Canadian Retailer - Fall 2014 - 30

SuStAINABLE pAckAgINg

BY STUART FOXMAN

It'S tRuE-switching to sustainable packaging can
Reductions = Savings
help make a product stand out, satisfy consumer
at Canadian tire, the size of a 14-piece socket set was reduced.
Package right-sizing cut:
preferences and meet vital business needs. And, the
switch aligns nicely with many retailers endgoals.
Cubic volume of
Actual cost of
the product by
Plastic packaging by
Consider the humble peach.
the product by
Traditionally, peaches were marketed in a corrugat%
%
ed cardboard basket with a wood handle. The package packed emotion but posed challenges, says Dan
Branson, Senior Director, Floral, Garden and Produce
at Loblaw Companies. "It took up space in farmers' facilities, the product wasn't protected, there were food
safety issues, it was difficult to re
move the staples
Canadian Tire also saved almost $20,000
and 10 tonnes of GHGs in shipping
from the cardboard, and it wasn't recyclable," he says,
To address these concerns, a grower partner
that owns Vortex Packaging niagara developed an
award-winning package. The new basket extends the shelf life of packaging stewardship fees, and carbon pricefruit, poses less damage from transport, and is visually appeal- risk. "We look at things both financially and
ing as consumers can see what they are buying. It's also made of environmentally," says Allan Pontello, Can50 per cent recycled material.
adian Tire's aVP, Product Quality and PackTo Branson, the solution offers a prime example of how retail- aging Optimization.
ers can rethink how they package for far-reaching benefits. It's
Time is a motivating force too, says Domenic
one of several key lessons around the opportunity to reduce the Cecol, Chief Design officer at Central Group.
environmental impact of packaging.
The company produces customized packaging
solutions and displays. Their customers want
Lesson 1: Address business goals and environmental
to get to retail faster, and save waste all along
benefits can follow
the way. "Speed by default has a net benefit to
Packaging has to serve several functions-protect goods, the environment," he says. "We have more and
promote them, communicate information and attributes, be more conversations with customers around a
cost-effective and offer ease-of-use. Certainly, environmental total life cycle analysis," says Cecol.
benefits can be a starting point to re-imagine packaging. HowThat means using only enough material
ever, think too of how more sustainable packaging might fit that's absolutely necessary, and focusing on
with additional business imperatives.
processes required and energy expended - not
At Canadian Tire, the packaging guidelines promote materi- just energy in terms of fuel and power, but also
als that can be reused and recycled, the efficient delivery of human energy. Cecol points to retail-ready
goods, and the right-sizing of the packaging (so fewer vehicles packages. Shipping and displaying in the
are needed to transport products, reducing both waste and same package reduces material, and also cuts
greenhouse gas emissions).
labour for retailers in stocking time.
The new packaging is functional, and cuts operating costs,
Brand reputation is another key driver of

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cANADIAN REtAILER | fall 2014

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Canadian Retailer - Fall 2014

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