PUMA x Eco Friendly Packaging

PUMA has recently introduced the 'Clever Little Bag' as a sustainable packaging substitute for the large boxes filled with paper that we are so used to buying sneakers in. Continuing their long-term commitment to social and environmental causes, this sustainable packaging and distribution system was designed by Yves Behar.

The new innovative solution will significantly reduce the amount of waste and CO2 emissions that traditional product packaging such as shoe-boxes and apparel polyethylene bags generate and underpins PUMA’s target of reducing carbon, energy, water, and waste by 25%, and developing 50% of its international product collections in footwear, apparel and accessories according to best practice sustainability standards by 2015.

321 Tap into Water

An Australian company called 'Half a Teaspoon' is dedicated to creating and introducing new products to to their market that would make it easier for consumers to make more environmental choices. Their latest product is the 321 Water Bottle that can instantly purify tap water with a plunger built into a portable bottle. Their website claims that one push will remove 'any chlorine, unpleasant tastes, and odors' from the water.

While the product design is interesting and the concept is commendable, I do not see this product surviving outside an urban environment. Firstly you would require access to fairly well treated tap water, and secondly it is just not as convenient as throwing a carton of bottled water into your car when you are heading out onto the road. Plastic waste is an issue we must contend with but new concepts must consider the function of the plastic bottle. Not only do plastic containers allow us to drink good quality water on demand, but also allow us to transport large quantities of drink water to locations where none is available.

ChinaPlas Shanghai 2010

This year ChinaPlas is taking place in Shanghai. It is gonna be a big season for Shanghai as they are hosting the China World Expo this month as well. The dates for ChinaPlas are:

Date
19-22 April 2010

Opening Hours
19-21. 4. 2010 ( 09:30 - 17:30 )
22. 4. 2010 ( 09:30 - 15:00 )

Venue
Shanghai New International Expo Centre, Pudong, Shanghai, PR China

Admission Details
The exhibition is opened for professionals in the industry
Admission fee is RMB20 per person
Students and children will not be admitted

There is lots of talk about the quality of Chinese machinery for the packaging industry so this year the local companies are pulling out all their punches to prove that they can manufacture high tech machinery for the plastics and rubber industry. Amongst the exhibitors will also be numerous suppliers of raw materials. It should be an interesting week in Shanghai.