“Coca-Cola unveiled the world’s first PET plastic bottle made entirely from plant materials at the World Expo in Milan, Italy. PlantBottle packaging™ uses patented technology that converts natural sugars found in plants into the ingredients for making fully recyclable PET plastic bottles. The packaging looks, functions and recycles like traditional PET but has a lighter footprint on the planet and its resources. “Today is a pioneering milestone within our company’s portfolio,” said Nancy Quan, Global Research and Development Officer. “Our vision was to maximize game-changing technology, using responsibly sourced plant-based materials to create the globe’s first fully recyclable PET plastic bottle made entirely from renewable materials. We are delighted to unveil the first bottles at World Expo – a world-class exhibition where sustainable innovation is celebrated.”

By Kristina de Verdier on 29 June, 2015 In Beverages, bottle, renewable, Sustainability Information

This is outstanding! All the plastic bottles with chemicals we use to clean things around us. This work designed by Leo Burnett for WWF, showcases sustainable ways to do it instead.

“Just is a WWF initiative created to show that there are often simple and natural alternatives to many of the products we use every day – products that require packaging that uses up resources and often end up as landfill. A few simple steps are all it takes to make small changes that, when done by many, can help create a cleaner and more sustainable future. Create a better tomorrow, today.”

Leo Burnett explains:

“To help spread WWF’s sustainability message in a new way we helped people rethink how they consume by creating a range products called just. 100% natural and packaged in recycled and biodegradable materials, each was an alternative to a mass-produced product, free from plastic containers. Made available at produce markets, just reminded people that they were already buying many of the ingredients they need to live more sustainably. A dedicated microsite also housed a series of simple and light-hearted ‘how-to’ videos to show how easy it is to use the products while promoting WWF’s core aim of creating a world where humanity and nature live in harmony”

By Kristina de Verdier on 17 June, 2015 In fruit, Innovation, Inspiration, Sustainability Information

“Tetra Pak launches the industry’s first beverage carton made entirely from plant based, renewable packaging materials. The new Tetra Rex® carton will be the first in the market to have bio-based low-density polyethylene (LDPE) films and bio-based high-density polyethylene (HDPE) caps, both derived from sugar cane, in addition to Forest Stewardship Council (FSC ™) certified paperboard.​” Go Tetra Pak!

By Kristina de Verdier on 20 October, 2014 In Beverages, dairy, innovation, milk, renewable, Sustainability Information

Re-defining packaging for food, by Tomorrow Machine. A Swedish design studio based in Stockholm and Paris, specialized in package, product and food concepts. “We believe in looking at the world from a creative point of view to shape the innovations of tomorrow.” The images above are showing 1. Basmati rice wrapped in a pyramid of soft beeswax, soy-ink printed and dusted with pearlescent robin’s egg blue. 2. Caramelized sugar, coated with wax, to be cracked like an egg to be opened 3. Gel of the agar-agar seaweed and water, made for drinks that have a short life span and needs to be refrigerated.

By Kristina de Verdier on 27 August, 2014 In Food, innovation, Sustainability Information

Katharina Kobsev is a student from Germany. Her bachelor thesis was to create a concept around food culture and sustainability. “”Think Global-Eat Local” is a collection of food and beverages with the focus on environmental protection. The aim of the bachelor thesis was was to bring awareness to this issue of food culture and the sustainability. The preferred purchase of local and seasonal food and beverages plus a proper handling can significantly contribute to the protection of the world´s resources. Because sustainability is not just about buying organic and fair trade, but consumer behaviour in general. The bachelor thesis includes the development of the concept, logo design, packaging, poster, and calender.”

By Kristina de Verdier on 10 December, 2013 In Beverages, Food, Student Work, Sustainability Information

Progress is being made on packaging sustainability, but industry and society rarely turn to designers for this. However, sitting at the front-end of the process, designers have the ability to literally design-in, or design-out sustainability into the solutions they deliver. They also bridge the gap between technology, business, brands and customers/consumers – so designers can successfully deliver sustainability, through brands, to the marketplace.

This free webinar will address the following points:

• Why sustainability is a design challenge i.e. why ‘design’ for sustainability
• Show some best practice examples of design innovation for sustainability
• Some of the obstacles and barriers to overcome
• Horizon scanning for emerging packaging sustainability themes for design, brands and innovation

Registration for this event is free, but space is limited. Register today to guarantee your spot. Chris will take audience comments and questions after the presentation. Kristina de Verdier, Senior Designer at Tetra Pak (and founder of this blog) will moderate the Q&A session of this i2live webinar. Wednesday, May 15, 2013, 8 p.m European Time. Register here

SPEAKER, Chris Sherwin, Head of Sustainability Seymourpowell. For 15 years, Chris Sherwin has advised and consulted many global corporates plus start-ups, entrepreneurs and third sector organisations. Chris is an expert workshop designer and faciliator, great at creating and designing world leading projects, have vast knowledge of tools and methods, plus sustainability experience in consumer product, FMCG, food and beverage industry. He also holds a PhD titled ‘Innovative Ecodesign’ from Cranfield University.

MODERATOR, Kristina de Verdier is Senior Designer at Tetra Pak and founder of the packaging design blog Ambalaj. She has nine years experience in the packaging industry on a global arena, and has gained market insights through extensive ethnographic studies. Based in Sweden, Kristina makes trend reports, manages innovation & design projects and works with brand strategy development.

More info here. Please contact i2live@industryintel.com or call +1-310-553-0008 if you have questions.

By Kristina de Verdier on 3 May, 2013 In Events, Sustainability Information

Davines high end hair and skin care products from Parma, Italy. Through a group of guiding principles they aim to create the most environmentally friendly packaging possible.

“Less raw material is possible – so as not to burden on natural resources. For example, by using fewer raw materials, we were able to reduce 33.3% the amount of plastic used for litre size bottles of Davines / Essential Haircare. Another strategy consists in simplifying the packaging system. We did this for our Finest Pigments and Authentic Formulas lines, by applying  multi-page labels directly on the packaging avoiding an additional external box. And is the outer package is really necessary?

It comes from suppliers that are close to the packing site To control the pollution generated from transportation. Among close suppliers we favour those certified for renewable source usage, recovery of water or use, for example, FSC paper.

It can be reused The packaging will last longer if it is created with a reusable purpose.  Our “success story” are Davines/Essential Haircare bottles; they are certified food grade packaging and this means that they can be reused even in the freezer and in the microwave. To all these attentions we add a pinch of ingenuity and small technical tricks such as logistical optimisation; Energy savings within the production chain and the selection of biodegradable materials. For instance, all Naturaltech cases are made of compostable paper. Finally we shall not omit to recall that all Davines products are realised with 100% clean Energy produced by the sun, the wind and the water.”

By Kristina de Verdier on 31 January, 2012 In davines, förpackning, förpackningsdesign, italy, package, packaging, parma, skincare, strategy, Sustainability Information, sustainable

By Colin Dunn “Jupiter Consumer Goods is a culture-jamming brand designed to subvert and critique mainstream consumer habits. The brand is inspired by Jupiter, the deity of ancient Roman mythology. In Ovid’s Metamorphosis, Jupiter saves the earth from destruction by killing Phaëton, the reckless son of the sun god.”

By Kristina de Verdier on 19 November, 2011 In carbon footprint, Design, greenwashing, jupiter, packaging, Sustainability Information, sustainable

What is this? Looks like styrofoam, right? But it is 100% biodegradable cornstarch chips. Water soluble, compostable, yet with same properties as traditional packaging chips. It’s great to replace styrofoam with biodegradable material. But here comes the problem; the perception! Normal people will never notice the difference. When developing environmentally friendly packaging there are two parallel missions; to look sustainable, and to actually be sustainable. If missing one of these factors, you downgrade the product. And you mislead the consumer.

By Kristina de Verdier on 21 February, 2011 In Biodegradable, Design, environmentally friendly, filling material, packaging, Secondary Package, styrofoam, Sustainability Information

Tired and confused of all green choices you should make? Organic, bio, eco, environment friendly products everywhere? Who can you trust? Green choices not convenient, too bad quality and too expensive? Too much work? Consumer Reports writes about green fatigue: “You know you suffer from green fatigue when you hide the empty jelly jar in the trash, rather than rinse and recycle. Consumers now push back, and they are right to question whether green products are better for the environment. Many green products found on store shelves are guilty of green washing, according to TerraChoice, an environmental marketing agency. Moreover a recent report from GFK found that more and more people think green products are too expensive and they don’t work as well as conventional products.”

By Kristina de Verdier on 11 November, 2010 In confusion, consumer report, environment, fatigue, green, green washing, Sustainability Information

Here is the winner of the EU organic logo competition. The winning design is by Dusan Milenkovic, a student from Germany, who gained 63% of the overall vote for his “Euro-leaf” logo. From 1st July 2010, the organic logo of the EU will be obligatory on all pre-packaged organic products that have been produced in any of the EU Member States and meet the necessary standards. See website

By Kristina de Verdier on 15 February, 2010 In EU, food design, graphic design, logo, organic design, organic logo, organic products, Sustainability Information

Good read about tendencies in the society. Trendwatching’s interpretation what’s going to happen during 2010. Trend number 6 is called “Eco-Easy” and means that if the world should manage to reach some meaningful sustainability goals this year, corporations and governments will have to forcefully make it ‘easy’ for consumers to be more green, by restricting the alternatives. I recommend to read through the article, some good insights there.

By Kristina de Verdier on 26 January, 2010 In easy green, green, Inspiration, packaging design trends, packaging trends, Sustainability Information, sustainable, trend 2010, trendwatching

Newsweek released its 2009 Green Rankings this week, rating the 500 largest U.S. companies on the sustainability of their practices. 4 of the top 5 slots were given to technology companies. 1. Hewlett-Packard, 2. Dell, 3. Johnson & Johnson, 4. Intel, 5. IBM. View the entire list here

By Kristina de Verdier on 24 September, 2009 In companiy, green, newsweek, ranking, Sustainability Information, sustainable

It is used to describe the actions of a company which advertises positive environmental practices while acting in the opposite way. The term is generally used when significantly more money or time has been spent advertising being green, rather than spending resources on environmentally sound practices. Greenwashing was coined by NY environmentalist Jay Westerveldin an essay regarding the hotel industry’s practice of placing green placards in each room, promoting reuse of guest-towels, ostensibly to “save the environment”. Westerveld noted that, in most cases, little or no effort toward waste recycling was being implemented by these institutions.

By Kristina de Verdier on 23 July, 2009 In green, greenwashing, Sustainability Information, term, washing

Ecolect is a great site for green materials. They have initiated a service called Greenbox, which is great too! You sign up (pay $849.95) and every 3 months, you get a collection of 8-12 cutting-edge materials, shipped direct to you. Innovative and environmentally friendly material – ideal for design, engineering, and marketing teams. The samples will highlight trends that other material producers are setting, and serve as inspirational and informational reference for people working with product development.

By Kristina de Verdier on 17 June, 2009 In Designer Tools, ecolect, environment, greenbox, Material, subscription, Sustainability Information