The Trend-Make It Mine.

Kleenex Uncorks Its Creative Juices — Tissue Giant Announces Plans to Add Customized Photos to Iconic Oval Packs
In a world where consumers can customize their Nike shoes, M&Ms candies and even their Heinz ketchup labels, the Kleenex box is jumping into the fray. Parent company Kimberly-Clark this week unveiled plans to sell the customized boxes. Each oval-shaped, cardboard pack can now be adorned with photos of just about anyone or anything folks want.

5. The Trend-Greenwash Me.

How Many Trees Went into Your Beauty Products?
While many of us greenies are focused on the environmental impact of roses,  chocolate and even adult products on Valentine’s Day, Dogwood raised questions  about the amount of packaging used for health and beauty products. …

Asda strives to cut packaging by a quarter
PrintWeek – UK
“We believe this return to traditional values could have a huge impact on the amount of packaging thrown away every day,” said Asda’s anti-packaging expert …

Tesco top exec pushes back on green movement. . .

In a recent commentary, Tesco’s Terry Leahy says, “We can’t get rid of all packaging…you can’t force the pace of change even for sound environmental reasons.” Leahy explains the variety of functions packaging perfoms including product protection, freshness and labeling. “So not all packaging is excess or optional. . .”

Source: Independent.co.uk

“Packaging Valentine’s Day For Profit” February 07
RITE AID AIMS FOR THE HEART AGAIN
The drugstore chain rolled out its annual “Heart Healthy” marketing push this month by enlisting product vendors for a tie-in to the American Heart Association’s “Go Red for Women” campaign.

“It’s easy Being Green Packaging Your Green Brand” May 06
It’s Not Easy Going Green: Environmentalism May Help Your …
Knowledge@Wharton (subscription) – Philadelphia,PA,USA
Since then, the company has begun to develop a far-flung set of environmental initiatives touching on packaging, logistics, and store operations. …
 
“Packaging: The Hidden Power Player In A Global Society ” August 06
More packaging solutions emerge to combat airport cosmetic …
CosmeticsDesign.com – Montpellier,France
… such as packaging giant Nalgene, to respond with packaging concepts that specifically target the travel consumer, with the latest offering from Pactiv …
 
 
“How To Package A Lobster” June 06
Whole Foods In Hot Water Over Maine Lobster
 
“THINK LOCALLY” MAY BE THE mantra for many of Whole Foods’ environmentally-conscious customers, but at the moment, it’s backfiring–at least in Maine. 

“10 Packaging Trends That Will Make Consumers Buy In 07″
Peppers in plastic, passion fruit in a sweat – how much of this …
Independent – London,England,UK
It was just a medium-sized shopping-bag’s worth of groceries – yet like a conjurer’s hat, it created a huge mound of packaging. …
 
Bubble Wrap is 100% oxo-biodegradable.
ThomasNet Industrial News Room (press release) – New York,NY,USA
DePoly is a Toronto-based company formed in 2006 to bring environmentally friendly industrial packaging products and solutions to the market. …
 
“It’s The Packaging That’s Making You Fat
Do TV Ads Cause Childhood Obesity? Marketers, Lawmakers to Discuss
February Forum Spearheaded by Kansas Senator and FCC Chairman
WASHINGTON (AdAge.com) — The controversy over whether TV ads cause obesity children is mounting again as Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback and Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin J. Martin unveil plans for a Valentine’s Day forum to look at voluntary steps that might lessen the risk.

“Launching A Brand At The Super Bowl With “Dreadful” Packaging”

P&G, Unilever Sit Out the Super Bowl
Package-Goods Giants Avoid Clutter of Big Day, Learn to Build Own Buzz
CINCINNATI (AdAge.com) — Every January the country’s major marketers ponder the same question: Is a Super Bowl ad worth the money? This year two of the biggest, savviest advertisers out there, Procter & Gamble and Unilever, decided the answer is no.