A group I belong to recently had an interesting online debate about why sustainable packaging was "always" more expensive. The reasons and theories cited included freight and transportation costs, greedy manufacturers or a shift from some materials to others creating shortages, among other factors.

Most of the wide variety of comments posted were accurate to some degree, but I was surprised no one mentioned the first rule of business -- the one even non-business people often quote.

Sustainability and the Law of Supply and Demand

If more people bought any specific green packaging product, more companies would manufacture it. Eventually -- probably sooner than later -- the market price would be reduced due to increased competition.

In addition,

A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to attend the sprawling Housewares Show at Chicago's McCormick Place, where more than 1,200 exhibitors showcased the best their companies and industry had to offer. I took full advantage of the opportunity to conduct an informal "sustainability survey" as I visited each exhibitor's booth. I inquired about their green objectives and initiatives, and the responses varied tremendously. I suspect that to some degree, the exhibitors reflect the population as a whole. As I listened to the varying comments on sustainability and packaging, I was reminded of the Kubler-Ross "Five Stages of Grief," which famously describe our natural and very human resistance to change. In my conversations with exhibitors, all five stages were clearly

What does it cost for a manufacturer to deliver a more sustainable product or package to our retail store shelf and what should the resulting price be to us as consumers? There is a perception that going green increases a manufacturer's cost, but does it really? We have found that the answer is, not usually, especially if it is done correctly. There is also an equally inaccurate idea out there that we as consumers are willing and perhaps even eager to pay a premium for a more sustainable product or package. As a consumer who happens to be in the packaging business, the answer is definitely not, unless the higher price is truly necessary and justified. These perceptions open the door for Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) manufacturers to quietly raise prices. Today I confirmed what I already

While direct contact, retail, and primary packaging has been receiving all of the attention and well deserved scrutiny of the world, secondary packaging, without much attention at all, has been quietly filling our landfills.

Trouble by the Pallet

It is estimated that the stretch film market -- that nearly invisible product used to wrap pallets -- totals more than 1.5 billion pounds annually. Stretch film is used for load retention and containment to get a product from one place to another. But after the product is received and the stretch wrap removed, it may well be re-palletized and then, of course, re-wrapped in more stretch film.

If it sounds silly and wasteful, understand that scenario probably plays out thousands of times each day between manufacturers,

OK, I admit it. I am confused and perhaps even a tad nervous. After more than 30 years as a packaging professional focused on flexible -- dare I say -- plastic packaging, this new movement people are calling "sustainable" packaging has me seriously concerned. During the '70s, I recall being a young sales rep in the plastic packaging industry and feverishly updating my resume when I was told the world of packaging as we knew it would soon come crashing to an apocalyptic end. "The Great PVC Scare" was upon us and the only real choice and decision I had to make was whether to look for a new job, or check in at a clinic to determine how much damage had been done to my body and mind during my years as a purveyor of that PVC packaging poison. I sincerely feared my

A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to attend the sprawling Housewares Show at Chicago's McCormick Place, where more than 1,200 exhibitors showcased the best their companies and industry had to offer.

I took full advantage of the opportunity to conduct an informal "sustainability survey" as I visited each exhibitor's booth. I inquired about their green objectives and initiatives, and the responses varied tremendously. I suspect that to some degree, the exhibitors reflect the population as a whole.

As I listened to the varying comments on sustainability and packaging, I was reminded of the Kubler-Ross "Five Stages of Grief," which famously describe our natural and very human resistance to change. In my conversations with exhibitors, all five stages