Category Archives: Sustainability

PVC Clamshells Are Out!

03 Thursday Dec 2020

Posted by in Cost Savings, Info for Buyers, manufacturing, Packaging Design, Sustainability

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On Feb. 26, 2019, Walmart announced a new initiative for plastic packaging. One key area of focus is to, “eliminate the non-recyclable packaging material PVC in general merchandise packaging by 2020.” Walmart also introduced a new recycling playbook and recycled content goals. The sustainable initiatives by Walmart inspired other large retailers to adopt similar goals.

Walmart continues to target polyvinyl chloride (PVC) packaging, but the reality is, manufacturers should want to make the change regardless of what Walmart or any other large retailer mandate. Here is why:

Costs
PVC is more expensive to produce and convert than PET.  Although larger retailers are heralding the ecological benefits of PET, the bottom line is always the bottom line.  The bottom line is PVC IS MORE EXPENSIVE THAN PET.  This one fact alone should be motivation enough for manufacturers to switch to PET. Savings (and profitability) can be realized by switching to PET. To compare your current PVC packaging to PET, enter your info HERE.

Eco-friendly
PET is the most widely used and recyclable material used in packaging today. It can be easily recycled in most municipalities.  PVC is not considered a sustainable material and is considered an environmentally poor choice for packaging materials.

Versatility
PET materials excel in a wide variety of applications including, clamshells, trapped blisters and sealing to paperboard, however, PET really shines in food packaging solutions. There are also PET designs that can reduce or eliminate the need for sealing the clamshell.

The switch to PET is an easy and beneficial change that can help with profitability. Start the process today by filling out the Request for Quote Form.  

Like to know more about custom theromoforming and understand the costs for your product.  Contact Brian Pankratz at Mercury Plastics, Inc. to learn more, bpankratz@mercuryplasticsinc.com.

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About the SuperBowl Commercials…

04 Monday Feb 2013

Posted by in Consumer Satisfaction, Cost Savings, Marketing, Packaging Design, Product Development, Sustainability

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SuperBowl 2013Do you know anyone who watches the Superbowl for the commercials?

Did you find yourself waiting to be amused when a new commercial came on?

Ask yourself this question…if companies can produce commercials during the Superbowl that draw our attention and get us laughing and talking for days , then why aren’t commercials like that all year-long?  Have we been programmed to just settle the rest of the year and only expect greatness in advertising while watching the Superbowl?

Now about packaging
Since we’re talking about packaging, I’ll ask another question…why do some companies settle when packaging their products?  If packaging helps to sell the product, then why would anyone want to settle for packaging that doesn’t “WOW” the consumer?

It’s your call
The fact is…new packaging designs take time and resources.  I completely understand that our schedules make it tough to fit in additional projects.  But, what if I told you that I can evaluate your current packaging and offer honest feedback at no costs?  Offering designs that could leap-frog your product ahead of your competitors?  Would you be interested?  What do new packaging designs offer?

Here are a few benefits that earlier redesigns have resulted in:

1. Reduced cost for packaging resulting in increased profit.
2. Packaging design awards.
3. The use of more sustainable materials.
4. Smaller carbon footprint in manufacture process.
5. Reduction in packaging components used.
6. Increased satisfaction among retailers and consumers.

So now what?
If you have products that you are responsible for and want to find out if there are better ways to packaging them, contact me and let’s talk.  Step one is to have a quick discussion to decide if there is a fit for us to work together.  If there is a fit…we continue, if there isn’t a fit…we don’t.  Pretty simple and shouldn’t take more than 15 minutes.

Don’t let your packaging turn into every other design.  Make it unique and “WOW” the consumer with every product you have!

For more information on creating new packaging designs, contact Brian Pankratz.  bpankratz@mercuryplasticsinc.com.

– Week 2: How to cut costs and maximize profit in the new year!

29 Saturday Dec 2012

Posted by in Cost Savings, Marketing, Packaging Design, Sustainability

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made-from-100-recycled-materialsWeek 2: Sustainability increases profits!

Yes, the title is right…packaging your product in a way that communicates your companies care for the environment can help profitability.  Why?  The reason is…consumers like manufacturers that care about the environment.

A common problem
If a company cares about the environment, but doesn’t relay that message out to the consumer, how are they to know?  Another question…if you package your product with 100% recycled materials, do you think it helps to say this on your packaging, or should you just have your customer guess if you have made the
decision to be sustainable?  You guessed it, if you are taking a position to use recycled materials, tell the consumer.  For some consumers it may be the deciding factor with two like products at equal price points.

Some areas to focus on
There are easy ways to package your products to promote sustainability.  The raw materials you use, the use of certified materials or paper boards, keeping a low product to package ratio, possible down-gauging thermoformed plastics, and the best way is to actually tell the consumer verbally on your packaging.  Use easy to recognize symbols and verbiage that tell the consumer that you are focused on the environment.Dont miss a week

Consumers desire products from companies that they know are doing their part to help the environment.  My advice is…be sustainable and communicate clearly how you are helping the environment with the way you are packaging your products.

For more information on how to cut costs and maximize profit with your products, contact Brian Pankratz at Mercury Plastics, Inc, bpankratz@mercuryplasticsinc.com.

What Others Are Saying About Packaging

04 Tuesday Dec 2012

Posted by in Packaging Design, Product Development, Sustainability

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A recent article was sent out by State Farm Insurance.  It was titled, “11 Tips for an Eco-Friendly Holiday.”  It stated an amazing, yet alarming statistic from the Environmental Protection Agency that between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, the amount of U.S. household waste increases 25 percent (1 million tons).

What they said…
The article by State Farm covered a variety of areas to be more eco-friendly, from replanting your Christmas tree, to giving away your left-overs (my favorite).  The suggestion that got my attention was #6, “Pay Attention To Packaging- Try to purchase gifts with the least amount of packaging.”

Plain and simple
Is it just this simple?  The way to be more eco-friendly is to just buy smaller packaging?  Is this even good advice?  Although we know that there is much more than size that makes packaging eco-friendly, none of that was discussed.  Either way, it is good to note what the message was that was communicated.  We need to be aware of the messages that are being sent by those not in the industry that may influence the consumers purchasing decisions.

Capitalize
How do you get the attention of those who want to be more eco-friendly by what they purchase?  The answer is through communicating this with your packaging.  Although size of packaging is one area, consumers are looking for those companies who communicate through their look, verbiage, or graphics, etc. that they are concerned about the environment.

Going forward
This statistic is good for us to know and should push us to create more eco-friendly packaging designs. We need to be aware corporately and personally on what we are doing that contributes to the increased levels of waste, and make changes where it makes sense.

Need Help?
The environment is a serious issue.  My advice would be to make yourself aware of ways that you can improve your product’s packaging to be more sustainable.  If you need help, there are many manufacturers that stay current on new materials and process that can help.  Whether you contact me or someone else…doesn’t matter, just make the effort and do your part to help the environment.

Read State Farms full article here.

For more information on creating Eco-Friendly packaging designs, contact Brian Pankratz at Mercury Plastics, Inc., bpankratz@mercuryplasticsinc.com.

Retailers Were Asked To Pull Product From Their Shelves – Is Yours Next?

13 Friday Jul 2012

Posted by in Packaging Design, Quality, Sustainability

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The Shocking News First:
In June of 2012, Toxics in Packaging Clearinghouse (TPCH) released their “2012 Assessment of Heavy Metals in Packaging: A Focus on Flexible PVC from Discount Retail Chain Stores”.  The samples were focused in the nineteen U.S. States that have laws prohibiting the sale or distribution of packaging containing intentionally added cadmium, lead, mercury, and hexavalent chromium.  Although the findings for heavy metals were down from the 2009 report, flexible PVC is still failing at a rate of 15-39% of tested imported packaging.  The category of “toys, games, and crafts” had the highest fail rate of 39% of total packages tested for restricted heavy metals.

After Testing:
The retail chains where heavy metals were found in their packaging were contacted and asked to remove the product from their shelves and to conduct corrective action measures to eliminate this packaging.  With fail rates of fifteen to thirty-nine percent, we have to wonder how much is currently on the shelf that wasn’t tested and still remains on a peg hook today.

What to Watch For:
It amazes me how the U.S. continues to struggle with imported goods containing toxic heavy metals.  According to Patricia Dillon, Program Manager at TPCH, the products to watch out for are those that are not packaged in the U.S.  Flexible PVC and inks/colorants dominated the non-compliant packaging issues.

Now What?
The best way manufacturers can protect themselves is to know their supplier and where they get their materials.  Mercury Plastics, Inc. only uses materials that comply with all specifications for heavy metals and additionally strives to design the most sustainable packaging solutions for our customers.  Partnering with innovative U.S. suppliers that certify their materials, as Mercury Plastics does, will help to eliminate costly recalls as well as protect the name and integrity of your product.

To read the full report from the TPCH, Click Here.

For further information on how you can be protected from imported packaging containing toxic heavy metals, contact Brian Pankratz at Mercury Plastics, Inc. (bpankratz@mercuryplasticsinc.com)

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The Forgotten Cost in Packaging Design – Don’t Let It Happen To You

29 Friday Jun 2012

Posted by in Marketing, Packaging Design, Product Development, Sustainability

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There are many costs associated with packaging a product.  While the raw materials of the packaging are mainly concentrated on in the beginning stages of development, an equal amount of emphasis should be put on the labor to assemble.

We’ve all been there; right…someone emails a great packaging concept to us for review.  While reviewing the concept on your computer screen, you count 3 different insert cards, a plastic tray which goes inside of a plastic clamshell, an instruction sheet and then let’s not forget about the actual product we are trying to sell along with individual attachments to our product.  You view the quote sheet and it lists all of the components, but where are the labor costs to assemble this masterpiece?

Sound familiar?

Being a designer, printer, thermoformer, and co-packer of packaging components, we place a high emphasis on the cost associated with the assembly of the packaging we design.  Labor costs continue to increase; being able to design packaging that is easy to assemble is a key ingredient to the profitability of a product.

Don’t let it happen to you; be aware of the costs to assemble and seek guidance on any improvements that can be made to take the cost of assembly out.

For further information on if you can remove unneeded costs associated with packaging assembly, contact Brian Pankratz at Mercury Plastics, Inc. (bpankratz@mercuryplasticsinc.com)

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Bigger Isn’t Always Better: 5 reasons why you should pay attention to your “Product-To-Package Ratio”

31 Thursday May 2012

Posted by in Marketing, Packaging Design, Product Development, Sustainability

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If your packaging could talk, what one question do you think it would ask?  The answer is certainly debatable, but I think your packaging would ask…“Does this packaging make me look big?”  After a brief moment of looking up and down your packaging, afraid to give your product the answer, you may have to answer, “Yes.”

This is exactly what Hasbro, one of the world’s largest toy manufacturers concluded earlier this year.  After reviewing the packaging of some of their major brands, they realized that there was room for improvement and set a goal to reduce their product-to-package ratio by 15% by the end of 2013.

When we talk about improving the product-to-package ratio, creativity must be at the top of the list.  Several companies search for the best packaging design, hoping that their competitor doesn’t find it first.  Some companies set the standard, while some try to live up to it.

Take a look at the pictures to the right.  Shakespeare and Shimano are both manufacturers of fishing reels.  As I walked down the aisle in my local department store, I couldn’t help but notice that one company (Shakespeare) had figured out how to pack their product with 60% less plastic and paper board than their #1 competitor, and it looks great!  Two companies selling the same product, but in this case, it’s clear that Shakespeare found a way to package their product for a fraction of the cost of their competitor.  Could this be one of the reasons Shimano once produced golf supplies and snowboarding equipment, but then later abandoned those markets claiming they were unprofitable?

Here are 5 reasons why you should pay attention to your product-to-package ratio.

  1. Better product visibility
  2. Reduced packaging costs
  3. Lower carbon footprint
  4. Ability to try product in the store
  5. Decreased shipping costs

As a manufacturer of thermoformed and printed packaging, we almost always suggest a new design that would provide most of the benefits listed above.  New packaging designs are constantly being developed that ignite consumer attention.

Is it time to take a look at your existing packaging?

For more information on how you can improve your product-to-package ratio, contact Brian Pankratz at Mercury Plastics, Inc. (bpankratz@mercuryplasticsinc.com)

Sign up to have weekly blog posts sent directly to your email at www.brianpankratz.com

Is Your Product In Violation? Beware of False Environmental Marketing Claims

26 Thursday Apr 2012

Posted by in Sustainability

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As shoppers continue to hunt the store shelves for product that is environmentally friendly, product manufacturers need to beware how they advertise their product.  The US Federal Trade Commission continues to crack down on manufacturers with false or misleading environmental marketing claims, known as “greenwashing.” 

“Greenwashing” occurs when a company, its product, or its practices promote a misleading perception of being environmentally friendly.  A recent study by TerraChoice, a North American environmental marketing company, issued a report saying that more than 95 percent of consumer products committed at least one offense of “greenwashing.”

Here is an example of a false claim pulled directly from the FTC’s Guide for the use of environmental marketing claims:

Overstatement of environmental attribute –

A package is labeled, “50% more recycled content than before.” The manufacturer increased the recycled content of its package from 2 percent recycled material to 3 percent recycled material. Although the claim is technically true, it is likely to convey the false impression that the advertiser has increased significantly the use of recycled material.

So, how do you stay away from greenwashing?

Here are a few areas to concentrate on: 

  1. Be clear – when making a claim, state the specifics of your claim.
  2. Don’t embellish your environmental claim.
  3. Understand the symbols and verbiage you are using to make your claim.
  4. Substantiate comparative claims.

As more emphasis is put on being good stewards of the environment it is important to clearly communicate how your organization is doing this.  As always, honesty is the best Policy!

Need more help?

The US Environmental Protection Agency has launched a Green Product Web Portal that can help manufacturers find information on standards and criteria for designing greener products.  Click Here

See the full FTC guidelines.  Click Here

For additional information or questions, contact Brian Pankratz (bpankratz@mercuryplasticsinc.com)