Canadian Retailer - Fall 2014 - 32

SuStAINABLE pAckAgINg

Blake cites P&G's Pantene Pro-V nature Fusion shampoo and conditioner. The bottles contain plastic from
sugarcane, which consumes over 70 per cent less fossil
fuels compared to petroleum-based plastic. To launch the
bottles, Pantene cleverly tied the environmental benefits
to the product features, discussing healthy-looking hair
and a healthier planet.
Conveying such stories requires a united effort. Retailers carry brands representing a wide assortment of
companies, products and materials. Nevertheless, when
it comes to packaging, "We are the face to the customer,
and it's a reflection on us as retailers," says Leigh Pearson, Director of Facilities, Environment and Procurement at Staples Canada.
Consumers can focus disproportionately on the environmental impact of the packaging versus the product itself. "Typically, packaging is less than 10 per cent
of overall environmental footprint of the product," says
Blake. "Yet emotionally, packaging is first thing people
see when they buy the product. It's an easy target."
Lesson 3: collaborate to map out solutions

Not all environmentally-friendly packaging solutions will be applicable across products. But
some ideas are transferrable, all around collaboration and knowledge-sharing. Beyond specific
technology, sustainability experts talk about four principles.

1

Factor environmental considerations
into every stage of packaging decisions.
"Key guidelines aren't getting to
people early enough in design," says
Blake. "There's a challenge around
what it takes to design packages to
be easily disassembled, recycled and
reused. The environmental footprint
has to be integrated."

3

4
2

32 |

Draw on outside groups.
Among other resources, CSSA
has a guide for businesses on their
packaging recycling obligations.
PAC NEXT created a Packaging
Materials Recovery Systems Map
for designers, manufacturers and
other decision makers. It helps
them to understand the flow of
packaging materials through the
collection and recovery systems,
and make better-informed design
and material choices.

cANADIAN REtAILER | fall 2014

Challenge vendors.
Many retailers are asking suppliers
to compete not only on quality, cost and
features, but also in finding sustainable
packaging solutions, which can then
start to spread. "We have the volume to
influence," says Branson.
Rethink the product itself to produce
environmental benefits.
Working with vendors, Canadian Tire
changed the packaging on a brand of
garbage bags from a flat-fold to a roll
format. That reduced the size of the
package and related product by 30 per
cent, and the weight by 11 per cent. Traditionally, garbage bags were folded. "We
looked at ways to reconsider it," says
Pontello. His point:
"Packaging doesn't
exist in a vacuum."



Canadian Retailer - Fall 2014

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Canadian Retailer - Fall 2014

Member Insights
Retails Currents
Retail: At Issue
Being Green
Big Gains in the Supply Chain Game Bringing Supplier Closer to Customers
Protect Your Retails Business Against Fraud
Clean Sweep
The Modern Era of Retail Enagagement
Advertiser's Index
Retail Quick Tips
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2014 - cover1
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2014 - cover2
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2014 - 3
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2014 - Member Insights
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2014 - 5
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2014 - Retails Currents
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2014 - 7
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2014 - 8
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2014 - 9
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2014 - Retail: At Issue
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2014 - 11
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2014 - Being Green
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2014 - 13
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2014 - 14
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2014 - 15
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2014 - 16
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2014 - 17
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2014 - Big Gains in the Supply Chain Game Bringing Supplier Closer to Customers
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2014 - 19
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2014 - 20
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2014 - 21
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2014 - 22
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2014 - Protect Your Retails Business Against Fraud
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2014 - 24
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2014 - Clean Sweep
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2014 - 26
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2014 - 27
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2014 - 28
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2014 - 29
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2014 - 30
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2014 - 31
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2014 - 32
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2014 - 33
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2014 - The Modern Era of Retail Enagagement
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2014 - 35
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2014 - 36
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2014 - 37
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2014 - 38
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2014 - 39
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2014 - 40
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2014 - 41
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2014 - 42
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2014 - 43
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2014 - 44
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2014 - 45
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2014 - 46
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2014 - 47
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2014 - 48
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2014 - Advertiser's Index
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2014 - Retail Quick Tips
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2014 - cover3
Canadian Retailer - Fall 2014 - cover4
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