Packaging Equipment and Sustainability Strategies - U.S. Dept. of Commerce Study 2011.

We all deal with high levels of packaging material every day from cellophane-wrapped cookies, the protective cardboard around new

chocolate melters, or the sturdy packaging needed when moving into Jersey City condos, town-houses in Nebraska or a studio apartment in Minnesota.

The packaging equipment and machinery industry is under a lot of pressure from consumers to reduce the amount of paper and plastic used and this led

the Dept. of Commerce to investigate the questions of:



-Can the packaging equipment industry act sustainably and still remain successful?

-If so, how?



Masive savings.



Retailers and consumer goods manufacturers now know that a reduction in packaging-related waste results in masive savings. In addition, consumers are voting with their dollars by showing a purchasing-preference for environmentally-friendly products.

In addition, Europe is leading the trend towards sustainable packaging techniques with an increasing number of laws, regulations and strict

standards regarding packaging and its safe disposal.

These new rules will have a significantly positive impact on global environmental policy and the U.S. should not lag behind.



Energy-saving benefits.



US packaging equipment and machinery manufacturers can certainly offer their customers more sustainable packaging materials and remain highly competitive at the same time.

This means that in the future only enterprises offering products and services that are manufactured by energy- and water-saving processes will succeed.

It is essential that the preference of consumers for substantially reduced packaging materials and asociated waste are fulfilled.



Cutting costs.



Less packaging and reduced waste disposal costs will also allow customers to cut costs. It is clear that sustainability legislation will soon be extended to cover the entire manufacturing process of all products and the final packaging will be included in these new regulations.

This will begin with packaging processors facing high expectations to use cheaper and more environmentally-friendly materials. This will cause a ‘trickle down’ effect on consumer goods producers who will be faced with an ever-increasing demand for packaging that is cheaper for retailers and avoids unnecessary waste.



Conclusions.



The Dept. of Commerce study conclusions stress that now is the time for packaging equipment manufacturers to begin planning their Sustainability Strategies. It is inevitable that in the near future customers worldwide will

demand services, machinery and products sold in cost-efficient and sustainable packaging.

So from the advertising brochures for luxury apartments for sale in New York condominium buildings, to the moving boxes needed to move into a waterfront condo for sale by the Hudson River - new, sustainable packaging must be produced.



Future development.



The New Jersey condos that house the HQs of packaging design companies and the technology development offices located in Atlanta condos should start planning for the future now. The high-spending consumers of the future, buying the luxury condos for sale in 2020 and filling their Manhattan condos with every gadget and electronic device known to civilization, will be demanding customers.

Therefore, the industry needs to ensure that all manufacturing processes are energy-saving and that the packaging generated will be minimal and bio-degradable.



Union Machinery

New York Chicago

801 E. 141st. Street Bronx, NY 10454

718-585-0200

sales@unionmachinery.com

http://www.unionmachinery.com