Walmart’s continuing commitment to helping its consumer packaged goods suppliers move toward more sustainable packaging solutions was demonstrated at the corporation’s recent Sustainability Packaging Expo in Rogers, AR. The fourth staging of the event and the largest so far, the expo brought together more than 2,200 CPGs, Walmart and Sam’s Club buyers, and packaging suppliers for two days at the John Q. Hammons Convention Center, just miles from Walmart’s Bentonville headquarters.

As Robert Parvis, Sam’s Club manager of House Brands Packaging, told the four hand-picked media representatives, including Greener Package, that were in attendance at a special press briefing on April 15, the expo provides a unique opportunity for key players to connect over sustainable packaging. On April 21 he added on his blog, (http://checkoutblog.com [7]), “I know that the time spent talking with the exhibitors and learning in the breakout sessions will result in packaging improvements in the coming months.”

Greenwashing dissected
In conjunction with the expo, 18 conference sessions were held over the two days on a range of topics, including success stories from CPGs, the Federal Trade Commission’s Green Guides, biodegradability and compostability, and transportation and logistics.

Media members were invited to join one session, “Environmental Labeling Guidelines for Packaging,” presented by Victor Bell, president of consulting firm Environmental Packaging Intl. (EPI, www.enviro-pac.com [8]). Bell began his presentation by citing “The Six Sins of Greenwashing” (now updated to seven, see related story [9]) and by enumerating some of the most common certifications used for environmental claims on packaging. These included the FTC Green Guides, the SPI (Society for the Plastics Industry) Code, Green Dot, and ASTM/ISO/CEN standards.

“The biggest area of problems is related to recyclability,” he told attendees. “To be recyclable, the packaging must be able to be recycled by a significant majority [the number has ranged from 58% to 62%] of communities in the country. The claim is based on the material and the packaging type. You have to look at who collects the material and what happens to it after it is collected.”

Bell said he believes that less than half of the environmental claims made on packaging today are authentic. “No one has done any enforcement of this for the last eight to 10 years,” he noted.

He also shared that he was part of a team that evaluated the claims made by packaging suppliers interested in exhibiting at the expo against the FTC Green Guides. “About 70 percent of the claims that were made at the beginning by exhibitors had to be updated. That’s how prevalent this is,” he said.

New innovations
[10]The media tour also included stops at five of the show’s 165 exhibitor booths. These included:
• MeadWestvaco Corp. (www.meadwestvaco.com [11]), where vp of Retail Channel Management for the company’s Consumer Selections Group Ronald D. Sasine (pictured) demonstrated MWV’s Natralock® and Shellpak® solutions. Natralock is a sustainable, recyclable blister-packaging option that uses 50% to 60% less plastic than traditional clamshells. Shellpak unit-dose medication packaging, he said, provides sustainability advantages through distribution improvements.

• Sonoco (www.sonoco.com [12]). Here, R. Derek Trader, market segment manager for Rigid Paper and Plastics, Global Consumer Marketing for Sonoco, told media members that the company’s strong point is its integration capabilities. These include its material take-back programs, its diversified product offerings, and its technical acumen for sustainable packaging design.

[13]• NatureWorks LLC (www.natureworksllc [14]), with its Ingeo PLA plastic resin, made from renewable resources. Joining NatureWorks business development manager Grant Braasch (pictured at left) at the booth was Todd Fayne, engineer of Advanced Materials Research (pictured at right) for Frito Lay. Fayne was on hand to field questions regarding Frito Lay’s new SunChips bag, which has been redesigned to include a single layer of PLA. (See related story [15].) “Around this time next year, we want to have an all-PLA structure,” Fayne told the media.

• Alliance, a RockTenn Co. (www.alliancerocktenn.com [12]), where executive vp and general manager James Einstein introduced the MAX PDQ® on-shelf merchandiser, which has been used by products such as Advil and Banana Boat to reduce board material by 35%. “Sustainability is part of our culture; it’s at the top of our list,” Einstein said.

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• GO-GREEN™ (www.gogreenpackaging.com [17]). Here, national accounts manager Jeff Madrzak discussed the company’s rigid polypropylene trays, which are manufactured using a proprietary thermoforming process that utilizes 30% less energy and less material. Madrzak showed the media a commercial example, Kids Organic frozen meals, which is being launched in Canada and uses a special steam-heating technology. Other applications include ready meals, case-ready products, produce, and more.

Greener Packaging also participated in the event as an exhibitor, demonstrating for attendees the new Web site initiative and guiding their attention in particular to the site’s soon-to-be-launched Greener Product Database. Stay tuned to GreenerPackage.com for exciting news on the database.