The Next “R” in the Sustainable Triad: Reuse
A few months ago, we introduced the concept of material reduction in the development of sustainable packaging and labeling (material reduction). It is the first element of the “Reduce – Reuse – Recycle” fundamentals we are all aware of. This month we talk about ‘reuse’ of packaging and packaging elements as a strategy to achieve […]
Designing Packaging to Optimize Recyclability
We are all in agreement about recycling everything we can for a healthier world and conservation of resources. Recycling is a key element of an overall circular economy strategy. This is as true for packaging as any other consumable. Yet despite our best efforts, not every package we target for recycling gets recycled. There are […]
Label Material Reduction: A Case of “Less Is More”
Reduce – Reuse – Recycle It’s highly likely you’ve heard this mantra sometime in the past ten years as the U.S. and the world work toward more environmentally-friendly ways of living and doing business. It’s a simple way of looking at a complex issue. And it’s a great place to start when developing a sustainable […]
Package Recycling: Making Sure It Happens
Everybody is talking about sustainability lately. It’s certainly a buzzword in commerce, and companies are clamoring to communicate how ‘environmentally-friendly’ their processes and products are. But what does it really mean to be ‘sustainable?’ Let’s take a look at it from a packaging perspective, since that’s our business! We at AWT have recently developed a […]
SMI = A Lot Less to Worry About
Managing a business provides a lot of things to worry over. There’s the continual pressure to meet short delivery deadlines; the fretting over cost increases; and the concern for the overall health of the business, to name just a few. Carrying large finished goods or component inventories has its own unique set of business issues […]
Large Label Challenges
Achieving a perfect label application to a complex package can be challenging, especially for larger labels that cover more package real estate. This application scenario was no exception. There were two bottle sizes: 70 and 128 oz. Both were experiencing the same issues. Multiple factors came into play to hamper the application process, some known […]
Digital vs. Flexography: What is the Right Printing Process for Your Labels?
“I don’t care if my labels come out of a cereal box, as long as they look as expected, perform properly, and meet my price point.” We’ve actually heard some customers and prospects say things similar to the above. And this attitude does have some merit when you think about it. If the customer is […]
Supply Chain Challenges
Nearly every aspect of our lives has been affected by one or more supply chain issues recently. Whether it is the decrease in the supply of oil and it’s effect on gas prices, or the shortages of many consumer goods, we’re all aware of how interconnected the world has become. And it seems like every […]
Understanding the Total Applied Cost of Label Procurement
The traditional approach to purchasing product labels is to obtain price quotations from an approved vendor list, and then select the supplier with the lowest cost per thousand. Other factors such as timing and experience with the vendor might come into play, but generally the key determining factor is price per thousand. It’s simple, straight […]
