Trends in machine innovation will impact sustainability in 2012 and beyond.

Thought Leader insights and industry developments and examples show where sustainable packaging is headed in 2012. 

2013 packaging issues from CPGs

Rapidly renewable fiber is sustainably-sourced from tree plantations in regions like Southeast Asia, whose tropical climate year-round allows for accelerated tree growth and shortened maturity cycles for harvesting.

More than 47.9 million U.S. households can now recycle cartons thanks to efforts led by the Carton Council, a group of carton manufacturers committed to reducing the environmental impact of cartons. This is an increase of 128% in just three years.

Sun Chemical released its 2012 Sustainability Report, which showcases Sun Chemical’s leadership in eco-efficiency through established data-driven metrics, as well as examples of how raw material suppliers are contributing to the company’s environmental footprint.

PMMI’s “Pet Food Market Assessment 2013” describes a competitive market, where brands are striving to set themselves apart. Not surprisingly, they’re turning to packaging to set their products apart and responding to consumer needs.

Coors Brewing Company, inventor of the first 100% recyclable aluminum can, kicked off its latest sustainability initiative by announcing a partnership with Recyclebank®, the company that rewards people for taking every day green actions with discounts and deals.

The Sustainable Forestry Initiative® announced it will deliver up to $400,000 in 2013 to support research into responsible forestry practices through the SFI Conservation and Community Partnerships Grant Program.

National Bulk Equipment, Inc. introduces the ProductSaver® line of packaged product recovery systems. Scrutiny of the costs and causes of material loss within processing and packaging operations, and the continual pursuit of sustainability performance improvements have made a priority of the safe and efficient recovery of packaged product and packaging that may be off-spec, mis-labeled, overruns, unsafe, or for other reasons, unsalable.