Unboxing Your Packaging

INTRODUCTION How to reduce our dependency on oil… while avoiding alternative solutions with other negative effects? Are you familiar with the term «Mass balance»? Does it solve an ecological problem?  In this «Wild W[a]st.e» audio clip with Mr & Mrs Recycling, we tackled  the mass balance process,  its shares,  the applications with bio-based and recycled materials,  the food parameters,  and some...

INTRODUCTION When companies are aiming for plastic-free, they would like an alternative having the exact same properties as conventional plastics while meeting all the best end-of-life scenarios. Are they dreaming awake? Could bioplastic packaging be both recyclable and properly biodegradable in all types of environments? You probably already have heard about plant-based materials but what about t...

INTRODUCTION While ‘bioplastics’ are widely touted as the panacea of packaging, we captured some misleading lobbyists’ arguments. In this «Wild W[a]st.e» audio clip with Mr & Mrs Recycling, you will discover if it is right to say that bioplastics are  oil free, from agricultural waste, sustainable, and biodegradable? In this episode, we invite you to (re)listen to other episodes and videos. We war...

INTRODUCTION Is it possible to meet the same performance standards as conventional plastic while not harming the environment? I mean no toxic residue, microplastics, or other pollutants. This is the challenge that TIPA – a multi-awarded company – is taking up while making compostable flexible single-use packaging! The aim of their packaging is to have the same end-of-life as organic material. In t...

INTRODUCTION Plastics are on everyone's lips! They won many quests in the packaging Wild West.  If plastic reputation is well established, do you know what is true and what is rubbish?  Luckily, in our series of «Wild W[a]st.e» audio clips, Mr & Mrs Recycling captured the plastic lobbyists' arguments for you: Are plastics really safe,  strong but lightweight (less CO2 emitting), recyclable,  and v...

INTRODUCTION   Did you know that March is the month of bulk?  To understand better what packaging-free is about in daily life for businesses and all stakeholders – including you and me – I invited 2 committed actors in the bulk world: Célia, the founder of Réseau Vrac, the Bulk Network federating more than 1500 professionals in the sector – such as suppliers and retailers – in 14 countries,  and E...

INTRODUCTION Our series of «Wild W[a]st.e» audio clips continues to help you survive and thrive in the packaging Wild West.  This time, Mr & Mrs Recycling captured aluminium packaging material for you! Listen to the «wanted» lobbyists' arguments we have turned in: Is aluminium really infinitely recyclable, permanent, saving raw materials, and sustainable? Once again, the reward is worth it million...

INTRODUCTION Have you ever wondered what the world could look like by turning off the plastic tap?  No, it is not about demonizing plastic, it is about finding what can make his work without undesirable impacts! And, believe me, Sian Sutherland, the co-founder of A Plastic Planet, has more than one trick up her sleeve to turn that into a very practical and appealing reality.  In this episode, you...

INTRODUCTION Have you already felt a bit confused about packaging materials and their recycling? Well, I partnered with M & Mme Recyclage to help you survive and thrive in the packaging Wild West thanks to a series of «Wild W[a]st.e» audio clips! What is «wanted» in this first one? The lobbyists' arguments about GLASS packaging: infinitely recyclable, inert, ecological or sustainable. We will alwa...

INTRODUCTION Packaging: the best starting point for more circular solutions and products? That was the title of the online Euro-Canadian Roundtable on December 15th, 2022, as a side event of the World Circular Economy Forum .  And this episode is broadcasting the core conversation with our 6 inspiring panelists, from both continents.  They raised some key points in terms of materials, consumers, w...

INTRODUCTION How should packaging go along with a product at best while answering a real need? Packaging these days is sometimes the scapegoat that makes us forget that the product inside has the biggest part in environmental and social impact! And, sometimes, the product content is actually like the warriors in the mythological Trojan horse: We only see the container without paying attention to w...

INTRODUCTION How to create a lower-impact future for shipping and delivering goods? In this episode, you will learn how Returnity ensures that reusable package is the right operational and economic fit for brands and retailers. Yes, Returnity designs and manufactures reusable packaging. But, as Mike emphasized all through our conversation, the circular logistic SYSTEM implemented for reuse is THE...

INTRODUCTION   Are you wondering how to couple a sustainable packaging design with a memorable user experience?    With Evelio Mattos, a well-recognized structural designer, you will have a good overview of the ins and outs of packaging concept development. We navigated the conversation from very visible branding to behind the scene systems. Yes, huge ripple effects can happen through packaging in...

INTRODUCTION Most of the time, people think their packaging will be recycled... What if it was not the case? What if it was more like the Wild West? Or should I say, the «wild waste»? With Lise and Enzo from M. & Mme Recyclage we explored the shadowy world of waste management. And you will hear, you won’t be outdone! They have so much to share! And they do it with a lot of passion and meaningful e...

INTRODUCTION What does «waste» mean to you? And what if it was mostly about resources? Our guest, Paul Foulkes-Arellano, states that we have everything in our hands with nature (as it is) to create packaging in a regenerative mode. The potential of new applications seems so evident with Paul’s three decades of international experience in strategic brand and innovation consultancy! Be ready to feel...

INTRODUCTION Do you know the 4 resource categories your packaging needs to exist? Identifying your resource inflows is paramount to kick-start your sustainable packaging solutions!  That’s why it is part of our freshly launched «Develop Circular Packaging Solutions» online training in collaboration with the Circulab Academy.  By listening to this episode, you will  get the scoop on an extract of t...

INTRODUCTION   Do you know how to design packaging for recycling? Are you curious to learn about award-winning packaging? Have you already heard about the World Packaging Organisation and the Australian Institute of Packaging?   In this episode,  you will learn about easy-to-read guides and mapping that are like bridges between the materials recovery facilities and the technologists, designers for...

INTRODUCTION   Do you want to be smarter than single-use disposables? What impacts could big organizations' canteens expect if they switch to reusables?    With my guest, Rich Grousset from Re:Dish, we could have talked about it for days!  This episode is an accelerated overview of how a take-back system for reusable food containers can reshape consumer behavior at scale!  We covered the cyclic ‘d...

INTRODUCTION Have you already wondered how to shift from doing ‘less bad’ to doing ‘more good’?  In this episode, you will discover what kind of FLIP you can operate for your packaging. FLIP for Footprint, Limits, Innovation, and Purpose.  To exemplify these 4 key factors, we will use some extracts from the 3 last episodes applied to renewable materials for your packaging. But what I develop in th...

INTRODUCTION Paper packaging is experiencing a growing consumer demand!  This induces a lot of pressure on our forests… which are paramount for mitigating climate crisis and preserving biodiversity which we all depend on! That’s why the Pack4Good initiative from Canopy partners with companies to develop sustainable alternatives. In this episode, Lee-Ann Unger, one of their Senior Corporate Campaig...

INTRODUCTION   What if I told you that seaweed offers a lot of innovative and untapped opportunities for your packaging, our planet, and its people?    That’s what the company Notpla has explored with success with their all compostable and seaweed-based packaging portfolio such as edible bubble of water, oil, or juice, as well as paper boxes, food sachets, and films.    In this episode, I had the...

INTRODUCTION Have you ever thought about making your packaging grow… without water and extra energy? Yes, literally… That’s the wonder of mycelium!  Meghan, the Mushroom Packaging manager of Ecovative Design, will take you through this fascinating sustainable solution they are developing for 15 years.   You will learn  how custom-molded packaging can grow with mycelium what kind of ecological base...

INTRODUCTION   If you are wondering how to shape messaging that aligns people's actions with the sustainable impact you are building, you are at the right place! Yes, this episode will help you to find the right marketing argument that resonates with your consumers!   This episode follows on from episode 18 with Rosemary Cooper and Kate White. If you haven’t done it yet, listen to it!    As Kate a...

INTRODUCTION Is your packaging taking an active part in circular solutions? Are you struggling in getting people to adopt sustainable behaviour? What should your marketing look like to motivate your customers to properly reuse, recycle, or compost? In this episode, we have two experts, Kate and Rosemary, who will lead you through the knowledge and methodology summarized by the SHIFT framework. Eac...

INTRODUCTION Reuse isn’t a new trend, it always existed. But adapting reusables to our crazy lifestyle with disposable habits at a packaging level, that’s challenging! Today, I am excited to share with you the pith of the reusable benefits mentioned by 5 guests from the 2021 episode series: Sophie Liu of Loop, Jérémie Lambin of Freddy met Curry, Samuel Chappel of LaSemo, Marie Jemine of L’Empoteus...