Danielle Peacock @peacockdanielleblogs - Tumblr Blog

The Millennial Perspective

Originally published in Inside Packaging Magazine

March 2015

http://goo.gl/9uEAmA

Digital technologies enhance sustainable packaging communications

Originally published in print and online for Packaging Digest

November 13th, 2014

http://www.packagingdigest.com/sustainable-packaging/digital-technologies-enhance-sustainable-packaging-communications141113

Digital technologies play an important role in our day-to-day lives, impacting both business to consumer (B2C) and business to business (B2B) interactions. As consumers, technology informs most of our purchasing decisions; we use social media, shop online and have instant access to product information. As professionals, we increasingly rely on digital communications, social media and web-based business solutions. How does this impact the sustainable packaging community?

Web and social media use is now common among all age groups. While youth are the heaviest users of the internet and social media, uptake by older Americans continues to grow. According to research conducted by the Pew Research Internet Project, 87% of all adults use the internet. When broken down by age group, 57% of those over 65 are internet users. Additional Pew research shows that social media use by online seniors has tripled since 2009. Digital technology is not just for the young.

Advertising and developing brand trust is no longer isolated to traditional forms of media. The challenge, and opportunity, for B2C communications is interacting on diverse platforms. On-package graphics reference websites, social media or online promotions, while smart phones and mobile apps allow consumers to research a product, service or store before making a purchasing decision. Social media and online marketing campaigns can grab consumers’ attention to promote recyclability, sustainability initiatives and partnerships.

There are countless examples and opinions about harnessing the power of the internet and social media to further an organization’s goals, far too many to address here. A couple recent examples in the packaging space include How2Recycle and the “I Want to be Recycled” campaign. How2Recycle is an on-package recycling label that gives clear recycling instructions to consumers. Each label carries the website How2Recycle.info, giving consumers a source for more recycling information. I Want to Be Recycled is an advertising collaboration between Keep America Beautiful and the Ad Council, which incorporates an interactive website at iwanttoberecycled.org.

Ok, we get it, the internet is grand. But how does this impact our professional lives?

Over the past few years, GreenBlue’s Sustainable Packaging Coalition has increased our social media presence, giving the SPC, and individual staff, more outlets to discuss exciting topics and build relationships.

These trends also impact the way GreenBlue operates, from new project management tools to the way we deliver projects. We use new web-based project management tools, moved our operations to the cloud and implemented Google Apps for Business. Members may notice a new focus on websites, web based sharing and results-based tools. We believe the shift increases our value as a solution provider and collaborative space.

At the end of September 2014, How2Recycle released its new web-based artwork library. The tool is available to all How2Recycle members and is hosted through Brandfolder. It provides quick access to graphics, new guidance documents and other program information, dramatically expediting the entire How2Recycle artwork process for both How2Recycle members and GreenBlue staff.

While each member company is different, the Brandfolder resource is designed to more seamlessly integrate How2Recycle into each company’s graphics design process. Our members anticipate an exponential increase in the number of packages carrying How2Recycle and a decrease in staff time needed to implement the program. This milestone is possible through the hard work of SPC staff and How2Recycle members.

Technology ultimately gives us the opportunity to try new things, experiment and be agile organizations. GreenBlue is far from finished in our journey to adopt a more integrated digital strategy, but we’re excited to continue moving forward, providing more web based solutions and platforms for collaboration.

In the meantime, let me know what you think. You can find me on Twitter at @PeacockDanielle.

A Tour of Aveda: Vision and Mission in Practice

October 6th, 2014

Originally posted on GreenBlue's blog, In The Loop.

http://www.greenblue.org/a-tour-of-aveda-vision-and-mission-in-practice/

One of my favorite parts of SPC Advance was our tour of Aveda’s headquarters, which includes production facilities for almost all of their products.

Aveda is known for their plant based beauty products and vision to connect beauty, environment, and well-being. They have extensive social and environmental goals for products, packaging, production, and distribution. Aveda’s organizational beliefs include themes of leading by example, empowering employees, wellness, social responsibility, and treating the people and planet with respect. In my opinion, the headquarters’ operations reflected these values.

After a brief introduction, attendees broke into groups to tour the facility. We observed receiving, production, filling, packaging, research and development offices, a gym, and onsite daycare. After the tour, attendees participated in a Q&A session with an Aveda packaging professional and visited the on-site store.

Our tour reflected many of Aveda’s values, creating a consistent message from corporate goals through production and product. I observed:

A place for employees to suggest improvements for themselves or co workers;

Employee suggested safety improvements & their outcomes;

Color coded reporting of “almost incidents” and incidents of all types;

A recently hired professional devoted to ergonomics & worker health and safety;

Recycling bins; and

A very knowledgeable staff.

Why does this matter? Aveda’s values are evident in their focus on worker health and safety, empowerment, and sustainability. Integrating values from words to actions delivers on organizational goals and strengthens their brand. They are an example of focusing on many aspects of sustainability, which is at the heart of the SPC’s Definition of Sustainable Packaging.

Aveda shows that sustainability can work, it can work for you, and it can work for your employees. Ultimately, consumers are given a brand they can trust.

2014 Summer Fancy Food Show: More Than Just a Tasty Opportunity

July 10th, 2014

Originally posted on GreenBlue's In the Loop:

http://www.greenblue.org/2014-summer-fancy-food-show-more-than-just-a-tasty-opportunity/

When the Specialty Food Association contacted the Sustainable Packaging Coalition looking for Summer Fancy Food Show (SFFS) speakers, I was pretty excited to grab the gig. Fancy food and a whole new group of faces to educate? I’m in.

On June 30, 2014, I attended and spoke at SFFS in New York City. The show was a mix of over 15 sessions and seminars, a show floor of 2,400 exhibitors, and over 24,000 attendees. It was also SPC’s first time working with the Specialty Food Association and the Fancy Food Show. I love fancy food as much as the next person, but it was more than just a tasty opportunity. SFFS was a chance to educate a new crowd and observe an industry with great sustainability potential.

SFFS14 Education Program The day began with me teaching a one hour session, Sustainable Packaging: What’s New? How Does it Affect Your Business? SPC member Steve Mahler of Caraustar leant a hand during the session and Q&A, offering his unique industry and SPC member perspective. The group was diverse and inquisitive, sticking around to ask more questions. I spent the rest of the day walking the show floor, tasting samples, and talking to vendors.

Everyone has a story From packaging to product, everyone had a story to share.

The creator of Energyfruits saw parents eating their children’s food products and decided to develop an “adult version.” Admittedly, it felt a little bit like my Capri Sun days, but I could get used to this. It was a convenient counterbalance to all of the sweet treats. Unfortunately, end of life recovery options for flexible pouches remain slim. This was just one of many pouch packages, highlighting the hurdle, and opportunity, in flexible packaging.

The Mason Jar Cookie Company uses their packaging as a defining brand identity. Cookie mix comes in a clear container, with layered ingredients creating an attractive display. As a consumer, it had a familiar “southern feel,” and I can never have too many mason jars. This company connected with me on a personal level, a great asset to creating brand loyalty.

A similar packaging-driving-brand-loyalty example is Salem Baking Company’s cookie tubes. I grew up eating Salem’s Moravian Sugar Cookies in the iconic tubes. It was uplifting to see so many flavors and products. It was icing on the cake for them to ask what I thought about the sustainability of their packaging.

The 2014 Summer Fancy Food Show was a great event, and I look forward to working more with this new group of faces.

Making Collaboration Count

February 4th, 2014

Originally posted on PackagingDigest.com and in print in Packaging Digest's February issue: http://www.packagingdigest.com/sustainable-packaging/making-collaboration-count

The sustainability industry is no stranger to collaboration, and sustainable packaging is no exception. Finding solutions to sustainability challenges often requires stakeholder engagement across diverse organizations. How do we make the most out of these efforts, especially in the face of competing motivation?

In December 2013, I participated in two meetings with similar goals: increase packaging recovery and reduce impact. At both meetings, the strategies for reaching these goals included improving recycling infrastructure, examining new recovery technologies and designing packaging to minimize life cycle impacts. Both events used moderators and informal tabletop discussions to gather information from participants working across the sustainability industry.

The Southeast Recycling Development Council’s (SERDC) Paper & Packaging Symposium kicked off conversations to improve packaging recovery in the southeast. SERDC unites 11 states in the southeast to increase recycling as an important part of the region’s economy. The California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery’s (CalRecycle) packaging workshop gathered information as a foundation for the state’s effort to reach 75 percent waste diversion by 2020, a new legislative requirement.

I left both events with a positive outlook and excitement to continue participating in the ongoing conversations. Although on separate sides of the country, the events left me with similar takeaways.

There is great power in collaboration and collective action, but there are also great hurdles. How do we prevent “collaboration” from becoming a meaningless buzzword? How do we move conversations beyond initial excitement to follow-through? How do we make new efforts different from previous false starts? How do we prevent duplication of efforts?

Any collective effort first requires acknowledgement—and agreement—on a problem or need. Some might say “the grass is brown” while others say it is “not green.” Defining the problem may be difficult when those involved are viewing the issue through different lenses. Meaningful collaborative action requires us to sit across the table with those who may disagree, reconcile our competing views and acknowledge our individual motivations.

Both the CalRecycle and SERDC events defined the problem as “increasing recovery and reducing environmental impact and waste.” The individual needs, and lenses, of these two regions mean the outcomes may look very different in the end.

Successful collaboration needs follow-through, and follow-through needs leadership. Like many other types of issues, we cannot simply talk our way to a solution. We have to define a path and move forward, putting that plan into action.

The Institute of Conservation Leadership (ICL) highlights important leadership qualities for coalitions and collaboratives in their recent report, The Less Visible Leader. The ICL notes that leaders must allow for twists and turns, build relationships and not constrict success by over structuring a process. Ultimately, there is some ambiguity in the collaborative process. Patience, listening skills and an open atmosphere are key.

For the Sustainable Packaging Coalition (SPC), meaningful collaboration began with our definition of sustainable packaging, which is the common framework that guides our work forward. The SPC refers to our approach as the “collaborative consulting” model. People on our staff use their packaging and project management expertise to harness the talents and unique viewpoints of members to work towards the SPC’s goals. Our members are experts in their fields who often have “day jobs” in addition to their contribution to the SPC. It is our responsibility to make collaboration count. Each SPC project and collaboration presents a new opportunity to perfect the model.

The Sustainable Packaging Coalition looks forward to participating in, and leading, future sustainability collaborations. Our SPC Spring Conference is one of the most effective means of collaborative action in the sustainable packaging field. This year’s sessions will build on the theme of “Driving Innovation Through Leadership,” which cuts to the heart of what the SPC, and similar coalitions, seek to accomplish. Attendees can expect takeaways to drive action in their own companies as well as in the SPC’s industry-driven projects. We look forward to working with you March 25-27 in Seattle, WA.

Seahawks & Mariners & You, Oh My!

February 3rd, 2014

Originally posted on GreenBlue's In The Loop: http://www.greenblue.org/2014/02/seahawks-mariners-you-oh-my/

What do the Seahawks, Mariners, and GreenBlue have in common?

Sustainable packaging (and Seattle, of course).

The Sustainable Packaging Coalition Spring 2014 Conference is heading to the home city of Super Bowl and sustainability champion, the Seattle Seahawks, this March 25 – 27th. While most of the celebration in Seattle last night and today surrounds their Super Bowl win over the Denver Broncos, sustainability professionals are celebrating the initiatives the team has undertaken in the realm of sustainability, especially as one of the founding members of the Green Sports Alliance.

The SPC is excited to be holding our conference at the home of the Seahawks and Mariners, Green Sports Alliance members often recognized for their commitment to sustainability. Conference attendees will have the opportunity to tour Safeco Field, home of the Mariners, for an inside look at some of the cutting edge waste diverting and recycling practices used.

We hope you will join us at the Conference. In the words of the Seahawks, come be the 12th man, and have an unparalleled impact on the game of sustainable packaging.

Explore the agenda and register for the SPC Spring Conference at http://conference.sustainablepackaging.org. Take advantage of the early bird registration rate, which ends this Wednesday, February 5th.

FTC Takes Landmark Enforcement Actions on Green Guides Violations

November 22nd, 2013

Originally posted on GreenBlue's In The Loop: http://www.greenblue.org/2013/11/ftc-takes-landmark-enforcement-actions-on-green-guides-violations/

A few weeks ago, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced enforcement actions against five companies making deceptive claims for biodegradable plastics, marking the FTC’s first action against biodegradable plastic claims since publishing their recently revised Green Guides. One of these companies, ECM Biofilms, Inc., is a biodegradable additive producer, while the other four, American Plastic Manufacturing, CHAMP, Clear Choice Housewares, Inc., and Carnie Cap, Inc., make and market plastic goods with biodegradable additives.

While each case varies, the FTC’s general assertions are that these companies market their plastics, or additives, as biodegradable in common disposal methods. The FTC found that their products do not degrade within normal disposal parameters, make claims without qualification, and do not have appropriate scientific testing to prove claims. One company in particular, ECM Biofilms, Inc., also used its own “Certificates of Biodegradability of Plastic Products” and provided deceptive marketing materials to distributors.

The FTC also announced an enforcement action against AJM Packaging Corporation, a paper goods company, in violation of a pre-existing 1994 consent order barring them from continued deceptive practices. According to the FTC, the company does not have scientific evidence or substantiation of their claims and as a result, imposed a $450,000 civil penalty for their violation.

The FTC’s enforcement extends to both on-package and off-package marketing claims. These actions bring up two crucial points: are biodegradable additives a sustainable solution and how do companies ensure they make accurate environmental marketing claims?

The FTC requires a product to biodegrade (break down completely and decompose into elements found in nature) within one year in common disposal settings (landfill, litter, or backyard compost) to make an unqualified claim. This has not been the case, as landfills are not designed for biodegradation and the products have failed to show biodegradation in any conditions during the required time frame.

All of this begs the question, are these additives actually a sustainable solution for petroleum based plastics? When they degrade, the environmental investment in the product is lost as recycling or waste to energy are no longer options. Further, when some of these materials are inevitably recycled, they contaminate the recycling stream and risk degrading the performance of the recycled resin.

Biodegradation and environmental marketing are complex issues. The Sustainable Packaging Coalition’s (SPC) previous study on Biodegradation in Landfills and Industry Leadership Committee on Meaningful Marketing Claims hope to clear up confusion and digest the complexity of these issues. The SPC’s How2Recycle Label also works to alleviate confusion around some of these issues by clearly communicating what to do with a package at end of use with clear on-package labeling.

For an easy read on some of the issues with biodegradables and compostables, take a look at a recent Ask Umbra article.

Celebrating America Recycle's Day with a Look at How2Recycle Label Milestones

Celebrating America Recycle's Day with a Look at How2Recycle Milestones

November 15th, 2013

3BL Flexible Media Release and GreenBlue Blog Post

http://www.greenblue.org/2013/11/celebrate-america-recycles-day-with-a-look-at-how2recycle-milestones/

http://3blmedia.com/News/CSR/Celebrating-America-Recycles-Day-Look-How2Recycle-Label-Milestones

On this America Recycles Day, GreenBlue’s Sustainable Packaging Coalition (SPC) celebrates America’s commitment to recycling by taking a look at How2Recycle Label milestones. Sustainability is a journey that relies on good design, accessible infrastructure, and consumer understanding of what, where, and how to recycle.

Sustainable Packaging Coalition member companies and staff identified a need for consistent on-package communication about recyclability of a package. Though consumers want to recycle, our studies found that many consumers are confused about what they can and cannot recycle, and desire clear recycling information on the package itself. The How2Recycle Label Program helps fix this problem by clearly communicating how and where certain materials should be recycled.

Packages donning the How2Recycle label first entered the market in December, 2011. Since then, How2Recycle has grown from 11 founding participants to 20 with more to be announced soon. Press releases and website updates in the coming weeks will unveil the exciting new participants that will move with How2Recycle into its third year. SPC staff estimate at least 600 different products with How2Recycle Labels will be on shelf by the end of the year.

SPC staff continue to build relationships with partner organizations and consumers to expand the program. This includes collaborative projects with the Flexible Films Recycling Group of the American Chemistry Council, ongoing interactions with government agencies, participation in critical industry conversations, and responding to feedback from consumers.

Through a How2Recycle survey, consumer testing, and social media feedback, the public has expressed their overwhelming support of the program and its participating companies. For example, when referring to how the label made them feel about the company using it, one respondent said, “The company is obviously trying to reduce their carbon footprint and I think that is awesome and commendable.” Another noted, “It shows me the company is taking an active interest in recycling for the future of sustainability and the environment.”

About 75% of survey respondents had a positive experience with the label and about 80% thought more positively of companies if they used How2Recycle. 85% of survey respondents found How2Recycle easy to understand, a critical goal of the program. According to one respondent, “More products should do this!! It takes away the guessing game out of recycling.” Another respondent showed the educational benefit of the label, “I didn’t know that in-store plastic bag drop-offs also accept other types of plastic package film, so now I will start recycling those.”

How2Recycle’s success would not be possible without the pioneering participating companies. Their commitment to clear and concise on-package recycling labels make them leaders in their industry. Melissa Craig of Kellogg’s notes: “Consumers need clear, concise communication when it comes to recycling, so materials that can be reclaimed don’t accidentally end up in landfills. This label helps ensure all packaging components are recycled as intended, to further reduce the environmental impact of our products and promote conservation.”

GreenBlue and the SPC look forward to another successful year helping consumers and companies fulfill their America Recycles Day pledges through the How2Recycle Label Program. Our goal is to have How2Recycle Labels on the majority of consumer-facing packaging by 2016.

Let us know what you’re doing for America Recycles Day, and what you think about our How2Recycle Label on Twitter @How2Recycle or @GreenBlueOrg!

The Consumer's Dilemma

November 1st, 2013

The New Belgium Clips Beer & Film Festival made a stop in Charlottesville, VA, on Sept. 13. New Belgium recruited GreenBlue to organize compost, recycling and trash services for the event. With the help of Republic Services and Black Bear Composting (www.blackbearcomposting.com), staff diverted more than 90 percent of waste at the event-but not without effort.

New Belgium aims for zero-waste events. Food vendors are required to use compostable packaging, and New Belgium serves beer in compostable cups. New Belgium also forges partnerships with local organizations in each city to connect to waste outlets. It is a model they replicate at each new location.

Attendees chose one of two actions: leave their waste on the ground for staff to clean up later or visit one of the two "divert and dispose" stations housing bins. At these stations, GreenBlue helped hundreds of attendees select, or reselect, the correct bins. Each "divert and dispose" station had detailed signs to which we taped packaging examples.

GreenBlue staff are seasoned pros at waste diversion, yet, considerable time was spent confirming compostability or recyclability of foodservice items and helping attendees make the right choice. Even some of the seasoned pros in attendance selected the wrong bin.

We rely on consumers to make correct and informed choices everyday for us to retain the inherent value in packaging and close the loop. They are a crucial piece in the life cycle of packaging. However, as became fully evident at this event, we do not make it easy on them.

It is not always easy for consumers to figure out what materials make up a package, especially in dim festival lighting after a beer or two. The "which bin?" dilemma is compounded by recycling myths, new or unfamiliar materials, poor labeling, unclear instructions, lack of infrastructure and the desire to "just get rid of it."

While we spend a considerable amount of our lives on packaging, consumers do not. For the consumer to do the right thing, the packaging industry has to make it possible-and easy. For example, recycled content requires recycled materials, which requires consumers to recycle, which requires clear communication to consumers, which requires access to recycling, which requires recycling infrastructure, which requires recycling markets, and so on.

Many organizations and initiatives hope to solve at least a piece of this dilemma. SPC's own How2Recycle (www.how2recycle.info) label and other project work are among them. However, broad scale changes are necessary to achieve closed-loop systems and move society toward a sustainable materials economy. It is no short task, but a journey; one that GreenBlue and the Sustainable Packaging Coalition look forward to tackling with the industry. In the coming months, SPC will embark upon a new initiative to give new life to this process.

Connecting with "the consumer's dilemma" and seeing how difficult it was to work towards the zero waste goal at this small event was a great way for GreenBlue to experience these issues firsthand.

The real-world situation proved exciting, interesting and informative, and demonstrated that opportunities in packaging innovation that make closing the loop easier for consumers abound.

Author Danielle Peacock is project associate at GreenBlue's Sustainable Packaging Coalition. For more information about the SPC, visit www.sustainablepackaging.org.

The Consumer's Dilemma [REPOST]

The Consumer's Dilemma

November 1st, 2013

http://www.packagingdigest.com/article/523867-The_consumer_s_dilemma.php

Also published in Packaging Digest November 2013 print edition

5 ways companies are making packaging more sustainable [REPOST]

5 ways companies are making packaging more sustainable

October 11th, 2013

http://goo.gl/qxXbYW

Featured article on GreenBiz.com homepage

A Lifetime of Patience

A Lifetime of Patience September 4th, 2013

After a lifetime of waiting, custodian of the University of Queensland Pitch Drop Experiment died without witnessing a drop. Professor John Mainstone died in August at the age of 78.

Mainstone served as custodian for the UQ experiment for 52 years. A series of unfortunate timings, including a trip for coffee and a failed webcam, prevented him from witnessing a drop.

The UQ Pitch Drop Experiment is thought to be the longest running experiment in the world. In July, a similar experiment at Trinity College caught a pitch drop on film for the first time. Here’s hoping that Mainstone had a chance to watch the video.

Plastic Numbers Get a Makeover [REPOST]

Plastic Numbers Get a Makeover August 13th, 2013

http://www.greenblue.org/2013/08/the-plastic-numbers-get-a-makeover

Also re-published in Packaging Digest Newsletter:

http://goo.gl/RExhTK

Carbon Neutral Wine, Without Compromise

Repost from GreenBlue's Blog, In the Loophttp://www.greenblue.org/2013/07/carbon-neutral-wine-without-compromise/

“What we’ve really tried to do here is produce great wine, which is something we are not willing to compromise on but do it slightly differently…” – Simon Back

The National Academy of Sciences expects climate change to shift wine producing regions over the next 40 years. While vineyards like Backsberg Estate in South Africa seek to prevent and mitigate some of these impacts, a red Bordeaux or a Napa Chardonnay may eventually be a thing of the past.

Backsberg Estate is South Africa’s first carbon neutral vineyard. As Living on Earth recently reported, Backsberg’s goal is to continue producing great wine, with a few adaptations. To reach this goal, Backsberg conducted a carbon audit on farming and winemaking activities. Some of their activities include planting trees for carbon sequestration, diversifying crops, and producing biodiesel on-site.

This climate shift could be bad news for my hometown of Charlottesville, VA. As part of the Monticello American Viticultural Area, local vineyards draw tourists and locals alike. Not only do we enjoy our Viogniers, but concerts and gatherings at local vineyards are a way of life. I wonder how our local varietals and wineries will be impacted?

After Years of Waiting, the Pitch Drops

July 23rd, 2013

It’s slower than molasses in January or watching grass grow.

After an extreme exercise in patience, the pitch finally dropped in Trinity College’s “Pitch Drop” experiment. Nobel Prize winner Ernest Walton began the experiment at Trinity College in 1944 to prove the viscous nature of pitch. The event marks the first time that a pitch drop was caught on camera.

Professor Thomas Parnell of University of Queensland began a similar experiment in 1927, which ran through 8 drops and is working its way towards a 9th. It is thought to be the longest running active experiment. Despite two multi-decade experiments, no pitch drop was caught on camera until this month. A webcam malfunction in 2000 prevented the video capture of the 8th drop at University of Queensland. Multiple live webcams now track the Queensland experiment, which is poised to drop soon.

For more fascinating coverage of the Pitch Drop Experiment, check out Radiolab episode Never Quite Now.

The "Plastic Numbers" Get a Makeover

July 12th, 2013

Resin Identification Codes (RICs), also known as the “plastic numbers” or “recycling numbers” are getting a makeover.

Contrary to popular belief, a RIC does not equal “recyclable”. RICs are plastic identification codes developed in 1988 by SPI. The goal of RICs were to assist recyclers in identifying their materials. They were never intended as a consumer communication tool. However, they quickly adapted to the ubiquitous “recycling numbers”. Consumer testing continues to show that RICs confuse consumers and they do not understand their meaning.

RICs became an ASTM International standard in 2008. ASTM uses industry consensus via subcommittees to develop standards.

To decouple resin identification from recycling labeling, ASTM International Subcommittee D20.95 on Recycled Plastics approved a switch from chasing arrows to a triangle.

But not so fast.

RICs are required by law in 39 states. Herein lies a speedbump. Each state writes statute in their own way with their own requirements. Many specifically require numbers with chasing arrows and specific letters.

While the international standard changed, state laws did not. It may take some time before consumers see the change. In the meanwhile, companies must navigate between fulfilling the different state statutes or following the new ASTM standard.

Concurrently, GreenBlue’s How2Recycle label continues to take off. How2Recycle is an on-package recycling label that provides clear recycling instructions to consumers. We anticipate great growth and exciting announcements in the near future.

#recycling #how2recycle #plastic

Kroger Buys Harris Teeter

July 10, 2013

Yesterday, Kroger announced a $2.4 billion buy of North Carolina based grocery store Harris Teeter. The buy adds a high-end grocery store known for fresh produce and prepared foods to the Kroger portfolio. Kroger's geographic presence also increases in the acquisition of Harris Teeter's mid-atlantic and southeast stores, which it sees as a high-growth area.

The buy out was the subject of conversation with many of my friends yesterday. As a native of the southeast, I have high brand loyalty to Harris Teeter. Many that I spoke with were concerned that their beloved Teeters would convert to Krogers.

But that doesn't seem to be the case, much to our relief. Kroger, like many parent companies, owns a portfolio of stores from Fred Meyer to Ralphs. Communications thus far imply that Kroger will maintain the Harris Teeter name, employees, and growth plan. Kroger hopes to benefit from Harris Teeter's current market, and Harris Teeter hopes to benefit from Kroger's purchasing power. That's an arrangement that we all can appreciate.

This is a common theme across industries, which we see reflected at the Sustainable Packaging Coalition. Membership is based on the parent company. Once the company joins, all business units become members. Parent companies range from centralized control to highly independent business units to a combination of both. Acquisitions change our membership composition and revenues, and require a deeper dive in to who owns whom and how we can best work with the parent companies or business units.

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Danielle Peacock