How to be a "green" hypocrite
A "green product" customer needs a package designed and converted. Keep these handy-dandy points in mind, and you too can be a "green" hypocrite.
Step 1: Design your customer’s package using 100% virgin-plastic and/or 100% virgin-paper materials not sourced from FSC- or SFI-certified suppliers. While you’re at it, be sure to use a thicker gauge than truly necesary.
Step 2: Source all the materials from China or India or some place halfway around the world because it’s cheaper than getting it from down the street (or at least from the next state).
Step 3: Print it using solvent-based inks that will need to be IR-dried and/or have the VOCs oxidized. Make sure the VOC system doesn’t recover the heat and use it elsewhere in the plant.
Step 4: Laminate it with solvent-based adhesives (see rationality above).
Step 5: After use, demand that the packaging (due to its multilayer construction) be difficult to recycle in municipal solid-waste operations.
I hope by now you’ve figured out that I’m just kidding. But a quick analysis of your average "green" product typically shows that it’s still overpackaged, often in a virgin-plastic container, and perhaps hard to recycle by the consumer. Granted, not all packaging decisions get to be made by the converter. But the next time a "green product" customer approaches your business, stop and think through the process to avoid being party to "green hypocrisy."
Tom Stodola commented:
You don’t need FSC,SFI,PEFC to be sustainable. They are just methods to certify that you are doing something. Carbon Offsets or RECs (from out of your electrical providers service area) are like buying your way into Heaven. Many sustainable activities require nothing other than management’s desire to save resources. Sutainability is always about what you do in your shop.
David Roisum commented:
Carl Mendoza commented:
Bee Gee commented:
