Sustainability Watch September 2010

NORDENIA Receives DuPont Sustainability Award

JACKSON, Mo.—Packaging for Clorox Fresh Step Cat Litter produced by NORDENIA USA's Jackson plant received the DuPont Gold Award and the Institute of Packaging Professionals' (IPP) Ameristar Award. Key factors for the award winner were material reduction and convenience. The amount of packaging material was reduced by 80 percent, while a slider and back handle provide maximum ease of use.

"Combining sustainable packaging with innovative features that give their products a distinctive edge in the market is one of the key issues for our customers," says Bill Burke, NORDENIA USA's managing director. "That two awards at the same time have been given to a sustainable product manufactured by us is a great achievement for us and confirms that we are on the right track with our take on sustainability initiatives."

Cutting packaging materials by 80 percent also involves a cost reduction across the supply chain, from inbound freight to finished goods storage and warehousing. Clorox achieved the huge cut in materials by replacing a rigid polypropylene container with a flexible bag by NORDENIA for its heaviest product. Although the film is notably thinner, it still holds up to 42 pounds.

"A flexible bag for such a product weight, as well as a back handle that can hold that much weight, are both very exceptional in the industry," emphasizes Kevin Dorris, marketing coordinator at NORDENIA USA.

P&G to Use Renewable Plastic

CINCINNATI—The Procter & Gamble Company (P&G) announced plans to use renewable, sustainable, sugarcane-derived plastic on selected packaging on its Pantene Pro-V®, COVERGIRL®, and Max Factor® brands. The new material is made using a process that transforms sugarcane into high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic. It remains 100 percent recyclable in existing municipal recycling facilities.

P&G will source the sugarcane-derived plastic from Braskem SA, which produces the material using ethanol made from sustainably-grown Brazilian sugarcane. The pilot will be rolled out globally over the next two years, with the first products expected to be on shelf in 2011.

"This innovation is truly consumer-driven," says Gina Drosos, group president, Global P&G Beauty. "As we talk with women around the world, they tell us that they want to make themselves more beautiful without making their environment less beautiful. With this new packaging innovation, women can have confidence that their favorite brands are helping to make a difference."

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