We’ve all heard the ‘tip of the iceberg’ analogy for explaining how there is more to a given subject than meets the eye. A Sustainability Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) can help reveal environmental impacts, both positive and negative, of a package or label beyond its primary sustainable traits.  In fact, an LCA can be run for nearly any manufactured product, but we’ll stick to labels & packaging since that’s our business.  In this first of posts on Life Cycle Assessment, we’ll explore the basics of an LCA and what information can be gleaned from the exercise.

LCA takes five primary elements or processes in the life of a label or package into account, and provides a framework for some questions you can ask:

• Raw Materials
• Raw Material Transport
• Production
• Distribution
• End of Life

Raw Materials considers raw components of a product.  Are any of the materials renewable? Does the extraction of the material cause excessive emissions or endanger water tables or ecosystems?

Raw Material Transport examines the modes of transport for the materials.  Is the raw material required located a great distance from the plant that will be using it?  Does the material take up a great deal of space in shipping, requiring more trips over time than alternative materials?

Production looks at the manufacturing and fabrication. Does the production of the product use a lot of energy or water?  Are there harmful byproducts in the production process?

Distribution considers how the finished product will get to the customer. It factors in many of the same variables as Raw Materials Transport.

Finally, End of Life looks at disposition of the product. Is it recyclable?  Reusable?

To illustrate, let’s consider the example of a flexible package that is composed of 100% recyclable materials. That this package can be recycled and not end up in a landfill is the primary beneficial trait of the package.  But an LCA can reveal benefits not so obvious.  For example, flexible packaging generally takes less water to manufacture than rigid packaging designed for the same purpose (Production).

From a distribution perspective, finished flexible packaging takes up MUCH less space in transport than rigid packaging.  Extrapolating out over a given time, the fuel savings of shipping flexible packages compared to the same quantity of rigid packages will be substantial. We’re using less fuel, which in and of itself is a good thing, but by doing so we’re also reducing the amount of carbon emissions into the atmosphere. Another ‘hidden’ benefit. See our post linked here. Save Green with Flexible Packaging.

All the above information has been presented in very general terms.  A formal LCA will provide much more specific feedback and give detail to material and packaging comparisons so better decisions can be made.

We will explore the process of conducting a formal LCA in the next installment of the series.

Would you like to take a closer look at life cycle assessments for your own packaging and/or labeling strategy?  AWT and our supplier partners can help you make more informed decisions regarding sustainable options for your program.

Summer is officially underway, and everything is ‘greening up’ outside.  Some businesses experience a little slow down in summer, and that may be a great time to take stock of packaging strategies.  A packaging audit can help identify areas of strengths and weakness in your strategy and reveal opportunities to improve performance.  In this “season of green”, it may be beneficial to examine your packaging strategy from a sustainable perspective.

The Three R’s

An easy way to conduct a simple sustainable audit is to look at your packaging related to the three R’s of eco-friendly packaging: Reduce; Reuse; Recycle.

Some packaging processes can benefit from an audit by revealing older and possibly inefficient ways of doing things.  You know – the organizational inertia that says, “we do it this way because that’s the way we’ve always done it!”  Maybe there is room for improvement.

Look at all your packaging, including consumer-facing (retail), bulk shipping product to retail, etc.

• Is there opportunity to reduce the amount of packaging? If your goal is material reduction, would a thinner substrate for a package label still function properly while accomplishing your sustainable objectives? If this is not possible with the label, can the liner thickness be reduced?  In a shrink-sleeve scenario, maybe you can move from a 50 micron film to a 45 micron option.
• How much packaging can be reused – either by consumers or suppliers? For example, Blueland Cleaning Products makes spray packaging consumers can reuse by filling the empty bottle with water and adding a Blueland concentrate tablet to create the cleaning solution.  And there is the example of HP ink cartridges that are refillable.
• Are the materials being used for your packaging recyclable, or recycle-ready? There has been a lot of development around recyclable label materials over the past few years, producing many more options for a variety of packaging.  AWT offers many of these.

If you begin looking at your packaging strategy through the filter of the three R’s, you may discover a lot of areas where improvements can be made.  For example: You may have flexible packaging that is produced with older material specs that may be able to be replaced by a recyclable/recycle-ready material (recycle!).

Additional Green Stuff

Evaluating packaging with the three R’s in mind will get you thinking about efficiency, especially when regarding material reduction strategies.  There are more non-material things you can do to gain efficiency and bolster a sustainable program. For example, did you know a supplier managed inventory (SMI) program is a sustainable production method?  Think of it this way: Putting packaging production on an SMI track can prevent large inventories of packaging with obsolete messaging or graphics.

Other production methods can also reap sustainable benefits. Packaging with similar color attributes can run concurrently on one press in certain situations.  Combining two press runs into one has obvious sustainable benefits.

AWT’s experts can help with a more detailed audit of your current packaging and put your strategy on a greener path.  But this simple audit exercise can help get the gears in motion.

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 a sustainable program.  Nearly every consumer goods package produced today is a ‘single-use’ package.  It will hold a product a consumer will purchase at retail, and then be discarded when the packaging is emptied. In a best-case scenario, all or some of the package components will be recycled.

But what if instead of being discarded, with no guarantee that it will not end up in a landfill, or worse, one of the world’s oceans, it provided additional function to the consumer?  That is the main subject of an article published in 2019 by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation – Reuse: Rethinking Packaging¹.  There are four reuse models examined, and while these models do not apply to all consumer packaging, they do provide strategies to remove a large amount of packaging from single-use life cycles.

The Four Reuse Models

• Refill at Home
• Return from Home
• Refill On-the-Go
• Return On-the-Go

Refill at Home: Consumers will refill a reusable container at home.  For example, the ‘primary’ first purchase package could be a more rigid construction with durable branding and labeling elements.  The refill packages purchased later can consist of ‘lighter’ and more readily recycled material intended to get the product home for refilling the primary.  Concentrated product can also be purchased in much smaller quantities (and smaller packaging) to mix with water in the primary package.

Return from Home:  Consumers use the product, and then the packaging is picked up from home by a logistics firm or other designated service. This model would be comparable to services currently available for propane tanks for home grills.  The ‘packaging’ would be different, but the concept would be the same.  Imagine a service that would deliver economy-size detergents that would dispense product with a built-in tap.  Consumers could leave the empty for a service to swap out a refilled dispensing container.

AWT utilizes a similar model in a business-to-business (B2B) setting. We deliver rolls of pressure-sensitive labels to various customers in a specialized reusable corrugated container. Once our customer uses the labels, the containers can be folded flat and returned to AWT on a pallet via parcel delivery service to be reused.

Refill On-the-Go: Consumers would bring their empty containers to a retail establishment to be refilled. We see examples of this already where spring water is made available at retail, and consumers can bring custom refill packaging of various sizes.   The concept is also in practice for grains, flour, and other bulk cooking/baking staples.

Return On-the-Go: Consumers return the packaging at a designated store drop-off point such as a deposit return machine or receptacle.  If you are old enough to remember returning pop bottles to a supermarket for a refund of your deposit, you understand this model.  Reusable containers are cleaned, refilled, and sold again at retail until it is determined the package can no longer be reused.

All four reuse models have sustainable benefits:

• Less material is used to create packaging, reducing energy use and transportation needs.
• Less packaging is introduced to the system, meaning less packaging directed to landfills or otherwise improperly discarded.
• Overall reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) and other harmful emissions due to the reduced production of packaging and transportation required.

There are some assumptions made in the above models, and as we have said in previous blogs, we are not quite there on an infrastructure basis for all these models to work perfectly.  These are solutions that will become more available as consumer education and adoption continue to make progress. The experts at AWT are a great resource as you look for ways to make your packaging strategy more sustainable.

Look for the 3^rd installment of our series “Reduce – Reuse – Recycle” focused on recycling later this year.

¹For further reading, please see the document available on the Ellen MacArthur Foundation web site – Reuse: Rethinking Packaging linked here: Article Link

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 a couple things at work here:

1. The process to recycle some packaging expends more energy than would be utilized to produce new items of the same material composition – yielding a net negative environmental impact
2. Separability, cleanliness, and other issues prevent some packaging from being recycled at all because there is no ‘stream’ to accommodate it

We all hope new technology can develop a ‘universal’ recycling stream, capable of accepting a wide range of consumables, and recycling parts and components into new raw materials. We are obviously not there yet. But we can ensure more packaging does end up being recycled by making some smarter choices in the design phase.

Every package is going to be different, of course, due to the market application and what is required performance-wise. But in general, package design for recycling should take the following into consideration:

• The packaging components are recyclable by current technologies, and the process yields a material acceptable to secondary markets for new products
• The packaging is easily sorted by current recycling facilities so that it can be directed to the proper stream
• The packaging print and secondary labeling informs consumers that it is recyclable, and indicates any steps the consumer needs to take in order to facilitate proper recycling (like delivering the packaging to a specific location, separating a label from the package, etc.).

A major hinderance to recycling is the mix of components that make up a package. All these component materials may be recyclable on their own, but not when combined in a package unit. Again, depending on what the package is intended to do, combining components may be necessary. But when possible, these design guidelines can help ensure recycling takes place:

• Avoiding material combinations that hinder sorting, like plastics combined with other materials such as paper and metal.
• Selecting plastic materials that are easily recycled. These include high and low-density polyethylene (HDPE, LDPE) and PET
• Minimizing the use of dyes in plastic – this increases the value of the recycled material, and the chances that the material will be used again
• Designing with ‘recycle-friendly’ secondary materials – Adhesives and coatings that wash away are examples of this.

Doing the work at the front end of the process will yield more packaging capable of being recycled. There are more specific things that can be done depending upon your marketing and sustainability goals.  Our experts can help – right from the start!

REDUCE – REUSE – RECYCLE

It’s highly likely you’ve heard these terms 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 packaging strategy:

Reduce, where possible, the amount of material used to create packaging

Reuse whatever you can – from finished products to process waste materials

Recycle those packaging materials that can be recycled

Generally, the focus has been on recycling. It’s a process most people are familiar with, and there’s a tangible metric that can be recognized; like XX tons of material recycled annually.  But the first leg of this sustainable triad – Reduce – can often provide the biggest “bang-for-the-buck” when it comes to sustainable packaging.  After all, material not involved in the production of packaging will never need to be reused or recycled.  Pretty basic, right?

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)

Life Cycle Assessment is a technique to assess environmental impacts associated with all the stages of the life cycle of a commercial product, process or service. In the case of a manufactured product – like a label or package – the LCA examines everything from raw material extraction, processing, product manufacture, distribution, and final use. You can learn more about LCA here.

Here’s a brief, high-level LCA to demonstrate the impacts made by a label material reduction strategy.

Consider a packaging label used to decorate a bottle of your favorite beverage.  This label covers a specific area (Length x width) of the package. Now let’s say we were to make some minor adjustments to the label size, making it just a little bit smaller.   There may be little change in the package visually as a result of this alteration, but the benefits could be many:

At the print stage, the label takes up less space on a press.  In the case of a flexographic print scenario, this may allow for one more label to run across the width of the web, resulting in a reduction of the material needed to produce the same number of labels. The length of the entire press run will go down.

Let’s make an adjustment to further reduce the material used by employing a ‘thinner’ material for our label (called ‘down-gauging’). Again, the change will be hard to recognize on the finished package, but from a sustainability standpoint there’s a payoff.  A thinner label stock requires less raw material to create, whether it’s synthetic film or paper. That’s a win right out of the gate.  In the finishing process, the thinner material will allow more labels to be wound to the same roll diameter specification as a thicker label.  Sustainability gains are realized right down the line.

Label Material Reduction: Collateral Benefits

Less material has been used – Reduction in materials consumed will result in a proportional reduction in waste generated.  There less material that needs to be recycled at all, or that will end up in a landfill.

Less transport packaging is needed – With fewer rolls required to yield the same number of labels, fewer shipping cartons will be required.  That many fewer cartons will need to be recycled or potentially end up in a landfill.

Shipments will weigh less – Since the number of cartons has been reduced, the amount weight transported will decrease is well. That means every truck shipment will be more efficient, and fewer trips will be needed to deliver the same number of labels.

Reduction in fuel used – Fewer deliver trips will result in less use of finite fossil fuels.  Less fuel burned in combustion means a reduction of CO2 released into the atmosphere – a good thing indeed.

You can imagine the sustainable gains made when you extrapolate the above scenario out over a couple of years.  Just think of the environmental benefits of doing this to an entire product line, or when more and more brands do the same thing.

But wait, there’s more!

Taken a step further; let’s assume the material we’re using is tree based – either paper fiber or a tree-based synthetic film.  The trees left out of the equation (don’t get cut down!) in our reduction scenario are still doing their thing by soaking up CO2 in the atmosphere.  Yay trees!

If you’re looking to move toward more sustainable packaging but not sure where to start, consider label material reduction options. The experts at AWT can help with this, and all the other sustainable options for your label and packaging needs.

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 flexible package which meets many sustainability requirements.  Primarily, this package is capable of being recycled, allowing the plastic material to be used again as another package or something else.  So you’d assume that once the “recycle ready” package has served its purpose and is ready to be discarded, you could plop it into a recycling receptacle and all would be right with the world.  That would be wonderful, but we’re not quite there yet!  Here’s why.

It’s a local thing

Recycling is a process handled largely at the municipal level in the U.S. by local material recycling facilities (MRFs).  Without getting too deep into the complexities of single and multi-stream MRF processes, there are very specific materials that can be handled by each facility. Materials outside of the capabilities of a given facility will sometimes be sent to a secondary sort facility, where a broader range of recyclable materials can be handled. But just as often, the first facility is the last stop before remaining materials are sent to landfills, unless the package recycle status is clearly identified.

Go with the flow – in the right stream, that is.

So our package needs to be ‘directed’ to the proper stream in order for it to live up to its recyclable claim.  The end user, which in the case of our package will be a consumer, will need instructions as to how this package should be prepared, and where it should go in order for it to be recycled.  Fortunately there are a good number of excellent resources providing this direction. One of these standards is How2Recycle (www.how2recycle.info). This organization has developed a standardized labeling system to clearly communicate recycling instructions to the public. Depending on the package type and the material composition, How2Recycle will provide the necessary instruction to get the package into the proper recycling stream.  Take our plastic flexible pouch, for example. Ultimately one of our customers will employ this pouch as a package for one of their consumer products.  After going through the process to have this package evaluated, and assuming they have gone through the necessary steps to become a How2Recycle member, they will be provided with a graphic similar to this to be printed on the package.*

As you can see, this graphic clearly indicates to the consumer that the package will need to be cleaned and dried prior to being introduced into the recycling stream.  It also informs the consumer that ‘Store Drop-off’ is the preferred destination to ensure the package gets into its proper stream. Obviously this label only applies to bags made of plastic, but there are labels pertaining to metal cans; glass bottles and jars; paper packaging; and most other conventional packaging methods.

Eventually we’ll get there

This seems like a lot to have to do in order to ensure a package gets recycled.  But consider how far recycling technology has come, and the benefits of recycling to our environment.  Most consumers have no problem doing what they can in order to ensure a healthier planet, and will gladly participate if they know what to do.  It will be nice when the technology advances to the point that anything capable of being recycled can all be sent to one process, but until then we need to all pitch in.

AWT offers a variety of sustainable materials capable of being recycled, as well as compostable and bio-degradable materials.  Our experts can help you decide which options are right for your packaging strategy, and make sure you are communicating the sustainable benefits of your package and/or label.  Visit our web site for more information about sustainability options – www.awtlabelpack.com

*Only members of ‘how2recycle.info’ who have submitted package specifications can feature the label on their package.

Tips for a Smooth MDR Transition

Historically, companies selling implantable medical devices in Europe have not been required to provide patients with device-specific information. In the event of a medical emergency, not having immediate access to this critical information predisposes the patient to a variety of unnecessary operational risks.

That changed with the European Medical Devices Regulation (MDR) modifications approved by European Council and European Parliament in 2017.   These modifications expose the risks to Europeans receiving implantable medical devices without traceability of device-specific information. To address this major concern, Article 18 states that over the next three years, any implantable device being sold into Europe will be required to print specific manufacturer and device information onto an “implant card”, which will then be given to the patient/recipient.  This will allow the recipient to have immediate access to critical and potentially life-saving information.

Medical Device Resource Group member BSi, notes that this modified MDR, which replaces two previous directives 1, addresses concerns over the assessment of product safety and performance by placing stricter requirements on clinical evaluation and post-market clinical follow-up, and requiring better traceability of devices through the supply chain.

To aid understanding, we organized the requirements of Article 18 into three sections:

1. Manufacturer Information
   1. Identification information of the device, including the device name, serial number, lot number, the UDI, the device model, as well as the name, address and the website of the manufacturer
   2. Any warnings, precautions or measures to be taken by the patient or a healthcare professional with regard to reciprocal interference with reasonably foreseeable external influences, medical examinations or environmental conditions
   3. Any information about the expected lifetime of the device and any necessary follow-up
   4. Any additional information to ensure safe use of the device by the patient
   5. Printed at time of product development
2. Device Information
   1. Information specific to the implanted device itself
   2. Member States “Countries” shall require health institutions to make the information available referred to in MDR Article 18, by any means that allow rapid access to that information, to any patients who have been implanted with the device, together with the implant card, which shall bear their identity.This information is printed on-site at the manufacturer prior to device distribution. The experts at AWT are ready to help identify the correct structures and materials needed to print specific device information with Zebra printers or any other internal printing operation/process used by manufacturers.
3. Exemptions: The following implants are exempted from the new requirements: sutures, staples, dental fillings, dental braces, tooth crowns, screws, wedges, plates, wires, pins, clips and connectors. However, the Commission is empowered to adopt changes to this list by adding other types of implants to it or by removing implants therefrom.

Patient Implant Card

Patient information, such as contact information specific to the patient receiving the device is handwritten or printed on the implant card by one of the hospital’s medical professionals. It’s worth noting that the materials selected for the implant card’s production should be able to support smudge-free pen or printers.

In conclusion, the new European Union Medical Devices Regulations (MDR) requirements are critical to ensure the safety of the patient as well as the general traceability of the implantable device.  Hopefully, this breakdown helped provide a baseline understanding of the new requirements as well as expectations of the information that will need to be provided.

Contact the experts at AWT Labels & Packaging to get started on your implantable device patient card projects. Please consult with your Regulatory Affairs department about how to comply with the regulation.

1 (Medical Devices Directive (93/42/EEC) and Active Implantable Medical Devices Directive (90/385/EEC)

Shrink continues to grow! Use of Shrink-sleeve labeling is poised to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.2% until 2025.*  It’s a cost-effective way to decorate complex shaped packaging, and utilizes the full 360° of the container.  Shrink-sleeves add a lot of shelf impact to brand packaging.

So what are the trends in the world of shrink-sleeves?  Here are some things our experts have identified as potential drivers of shrink-sleeve appeal in the near future.

Eye “CANdy”

Take a closer look at some of the canned beers and premium sodas on the market.  You’ll notice a good number that appear direct printed but are actually decorated with shrink-sleeves.  Small to mid-size companies often cannot afford the cost of buying large stocks of pre-printed cans, given the high minimum quantity requirements. Because of this, many are opting to purchase smaller volumes of blank cans and decorate them with shrink-sleeves. In addition to being an economical packaging option, shrink-sleeves provide some versatility in decoration. Blank cans decorated with sleeves allow smaller companies to easily switch between brands or varieties. And the shelf-appeal of sleeved cans is turning heads.

Looking Good – Naturally!

As the technology advances, sustainable shrink materials like PLA will become more prevalent and cost-effective.  PLA (Poly-lactic Acid) is a corn-based material, so it comes from a renewable resource and decreases dependence on petroleum-based raw materials.  It is also compostable, so these labels don’t end life as solid waste in a landfill.

Upside-down Is In

Shrink-sleeves are a great decoration option for those liquid products that’ve turned the package on its head – think Heinz Ketchup and all manner of shampoo and conditioner products. It’s not only a practical way to deliver liquid products, but also an eye-catching package presentation.  More products will undoubtedly migrate to this top-down package configuration to take advantage of gravity, and shrink-sleeves will most-likely be the decoration of choice for many.

Health & Wellness

There are a LOT of healthy food and drink choices on the market, and new ones are appearing every day. These products need a good deal of space to make their nutritional claims and to list their dietary benefits. And let’s not forget the ingredient and other regulatory information required in this sector. Shrink-sleeves provide a lot of package real estate on which to print all of this, along with the branding and consumer appeals that marketing demands.  If you need more room, think shrink!

There’s a Cover Up!

Beverage companies struggle at times with pre-printed can and bottle inventory which has become obsolete for any number of reasons. A recent trend has seen these companies turn to shrink-sleeves to ‘cover-up’ the existing decoration and outdated verbiage.  Rather than having to discard obsolete packaging and swallow the loss, the cans or bottles get new life with shrink-sleeve decoration.

Let the experts at AWT tell you more about shrink-sleeves and how you can add some pop to your packaging.

*Research and Markets (www.researchandmarkets.com)

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 to keep you up at night. Managing inventory can tax an organization in a number of ways, and steal time and effort which could be better used toward building the business.

Cash-to-Cash

If you are not familiar with the term ‘cash-to-cash’, it is quite simply the time interval between the point a product is paid for, and the time payment is received from your customer for the goods delivered.  A company’s ‘cash-to-cash’ situation is negatively impacted when paying for production runs of items that are shipped to you and placed in your inventory.  Payment is made either when the product is shipped or in accordance with the credit terms established.  In the case of an overseas supplier, the product may not be delivered for weeks.  Factor in the time it takes to transport the goods from the entry port; convert the final product; deliver it to the end customer; and finally receive payment and you’ve tied up a lot of money with no return potentially for months instead of weeks.

Consider these additional drawbacks to holding inventory:

• Physical space within an organization’s facility needs to be dedicated to store standing inventories. This space may be better served as production area.
• Internally-managed inventory requires a lot more employee time and effort to administer than Supplier Managed Inventory.

Supplier Managed Inventory (SMI) can remove some of these worries!

A SMI program is not going to solve ALL your business problems, but it can improve cash-flow and reduce the number of things you need to focus on.  Quite simply, SMI relieves businesses of the burdens associated with ordering and managing large inventories.  A typical SMI program calculates an organization’s total finished goods quantity requirements on a part by part basis over a set time-frame, and then determines a schedule for the production and delivery of smaller quantities of those items at established intervals.

A well designed and managed SMI program has many benefits, including but not limited to the following:

• Next day delivery of parts included in the SMI inventory.
• Driving out the costs associated with standing inventory, like administration, over-ordering and product/part obsolescence
• Reduction of the total cost of ownership (TCO), encompassing the acquisition; transport; storage; financial accounting; and labor devoted to the oversight of large standing inventories
• Improved cash-flow – Qualified businesses do not pay for inventory until it is shipped to them.
• The supplier has more efficient production options – In the case of a label printer, for example, similar size labels can be produced together in a production run. This can further enhance cost savings to the customer

Labels, Packaging and SMI go Hand-in-Hand

Label and package printing are areas where end users can readily benefit from SMI programs. Graphics and text on labels and packaging are constantly changing.  When shorter production runs are occurring at set intervals, these changes can be made at a point where little or no existing inventory is deemed obsolete by the altered graphics or text copy.

SMI programs are custom-tailored to each specific business, according to that business’s particular operational usage patterns. The goal is to go from ordering large amounts of inventory a few times a year based on longer business cycles, to a scenario where smaller amounts are delivered on a ‘just-in-time’ schedule at more frequent intervals. Whether that is semi-monthly, monthly, or weekly all depends on how the business will be best served.  Automation ‘triggers’ can be set to alert customers when inventory on hand is low, or to automatically order more of the depleted stock.

There’s a lot more to SMI and the benefits it can provide any business which currently carries large standing inventories. We at AWT Labels & Packaging would appreciate an opportunity to evaluate your current inventory model, and demonstrate the benefits an of an SMI program.  We’ve become an industry leader in deploying SMI programs for our own customers unique labeling and packaging strategies, and we’re currently managing over 50 such programs. We’re ‘experts’ in giving you fewer things to worry about, and giving you back time and resources you can invest in more valuable pursuits.

Packaging is having some fun lately. Nowhere is that more evident than in the Beer, Wine and Spirits sector.  Among the growing number of craft producers in these markets are companies fearlessly breaking the mold when it comes to branding, marketing and traditional rules for what goes on a label.  Just look at some of the names on craft beers lately and you’ll get the idea. Brands like “Robohop” and “Geriatric Hipster Club” are just a couple, the likes of which you would have never seen or heard of even 15 years ago. So it should come as no surprise these brands want a unique package to go along with their personal style.

Here’s the skinny on what’s hot when it comes to decorating packaging in this arena:

What’s New is Old.., Looking

Appearing old and established is definitely a trend in this sector.  Many of these brands are choosing specialty paper stocks to provide a weathered or ‘distressed’ look.  Rough finishes are being used to add a tactile aspect to the label, further enhancing consumers’ experience with the package.  Specialty label stocks, inks and coatings are all ways to pull off this effect. Vintage and established is the intended message, and the look is a little more subdued and laid back.

Glossy Is Good

At the other end of the spectrum are those brands that want to shout at you from the shelf. They’re looking for attention and a glossier finish on the label is one way to get it. Brands are employing shiny film stocks or high-gloss coatings on paper in eye-catching ways.  For instance, high-gloss coatings can be applied to specific areas of the label, in-line while printing, to enhance certain graphics or text elements. The contrast between coated and non-coated areas of the label can add a dramatic aesthetic.

Let’s Get Digital!

Digital printing can be employed to create a different design for a set number of labels within a brand. Each bottle in a six-pack of beer, for instance, could have its own look.  Personalization is also possible using digital; think batch numbers for brews and spirits packaging, or regionally-based designs for nationally distributed brands.  The goal is to make a more personal connection with individual consumers.  Digitally printed shrink-sleeves are being used by craft brewers to decorate generic cans in order to mimic the look of a big brand.

Seeking Clarity

Some bottled brands want the product to do the talking.  Super-thin clear film stocks provide the ‘no label look’ many distilled spirits brands are looking for. If you’ve noticed the top shelf vodkas on the market recently you’ll get an idea of what we mean.  The clear films of today are so imperceptible it appears all the brand graphics were directly printed to these bottles.  Many of these brands are choosing distinctive-looking bottles for their product, and they want a label that will complement that custom look and feel.

Environmentally Responsible

Many brands in this sector are run by a new generation of entrepreneurs who are committed to operating in a socially-responsible manner.  When it comes to packaging, they are choosing options which align with these values. Paper and film stocks composed of post-consumer recycled materials are a natural in this arena. So are label materials which are thinner and have the ability to be recycled themselves.  New materials coming online promise to be either compostable or biodegradable.  As this material technology advances it will become a larger part of the packaging strategy.

We understand every product has individual needs. Consider these five trends as general, “scratch-the-surface” guidelines for your projects. We don’t guess about what is working in today’s market – we utilize over 40 years of experience as experts in packaging. We would be happy to take a look at your specific project needs and map out a full strategy for your upcoming product line. Call 612-706-3700 today or drop us a note here at marketing@awtlabelpack.com for a free consultation.