An Opportunity to Make it More Than Just a Bag
A recent YP Talk article (link) presented an interesting focus on an often over-looked product – the plastic bag in which print Yellow Pages are delivered.
The article covers opportunities for publishers in three areas – the functionality of the bags, the branding messages the bags can have, and the green/environmental aspects. It is that last one item that is the subject of this commentary.
We all know plastic bags in general have become a huge environmental issue. A separate website has even been set up (click here) regarding them and nearly every food store/supermarket has begun programs to either eliminate bags in favor of reusable bags, or has strongly encouraged recycling of old bags (one example).
The newest opportunity for Yellow Page publishers is to consider the use of new post-consumer recycled bags (plastics recovered from a previous use and remanufactured). “Post-consumer resin” is a term used to describe material that has been reused or recycled after it has been in the consumer’s hands. This could include plastic products such as beverage/food containers, agricultural use plastic sheeting or retail bags. The use of Post-consumer plastic content in a flexible packaging product offers several advantages:
- A portion of the raw material used to make a Polyethylene bag (starting at 30 to 50 percent) is derived from recovered plastic. The use of non-renewable natural gas and/or oil is reduced.
- Purchasing post-consumer resin helps support the entire recycling process and helps create jobs in North America. Materials must be collected, sorted and reprocessed back into usable recycled plastic resin.
- Raw materials such as plastic are diverted away from landfill locations. Valuable land is saved and energy contained within the plastic is recovered.
- Post-Consumer plastic materials can also be recycled again back into finished plastic products.
“We have a range of products which are truly greener than many of the options publishers are currently using” was what we were told by Peter Taylor at Discovery Packaging. Not only that, “we are ready to work with publishers to help them redesign their bags to reduce the amount of plastics they are using” Taylor continued.
But Discovery is not stopping there. “We introduced our first ‘green’ film as a start. By mid to late 2008 we plan to introduce a new line of sustainable bio-based films made using raw materials derived from corn, switch-grass or sugarcane. As effective film alternatives are identified and developed we plan to offer these to our customers. We look forward to working with publishers on these new eco-friendlier products”
Taylor makes several good points:
- Use post-consumer recycled materials
- Cut down on the size of the bag and/or reduce the gauge of the bag to use less plastics- Consider switching to new “green” film
- Communicate to the users what you are doing in your publisher efforts that are eco-oriented
Publishers do have options. Discovery Packaging is certainly one of them they should consider.
