Is your product the problem?

• Ever tried changing your packaging but struggled?
• Getting demands from your customers to minimise your packaging?

It may be that your product is the problem.

In some instances, there will be a point at which the packing operation becomes the limiting factor.

But for most packers, for example carrots or sweet potatoes, the packaging optimisation can be restricted by the physical nature of the product being packed. Variables such as weight, pointiness and drop height will all dictate what will be your lower limit with conventional materials.

Please contact me if you wish to find out how to get around this problem and continue to develop your packaging.

Don't Underestimate the combined value of your packaging suppliers!

A supplier who is worth their salt should be proactive with giving you advice on how to improve your packaging process.

Packaging users, like those intended for this blog, more often than not have two types of supplier - machine and materials.

I have noticed that it is the minority of packaging users don't realise the combined potential of both their machine and film suppliers.

On their own, they are an invaluable source of knowledge to the packers. As a combined force, they have the capability to not only solve, but find problems within your process.

For example:

• learning how to optimise your packaing with newer or thinner materials
• demonstrating how to push existing technology and sealing methods
• advise on correct material structure in order improve your process and product

Get in touch if you would like advise on how to successfully bring together your suppliers.

How do you communicate value?

It is getting more and more important in the current economic climate to ensure that you communicate your value.

Your competitors will no doubt be pushing their products, undercutting you and eating into your profit margin.

Why not have a look here and see what you can add to your packaging brand. Recoup some value, increase your price and make yourself the market leader:

http://www.crackingcomms.com/

Packaging Diva

Hi all,

I fully recommend a trip to this site: http://www.packagingdiva.com/

JoAnn Hines provides some very good knowledge about the packaging industry, and is a great contact for those packaging users in the Americas.

FPBB

Flexible Packaging Trends for 2009

• Are you looking to make your food packaging a feature, not an added complication?
• Are your marketeers telling you that they want something more from your packaging?
• Are your retailer customers demanding that you met THEIR Cortauld commitment?

Why don't you stay one step ahead of the marketplace, with my insights from what I have seen on the marketplace, compacted into a brief summary of the top 5 packaging trends for 2009:

1. Home compostable materials: to reduce packaging weight to landfill

2. Materials of % recycled content: to reduce content of virgin oil-based feedstock

3. Polypropylene reduction: there is limited opportunity to recycle PP at this moment in time

4. Pack weight reduction: to reduce tonnes of packaging to landfill

5. Convenience (reclosable, on-the-go packs, portion control): to add value whilst everyone else is downgauging

I have heard a few decisions be made in 2008 that I think will be reversed. For example, I struggle to find agree with a move to a "recyclable" flexible, when we are still using depletable resources and sending to landfill.

I think that carbon footprinting will become big in 2009 - so watch this space for advice on carbon footprinting your packaged product...

Introduction

I think that I am with alot of people now, who are getting tired of Facebook. It simply doesn't give me the professional networking that I would like.

So I took some advice and joined LinkedIn, with a view to get a more professional space on this infinite space we call "the web".

I thought I would start to post here to share my experiences and knowledge of the flexible packaging industry.

As a "user" of flexible packaging, I noticed that there is limited points of contact for those people who are looking for help with their packaging sourcing problems, their marketeers' preposterous ideas, or looking for guidance on improving their packaging process.

You will have noticed that I have opted for "The Flexible Packaging Black Belt".... Quite simply, there were some rather pretentious ones, which I don't think would fit with my intent at all well.


I am going to be using this blog as a posting point for packaging innovations, industry news, market rumours and as a netowrking site.

If you have any ideas, advice, questions, rumours, innovations, concepts or simply wish to get in touch, then please use the email link on the profile.

I look forward to hearing from you and to seeing you on this page very soon.

FPBB