Has the economy changed your thinking towards eco-friendly packaging?
Dennis Salazar, a friend of mine, recently returned from Pack Expo, the largest industrial packaging exposition in Chicago. It seems that being green for many industrial suppliers was a just flash in the pan.
In 2008, their green flags and banners flew high in their booths and you could almost smell the fresh coat of greenwash that was liberally spread over their companies and their products. This year, not surprisingly, their green commitment had passed as they regressed to making and selling the same old products, the same old way.
In Dennis’ review of Pack Expo he observed that three truths have emerged from our economy as it relates to green and sustainable products in packaging.
• Sustainability is not for the faint-hearted or impatient
• Don’t expect the market to pay you a green premium
• The sustainability market has learned to see through most greenwash
Fortunately here at Nashville Wraps we have not found as much of a wavering as in the industrial side. In fact, we continue to see an increase in demand for green products. But sometimes the products create the demand… Since we design and develop most of our own packaging, we specify what materials go into them from the start. In many instances we push our suppliers to seek or develop eco-friendly materials and in turn provide a market for them. It’s a win-win for us, our suppliers and especially our customers.
The Nashville Wraps flagship brand for true green products is Green Way – Packaging with Purpose®. When we put the Green Way logo on packaging products it means that they have passed rigid and verifiable checks for authenticity and are as advertised for green content. Most all of the Green Way® products also represent a good value. In today’s retail packaging market, many of the 100% recycled papers and films we use actually cost less than their non-recycled counterparts.
A green flash in the pan
There is more to being green that having a green colored booth at the show. I have seen so many vendors flying green flags in their booths, and when I go to ask them where the materials come from, the percentage of recycled content, whether it is recyclable and so forth, they look at me totally clueless. This is a great example of what Nashville Wraps does not want to be.
Those green flash-in-the-pan vendors will also start blaming their sales decline on the economy while their green competitors are looking to the next great solution for a growing customer base which is very much appreciative of them. And that’s the take… We are providing solutions, not just packaging.
For Dennis’ complete review, see his article on Greenbiz.com.
For Nashville Wraps Green Way Products: Green Way sustainable eco-friendly retail packaging
Robby Meadows
NashvilleWraps.com
We’re an educational organization and we’ve been doing gift-wrapping at a local mall as a fundraiser. We let people know that we ONLY use recycled wrapping paper and paper wraphia ribbon. We want to model the environmental values that we teach. We love the paper we get from you and customers seem pleased with it, too. Because we are in NY, we do get asked for Hanukkah paper and no one seems to have large (cutter) rolls of recycled Hanukkah paper. Hope you will soon.
I too came across your blog/products as I was searching for nationally recognized brands that will be providing eco-friendly gift boxes for the holiday season. I have not been able to uncover Brands that are leading in this area. I believe they are missing a real opportunity for long-term consumer loyalty if properly implemented.
P.S. Great site, I will be recommending to my wife that we use your products in the future for her personalized luggage tag business, YourBagTag.com
Hello Dennis. I came across your blog while shopping online for eco friendly packaging.
I am a Fashion Designer, creating leather belts, jewelry and accessories.
My business’ online debut was in October 2010, and I have reached the juncture where professional packaging is required for my products.
My first search included the word “eco” and I am committed to using only the most eco friendly products I can find.
It is difficult for small business, anyway, to pay the extra it usually costs for greener products, but nonetheless, an important ethic to maintain.
Afterall, I pay $2.00 more for an organic gallon of milk…..and will continue to choose to.
Your article was a nice break from sifting through all of those packaging companies!
Envive!