Nice/ funny animation about green ink

Green printing

Green Printing Policy

We launched our website with the sole intention of providing affordable and certified green printing solutions. We care passionately about the environment and are one of a handful of printing companies in the UK to have achieved both ISO14001 and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)Certification.
"Fall is my favourite season in Los Angeles, watching the birds change colour and fall from the trees"David Letterman

FSC Approved Printing Company

FSC Approved Printing Company Certification, audited by the Soil Association, is our most recent environmental award and acknowledges that we have been audited and are deemed competent to be part of the FSC Chain of Custody Process.
This allows us to print on FSC Certified Papers and provide you with a guaranteed FSC product that has been tracked from its point of origin to the point of it being printed and dispatched.
Only FSC Approved Printers with the FSC Chain of Custody Certification may print the FSC Logo - known as a claim - onto your order when using FSC Certified Paper or FSC Recycled Paper.

ISO14001 Certified

We are also ISO14001 certified. This international standard specifies the actual requirements for an effective Environmental Management System. It applies to those environmental aspects over which the organisation has control and can be expected to have an influence.
This simply means that we are one of a small percentage of printers in the UK that has put its money where its mouth is and is certified as doing its very best for the environment and not just paying lip service or talking about it!

ALP Green Printing Policy Statement:-

This is our policy in detail which we are always striving to enhance and expand:

Paper

• All paper, board and packaging used meets our stringent environmental specifications and as a minimum these materials are ECF or TCF - Elementally or Totally Chlorine Free - which is the kindest way to bleach the pulp.
• We actively encourage and promote the use of FSC Certified Paper, 100% Recycled Paper or paper containing an element of recycled fibre.
• Our website products are all printed on FSC Papers or 100% Recycled Paper.

Reduce or Avoid the use of Chemicals

• We use an inert water based protective coating sealant on many of our products which is an eco-friendly alternative to polymer based coatings, "litho seal" and plastic laminates.
• We run IPA - isopropyl alcohol - free on our printing presses, as opposed to the industry average of 8%.
• Our inks are vegetable oil based - specifically linseed oil - as opposed to mineral oil.
• The removal of IPA alcohol and use of vegetable ink has virtually eliminated our emissions of VOC's - Volatile Organic Compounds - into the atmosphere. These VOC's are a major source of ozone pollution and are a potential a health hazard to our staff.
• We promote full colour printing which uses significantly less chemicals, solvents and paper in job setup and press cleaning than traditional one or two colour printing.
• We offer quality Digital Print solutions specifically for short-runs.

Reduce and Recycle Waste

• We have reduced our unavoidable production waste of paper and chemicals by up to 85% and will continue to seek ways to further reduce such waste.
• We segregate, re-use and recycle all of the paper waste produced in the course of printing.
• Waste paper and used aluminium printing plates are collected for recycling, as are all of our spent chemicals.
• We invested in the latest production equipment which is more efficient and less wasteful of materials in the first place.

Legislation Compliance

• We are fully compliant with the Hazardous Waste Act 2005 and waste is segregated and collected for recycling by licensed contractors.
• We are assessed anually by independent auditors to ensure we conform legally and continue to improve as a requirement of our ISO14001 certification.

Energy Consumption

• Our Ryobi 755 printing presses consume 50% less electricity than popular competing machines - to put this into perspective this equates to a monetary saving of over £5.00 per hour!
• Equipment is chosen to be more efficient - faster setup and running speeds ensure more output per Kw of electricity used. 

Green Office

• This is another area where A Local Printer has taken positive steps. Please read our article on Greening your Office for more information.

Removing Cost Barriers

• We encourage the use of batch printed products such as our Flyers Printing service, which reduce production waste by up to 95% whilst delivering massive cost savings to our customers.
• We continue to remove the cost barriers that previously discouraged customers from adopting the use of environmentally friendly green printing.
• Our buying power enables us to purchase eco-friendly paper and materials at a lower cost than many printers pay for conventional alternatives.
• Investment in the latest equipment enables alocalprinter.com to remain highly competitive.
• Online ordering reduces the cost of sale - savings which are passed onto our customers.

Removing Quality Barriers

• We have eliminated the quality barriers that previously discouraged customers from adopting the use of recycled paper and eco friendly materials.
• The vegetable oil based inks used on our printing presses deliver an increase in print quality over conventional mineral oil based inks.
• Investment in the latest and most efficient equipment delivers a higher quality of printed product than the industry average.

Advice

• We assist our customers in making the best choice if they require an alternative to our standard products but still want their print to be as green as possible.

Commitment

• Environmental issues remain at the forefront of our decision making - we are committed to the environment and do our very best at all times to deliver truly eco-friendly green printing services.

http://www.alocalprinter.com/uk/green-printing/

Soy ink benefits

Soy ink and the environment

Soy ink may be the solution to the environmental health and safety concerns of the printing industry. A new study confirms that soy ink can help to reduce the environmental burden of the printing industry. Soybean oil comes from a renewable source: soybeans. Soybeans beans are widely available at low cost. Soybean agriculture uses only 0.5 percent of the total energy needed to produce soy ink. Almost half of all soybeans produced in America needs no irrigation. As soybeans are growing they temporarily remove damaging carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, from the atmosphere.

Soy ink is naturally low in VOCs (volatile organic compounds, chemical compounds that evaporate and react to sunlight) and its usage can reduce emissions causing air pollution.

Researchers at Western Michigan University have found that soy ink is removed more effectively from newsprint than petroleum ink during de-inking, resulting in less paper fiber damage and a brighter paper. In addition, the waste is not considered hazardous and can be treated more easily, completely and cost-effectively. Residue waste ink is considered a liquid industrial waste that requires proper disposal. Many newspapers and large commercial printers are recycling their ink by mixing black ink with unused color inks. This process reduces waste and results in a more cost-effective, efficient use of ink.

Other benefits of soy ink

Soy ink is available for newspapers, magazines, commercial printing, packaging, business forms and many other uses. Each form of printing requires a different type of ink and manufacturers have made various efforts to meet with the demands of customers. Soy inkt has following benefits:

• Vibrant colors - Soybean oil’s clarity allows pigments to reach their full potential, resulting in deep, rich bright colors. In addition, used in newspaper ink, it shows an excellent outcome of pigments. Soy ink delivers a high quality print when you switch from petroleum-based ink to soy ink, and you may even see an improvement!
• Lower rub-off - Soy inks show a greater rub resistance. This is especially of important for newspaper readers.
• Soy ink is cost effective - The prices of soy ink colors are competitive with conventional ink colors since most of the cost in the colored inks comes from the pigments used and not the vehicle portion of the formulation. Because soy ink provides more intense color, printers may not use as much ink. As a result, more materials can be printed with less ink and thereby reducing their costs.
• Laser proof - This is important when ink needs to be exposed to the heat of a laser printer or copy machine. As the boiling point of soy ink is lower, there is less chance of the ink being transferred to the machine parts instead of the paper.
• Stability - Soy ink maintains its lithographic stability throughout the entire print job, so the press operator makes fewer adjustments during production and rejects fewer copies because of inferior quality. 

 http://www.soya.be/soy-ink-benefits.php

Disadvantages

Unfortunatelly, soy ink is not a perfect solution to the problems associated with the production of ink. For example, it cannot be used in Ballpoint pens and personal printers. One major problem with soy ink is that it takes more time to dry than petroleum-based inks, due to its lack of evaporative solvents in the form of VOCs. This creates challenges for some Printing presses, especially those that use coated papers (such as magazines) instead of porous, uncoated paper (such as newspapers) where the ink can dry via absorption. Current studies into UV-reactive ink curing are being conducted by many ink producers, most prominently the Flint Group. This process dries much faster, is cheaper, uses less energy, and emits no VOCs. This requires a significant equipment change and has not been scaled down to consumer size as of yet, however, so further research is necessary.
There is also the problem that an over-dependency on a single crop introduces the risk of crop disease epidemics, as in the Great Irish Famine.
Since much of the soy produced in the World is of genetically modified cultivars, the increased use of soy exacerbates some concerns with both GMO and modern agriculture.

http://green.wikia.com/wiki/Soy_based_ink

 

http://www.inxinternational.com/us/corp_sustainability.aspx

Flexographic ink

Flexography is a process used in the printing of packing materials (cardboard boxes, corrugated cardboard, paper bags and plastic bags, food packaging, newspapers, catalogues, etc ...) This method of printing continues to grow in popularity due to its low cost and environmentally friendly nature. The most important part of the printing process is the application of the ink.

There are three main types of ink: water based, solvent and UV curable. The printing surface (substrate type) dictates what ink type it is advisable to use.

Vibrant, eco-friendly custom screen printing on lighter color garments

Waterbased positives:
• Eco-friendly
• Very soft prints
• Beautiful colors
• Easy to work with
• Awesome for printing on lighter-color garments

Waterbased negatives:
• Not well suited for darker garments
• Affected by the shirt color, so that printing on something like a purple shirt may change the ink color
• Not ideal for all materials
• Traditional inks are better for very large print runs

Water based screen printing applications
There are two major schools of screen printing ink; plastisol and water based. Plastisol is a PVC based ink and is what the majority of commercial printers use. Water based is, as the name suggests, a water based ink with pigments suspended within it.
Water based inks can be used to print stickers, towels, fabric yards, canvas and paper, as well as apparel such as shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, jeans, aprons, jackets, hats and practically any other item as long as it can be put on the press to be screened. Designs can be printed on cotton, polyester, or poly/cotton blends.
Water based screen printing results
Water based prints have many positive qualities. The industry term "hand" refers to how soft a print feels on the decorated item. Water based inks are well known for the minimal or soft hand that they provide. Prints made with water based can be ironed, while plastisol prints cannot be, as the iron's heat plate would melt the PVC in the ink.
The colors in a water based print are often more vibrant than those in a similar plastisol print. When properly cured, a shirt or other item with a water based print will survive countless trips through the washing machine, being very durable, and the ink would most likely outlast the fabric on which it is printed. Because of the lesser hand of water based, a shirt with a very large and solid design printed on the front will feel light and thin, while sometimes large heavy plastisol printed designs are referred to as "bulletproof" because of the thickness of the layers of ink.
Water based ink sits into the fabric of the printed shirt, not on top of the fabric like plastisol printing. This allows skin under the design to breathe better, and can increase the amount of comfort felt while wearing the decorated item.

Water based screen printing and the environment
Even minimal research into the effects of plastic on the environment brings up lists of serious hazards and harmful consequences. Plastic is polluting our oceans, filling our trash dumps, and doing permanant damage to our world, our environment and our future here on Earth. Plastic has countless uses and is a great building and manufacturing material in and of itself, but cannot easily be reused. A plastic soda bottle put on the curb in a recycling bin can never be melted down to be used as another soda bottle.
Plastisol is PVC ink. PVC is polyvinyl chloride, and is a known carcinogen, meaning that it can cause cancer. Plastic's chemicals can leach out of products. As the Green movement furthers, more people will turn away from plastic in every realm possible, and this will, and already does, include their preferrence to what type of ink is used on all the screen printed goods that they purchase and wear.
Plastisol is not drain safe. Printers must use other harmful chemicals to break down the plastisol ink from their screens and equipment. Special filters must be installed on drains to catch the PVC particles. Most do take care to not allow any to go down the drain, but many do not.
Among commercial printers, plastisol is popular because it's simple, inexpensive, and well suited to mass production because the ink will not dry and clog screens. In fact, plastisol really can never dry, it stays in a semi-liquid state until a curing temperature is reached, at which point it bonds to make a solid film. To cure water based ink, the item is heated to the proper temperature at which the water in the ink is evaporated, leaving just the pigments.

Water based ink is definitely more environmentally friendly. After a run of prints, screens can be cleaned with just water, and it can go down the drain, being no more harmful than mild household cleaning products. Water based inks are simply not toxic, do not contain lead or any heavy metals, nor do they contain any ozone-depleting chemicals (CFC's, HCFC's, etc) or volatile solvents.

Water based screen printing and the future

Luckily, the Green movement is having a serious impact on consumers' choices. People are wearing organic clothing, buying hybrid cars, and eating non-GMO food products. Plastisol may be the default choice for most professional screen printers, but water based does have a foothold in the industry, and its popularity will continue to grow, due to increasing demand from the level of the consumer and enlightened persons in charge of clothing lines.

Another reason why water based inks aren't going to go away is because of the advancements being made in the industry. Companies such as Matsui and Permaset are making serious advances in ink technologies, giving their water based ink lines qualities that only plastisols had previously, such as stretchability and durability to not crack, even with multiple layers, when cured properly. As development continues, water based ink will continue to obtain plastisol qualities, while remaining the best choice for anyone environmentally concerned.

http://waterbasedscreenprinting.com/waterbased_screen_printing.html

 http://files.rolanddg.be/Website/Files/specialist_printing_092010.pdf

 

 

Best video I have seen until now

     This is a small video that I found while doing my cardboard research. I found it very useful for the product that we are doing the packaging design now. It's an idea that I will definitely take in consideration

Potential materials for my design (why I chose them)

Why Is Cardboard Strong?

 Cardboard is a kind of paper, but it can be almost as strong as wood in some cases. The main reason why cardboard is strong is in the composition, construction and testing of all cardboard. All of these elements combined help to form some of the strongest paper in the world.

1. Cardboard Composition

   • Modern cardboard is usually made up of kraft paper. Kraft paper was invented by the Swedish chemist Carl F. Dahl in 1884. He found that pulping wood chips and converting them into a thick paper created a material that was hard to tear and damage. Since then, most all cardboard is made from three layers of this kraft paper, with two flat layers and a corrugated layer between them. Some cardboard is made of just one thick layer (such as in cigar boxes), but it is not as widely used.

   Construction Process

   • The kraft paper is made by pulping the wood, which is created by taking wood chips and extracting the cellulose from the wood with chemical sulfate. The pulp is then pressed into thick sheets of paper and allowed to dry. The paper is transferred to a cardboard making factory, where some of the paper is crimped to make the center of the cardboard, and the other layers of cardboard are glued on either side of the corrugated layer. Different plants make different strengths of cardboard. This multilayer function of cardboard makes it much stronger than paper alone. The crimps in the paper make it better able to withstand the weight and pressure of heavier objects.

   Cardboard Testing

   • As it is being made, cardboard withstands several tests. The Cobb test determines how much moisture the cardboard contains. Wrap tests are given to find out how well the cardboard can get formed into a box. Corrugated cardboard is also tested to find out the strength of the bond and glue between the layers of cardboard. All of this testing helps create cardboard that is almost as strong as wood.
     Cardboard made into a box is put through a few more tests. The edge crush test is a test applied to the corners of cardboard boxes. This measures the strength of the box's corners, identifying how much weight can be stacked on the box. Another common test performed on cardboard boxes is the burst test. This test measures how many pounds of weight a box can hold before the bottom of the box bursts.

   Cardboard Strength

   • Cardboard commonly comes in different strengths. Cardboard strength is measured with glue tests, bursting tests and compression tests. These measurements are recorded and the cardboard is assigned different grades depending on the score it receives. A common strength indicator looks like this: 125K/B/125T. The first number is the weight that the cardboard can withstand before it is crushed. The letter stands for the kind of corrugation between the two layers of cardboard. Common letters include E, less than 1/10-inch thick; B, less than 1/8 inch; C, about 1/6th inch; and BC, about 1/5 inch thick. The last number stands for how much weight the second layer of cardboard can hold, and the final letter stands for the kind of paper used. K stands for kraft, one of the most commonly used types of paper.

   Choosing Cardboard

   • When choosing cardboard always look for the highest number listed on the packaging. Higher numbers indicate higher strengths and grades. The higher grade numbers on cardboard indicate that the cardboard is suitable for uses where greater strength is required. When choosing cardboard boxes, look for the Box Manufacturer's Certificate (BMC) on the bottom of cardboard boxes. The certificate states that the box has passed all requirements and tests given to cardboard.

http://www.ehow.com/about_6306347_cardboard-strong_.html

 

 

Cardboard Box Types or Classes

1. Corrugated

   • Three types of corrugated cardboard are single-wall, double-wall and triple-wall. Single-wall consists of two flat outer sheets of cardboard with one sheet of fluted cardboard between. Double-wall adds one additional flat sheet and one fluted sheet, creating a five-layer cardboard. Triple-layer adds one flat sheet and one fluted middle sheet onto the double-wall construction, resulting in seven layers. The most common form of corrugated cardboard as of 2011 is single-wall, which holds up to 350 lbs. Double-wall holds up to 500 lbs., and triple-wall holds in excess of 500 lbs.

   Food Grade

   • Food-grade cardboard boxes must meet federal regulation guidelines established by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Food grade cardboard cannot contain or come into contact with chemicals, toxic materials or food additives that may cause human harm. The FDA defines food additive as "any substance the intended use of which results or may reasonably be expected to result, directly or indirectly, in its becoming a component or otherwise affecting the characteristics of any food (including any substance intended for use in packing, packaging or holding food)."

   Non-Food Grade

   • "Non-food-grade" is the generic term used to describe all cardboard boxes not approved for use with food. Types of non-food-grade cardboard boxes include crafting, packing and shipping boxes.

   Recycled

   • Dry cardboard boxes free from grease and other food stains are recycled into paper, paperboard and new cardboard boxes. Companies label recycled cardboard boxes based on the percentage of old cardboard used in the production process. For instance, companies using post-consumer cardboard used to manufacture new cardboard boxes list the percentage of post-consumer material. The label reads, "Recycled from 50 percent post-consumer waste."

http://www.ehow.com/info_8527110_cardboard-box-types-classes.html

Types of Cardboard Boxes

Consumers may take boxes for granted but product manufacturers and retailers don’t. The box a product comes in identifies a brand, represents the company, and presents an image to rival competitors. Packaging designers spend hours to select the right photograph, write copy, and present pricing information to compel the consumer to put the box in her shopping cart. Even the boxes we use when moving are selected to carefully house our personal belongings. Companies are also increasingly offering boxes made of recycled materials in an effort to protect the environment and satisfy desires to go “green.”

Shipping

• Shipping boxes are typically made of unprinted brown corrugated cardboard. They vary in size and durability. Shipping boxes are used by consumers to send packages through delivery services like United Parcel Service and the United States Postal Service. Package delivery companies also have shipping boxes in various rectangular and tube shapes manufactured and printed with their logos to sell to customers for sending items ranging from documents to household items.

Packing and Moving

• Companies in the moving and storage business have cardboard boxes manufactured to sell to customers. The cardboard boxes they use are constructed from heavyweight cardboard. The boxes are used to pack household goods like dishes, lamps and decorative items. Large-size boxes are made to pack clothing and have a metal rod that can be inserted so that packers can keep clothes on hangers. A packing box also includes an area on the side to list the contents inside and route the box to the proper room.

Gift

• Gift boxes are sold in greeting card stores, gift and stationery stores, discount stores, and a variety of other retail outlets. Department stores have customized gift boxes imprinted with their logo. Perhaps one of the most famous gift boxes of all is that of Tiffany, the prestigious jewelry store. The shade of blue used on the box is so recognizable that people even refer to it as “Tiffany Blue.”

Customized Product Packaging Boxes

• Manufacturers create customized cardboard boxes to contain their products. For example, electronics manufacturers develop product-specific boxes, printed in full color with attractive photographs of the products contained inside. They also print important information for shoppers including product features, the model number, the size of the item, itemized box contents, and brief operating instructions. Shoppers can use the photographs and descriptions on the box to make sure that they are purchasing the right item, by comparing what’s described on the box to the actual product on the store shelf.

Retail Display Boxes

• Display boxes are used by companies to hold merchandise. They are often seen inside of grocery, drug, and other retail stores. They are referred to as “set-up” boxes. They are shipped flat, with printed instructions on how to set the box up. Once completed, they are ready to hold products. Some set-up display boxes even hold shelves made of cardboard or lightweight plastic so that merchandise can be attractively displayed. Display boxes might also include holes for retail merchandisers to include signage, pricing, posters and other sales promotion information.
  
  http://www.ehow.com/list_6722092_types-cardboard-boxes.html
  
  

  Cardboard Box Ideas

   Cardboard boxes are a great source for craft supplies. After using a cardboard box for packaging items, save it for fun children projects and even for home storage ideas. With a few supplies and tools there are several ways to make great cardboard box ideas.

   

  1. Lacing and Braiding Board

     • This is a fun project for young children. Cut the cardboard box into 8-inch squares or other sizes and shapes, then punch holes to thread yarn through. The holes can be punched in a variety of patterns and for a variety of purposes, such as two vertical rows of evenly spaced holes to teach shoe lacing, or several holes punched around the perimeter to teach braiding. Simply use colorful yarn to thread through the holes for many hours of fun and motor skill development.

     Wall Décor

     • Cardboard boxes make a very durable solution for fabric-covered wall art. Cut the cardboard to the desired width and length. Cut out as many pieces as you need for your wall design. Use coordinating decorating fabric with either solid colors or vibrant patterns that accentuate your room's style. You may even want to embellish this artwork further with images, lettering or accents, or batting to give the artwork more dimension.
       Lay your cardboard piece onto the fabric and cut the fabric, leaving enough around the edges to fold over to the back. Secure with strong tape to the back of the cardboard, then use paper to cover and tape into place over the fabric edges. Attach picture hanging hooks to the back of your artwork and hang on the wall.

     Storage Boxes

     • Cover cardboard boxes

       Cardboard boxes provide an easy base for storage solutions. If you have a few coordinating boxes, consider making a set.
       Paint the inside and outside of the boxes with colors that will go with your style. Use acrylic paint or regular latex paints to cover all of the surfaces. You may have to add a second coat for a uniform look. The paint will also seal the cardboard, making it last longer. Use your painted box set for your home office, to store toys or even to store clothes or other household items.
       Another option is to use fabric to cover your boxes. Measure the perimeter of your box, then measure the height of your box with the flaps folded into the box. Double the height measurement so that the fabric can fold over and into the box for a neater appearance. Cut the fabric, leaving a little extra for the seam, and sew a narrow hem at the top and bottom edges. Next, stitch the side of the fabric closed, then slip over the box, folding the fabric into the box. You may want to line the bottom of the box before use.

     Playhouse

     • Very large boxes, the size that fits lawn mowers and refrigerators, make very nice playhouses for children. Children can help decorate the walls to mimic a house or a store. If you have several large boxes, the children can even make a mini town for hours of fun.

  
  

  http://www.ehow.com/way_5184454_cardboard-box-ideas.html

  
  

  
  

  Corrugated Cardboard Types

  It is very important to know the type of cardboard that you will require when ordering your boxes. There are two factors to consider when choosing the type of cardboard – the flute and the wall construction.

  Flutes

  When dealing with differing types and styles of cardboard, we often refer to its flute, or flutes. What is a flute? Well, it simply means the type of corrugation that is sandwiched between the two outer layers of cardboard. The larger the flute, the stronger the box. Below is a small break down of the three types of flute that we offer at Instabox and their respective strengths and weaknesses.

  

  “C” Flute Thickness = 11 / 64″ Flutes per foot = 41 “C” flute cardboard has a very high stacking strength and a higher resistance to being crushed. It is one of the most commonly used flutes for shipping boxes and tends to perform the best when holding materials such as glass, furniture and food products.

  “B” Flute Thickness = 1 / 8″ Flutes per foot = 49 “B” Flute cardboard is the perfect combination of strength and style. It has a higher resistance to punctures than the other flutes and usually consumes less space than the regular “C” Flute. It is most often used for boxes that have to be durable but also need to have some style. Generally used for stand up displays or ballot boxes.

  “E” Flute Thickness = 1 / 16″ Flutes per foot = 95 “E” Flute is the most lightweight of all the types of corrugated cardboard we carry. It is a stronger alternative to paperboard and performs great when used for die cut designs. “E” Flute has a superior printing surface and works best when used as software packaging or point of purchase boxes.

  Cardboard Wall Construction

  Although most people think that cardboard boxes have only one type of structure there are actually two different styles of wall structure that we offer to our customers. Depending on which characteristics and qualities you would like to have in your box, you can choose from single or double wall structure.

  

  Single Wall Corrugated Cardboard This is the most popular corrugation material used in the boxes we manufacture, it consists of only one layer of whichever type of flute you pick. It is available in a wide range of board strengths, from 23 ECT right throough to 44 ECT. Generally, depending on what type of flute you have chosen, this type of wall structure is not the best choice for shipping heavy objects.

  

  Double Wall Corrugated Cardboard This wall structure is made of one layer of “B” Flute and one layer of “C” Flute. Stronger than a single wall structure, double wall enables heavier objects to be shipped and should be used when a stronger box or extra padding is needed. Double wall is available in 48 ECT to 71 ECT and is excellent for stacking heavier items.

  
  

  
  

  http://www.instabox.com/boxes/box-guide/corrugated-materials/

  Corrugated Card Advantages

  1. • Corrugated card offers a number of advantages. angled corrugated cardboard image by leafy from Fotolia.com

       Corrugated card (or corrugated cardboard) has a number of different advantages over other materials. This is especially true when corrugated card is being compared to other types of paper material used for storage (such as multi-layer paper or thin plastic), since corrugated card is most commonly used for making boxes.

     Recyclable

     • In this age of green materials and concerns about the environment, corrugated cardboard offers a major advantage in that it's completely recyclable. Made out of paper (which may also be recycled) corrugated card can be made even more ecologically friendly if it's made without any bleaches or dyes so that the color remains natural. Of course, corrugated card can be used again and again because it can be remade time and again, and from a variety of different kinds of paper pulp.

     Strength

     • Corrugated card is also quite strong. This strength comes from the arch that's in the middle of the layers of corrugated card. There are three layers of paper, and the middle layer looks a lot like a sine wave. This arched shape, which is so often used in other types of construction like bridges or doorways, lends a great deal of support to corrugated card. This means that it can hold a great deal more than it would be able to if it was made of just three, flat layers.

     Shaping

     • Corrugated card can be easily joined with a variety of different adhesives and fasteners. Staples are difficult to put through corrugated card (unless they're industrial staples), but glue can easily bind corrugated card together. Additionally, corrugated card can be cut fairly easily, even if it stands up to pressure well from all six principle directions. The ease with which corrugated card can be bound together is a major advantage because it means that a variety of shapes and structures can be made out of this simple material.

  
  

  http://www.ehow.com/list_6547670_corrugated-card-advantages.html

  
  

  Corrugated Board: Advantages & Disadvantages

  
  

  
  

  

  Corrugated board is a multiuse product also known as cardboard.

  Corrugated board is a common but often overlooked material with several uses. Also called cardboard, the material is found in individual and commercial settings. However, this very versatile board is not without its faults. For example, water destroys corrugated board. As with any other multiuse material, corrugated board has its advantages and disadvantages.

  
  

  1. Flexibility

     • Corrugated board can be cut, folded, glued, stapled and taped to assume a number of different shapes and sizes. One sheet can be shaped to hold large or small items. The flexibility does come at a price, however. The points where the cuts are made into the corrugated board are weak spots prone to breakage under heavy pressure. The flexible material can only make polygon shapes with few curves. It does not conform easily to the size of many products, requiring the need for packing materials prior to shipping.

     Composition

     • According to I. Waterman Box Makers Ltd., corrugated board is composed of paper made from cellulose. Glue is used to connect a ridged piece of corrugated board between two straight pieces. The composition creates the strength the corrugated board containers are known for. Despite the strength in composition, corrugated board is still made from paper, which is easily destroyed by liquids. Any liquid shipped in corrugated board without support and proper sealing can create a mess during shipping.

     Uses

     • The board is used primarily in shipment of goods. However, corrugated board is used in everything from display boards to bracing for picture frames. Corrugated board can be found in cheap furniture as well. Although it is used in a number of ways, the corrugated board is limited in the amount of weight that the containers made from the material can handle. This is especially true for containers that come specially made, using multiple pieces and lots of glue and/or tape. The material cannot transport liquids and hazardous chemicals without stringent approval.

     Recycling Corrugated Board

     • Corrugated board is biodegradable and often contains recycled paper. It can also be recycled. However, problems arise when trying to store corrugated board for recycling. Many companies incur additional costs and individuals end up using space within the home or forgoing recycling altogether. Recycling the board can be seen as less than convenient. Corrugated board is no longer recyclable when it has been laminated, and some recycling centers require metal parts, such as staples, to be removed before they will accept corrugated board.

  
  

  
  

  http://www.ehow.com/info_8568047_corrugated-board-advantages-disadvantages.html

  
  

  Liquid packaging board

  Liquid packaging board is a multi-ply paperboard with high stiffness, strong wet sizing and a high barrier coating. Only virgin paper fibers are used. The barrier coating must hold the liquid and prevent migration of air and flavors through the paperboard.

  A liquid packaging board might be up to five plies and is formed on a multi-ply paper machine with online coating. The most common is to use three plies with a basis weight of about 300 g/m².^[2] The base or middle ply is normally made of pulp from bleached or unbleached chemical pulp, CTMP or broke (waste paper from a paper machine). CTMP gives more bulk and stiffness. The top ply (inside) is made of bleached chemical pulp. The barrier coating depend of the application and might be applied on both sides. The back side of the board is the printing side and might have an extra ply made from chemical pulp of quality that is suitable for the printing applications. Liquid packages are normally heat sealed.
  Cartons filled with short shelf life diary products use board that are barrier coated on both sides with one layer of low density polyethylene. For long shelf life products is is common to use aluminium foil as barrier coating together with polyethylene. Commonly the plastic coating on the top side is 12 - 20 g/m² and on the reverse side 15 - 60 g/m².^[2]
  Liquid packaging board are used for two package types: brick and gable top cartons.

  Packaging for beverages. The most common applications are milk and juicebox packaging.

  
  

  I also found a company that is designing with this type of material and is giving a lot of information about how and for what it can be used. It also talks about sustainability. More details on their website.

  http://www.weyerhaeuser.com/Businesses/LiquidPackaging

   

  
  

  
  

 

Packaging nets&tests

[A] 3.  What sort of product do you think could use a package like this? Do you think the item would fit straight off or would it need extra padding maybe?

     The products that could fit in the package varies from bottles to food. Depending on the product (shape) it would/would not need an extra padding. For example if it would be a bottle, it would need a padding so it would keep it straight or not falling, when it comes to transporting it.

4. Do you think that you could improve on this net design? If “yes” then explain in what way[s].
I don't think it would need improvement.

[B]

1.   1.Does your chosen package use glue to keep it together? If “yes” then does it use it in abundance or in a minimal way? Can you suggest a way that [if glued] this pack might be put together without glue and using ‘locking’ tabs instead? Please note down your thoughts.  

      

        The package picked is using minimal glue, just to hold it. It could be done using just cut outs, but it would involve more material, changing the net and maybe harder to assemble. 

   

2.What sort of material is your chosen package made from – card, plastic etc? Is this material ‘virgin’ stock or is it re-used in some way or marked as ‘environmentally friendly’ in some way? Do you think it’s an effective material.


The package is made out of recycled cardboard, at the same time looking "environmentally friendly" but at the same time effective, eye catching with the design that goes on it. Cardboard is one of the most usable material in packaging. It is effective as long as it comes with nice graphics on it.

4 Initial ideas/sketches

10 golden rules

1. Conduct a thorough audit of all competitors in your market before you start, and make sure you understand their respective positionings and attributes. Then create your own.
2. Look at what is happening in other markets, e.g. if you are just considering the UK or Europe, what is happening in the US or Far East that might give you a point of difference?
3. Put measures in place at the start so you can track and learn as you go, e.g. measure awareness of and attitude to your packaging now and in the future. A good research agency will tell you how to do this.
4. Choose a design agency based on its track record, not on price and get testimonials direct from at least three existing clients. Make sure you like them and feel you can work with them.
5. Be different and ensure your pack has its own visual equity and has a strong personality and attitude.
6. Make sure your pack works at all stages of its life cycle, from leaving the factory to ending up in the user's hands.
7. Protect your pack in terms of trademark law and copyright and make sure you're not infringing your competitors' rights.
8. Mock up how your pack would look alongside your competition. Test it in store and make sure it really does leap out at point of purchase.
9. Design with tomorrow in mind. Create a pack that is in keeping with current market trends and future trends.
10. Consider doing some pre-market testing to make sure your pack will find a willing audience. But be careful how you test it as consumers never quite know what they are looking for until someone shows them something new. Henry Ford once said: 'If I'd listened to what people wanted I’d have built a faster horse!'

http://www.designcouncil.org.uk/about-design/Types-of-design/Packaging-design/Ten-golden-rules/

Making packaging sustainable via design

The packaging industry has been vilified over the years, not least on the subject of plastic bags. Yet brands have always been looking for ways to reduce materials and maximise packaging for both environmental and financial reasons.
Designers have helped product makers and retailers improve the environmental impact of the packaging they use by:

• designing packs to me made from sustainable materials. For instance using cardboard from FSC forests instead of unknown sources.
• redesigning without material combinations so that packaging can be easily recycled. For instance making bottle lids from the same plastic as the body.
• changing the way packaging functions so that it improves the sustainability of the whole system it is part of. For instance, designing shelf ready packaging that means less materials are used in transit and at point of sale.

Courtauld Commitment

The Courtauld Commitment was introduced in July 2005 by the government's Waste and Resources Action Programme (Wrap). Courtauld is a voluntary agreement between grocery retailers and brand owners, which set out to design out weight from packaging waste. Over 40 major brand owners and retailers, representing 92% of the grocery retail sector in the UK, signed up to the first stage of the agreement.
The original signatories worked with Wrap on a number of projects to reduce the amount of amount of materials used in packaging and optimise packaging.
Download a PDF set of case studies of packaging reduction from the WRAP website
The scheme won praise from the industry for its Love Food Hate Waste campaign, which focused on the greater problem of food waste and how packaging can help reduce this.
Wrap launched the second stage of the agreement in March 2010. Courtauld 2 moves away from weigh-based targets to a focus on sustainable resource use. CC2’s three main targets are set for 2012, based on 2009 data:

• A 10% reduction in grocery packaging
• A 4% reduction for household food and waste
• A 5% reduction for product and packaging waste in the supply chain.

Carbon Labels

Carbon footprint labels are designed as a metric outlining the carbon emissions of a product. Debate has arisen surrounding the issue of where the measurement starts and stops. In many cases the energy required to use a product, for example shampoo, produces a bigger carbon emission than that produced from the manufacture of the packaging. It has also been questioned whether consumers understand what the labels mean. Only a handful of brands and retailers have put the carbon footprint on their packs to date, Walkers crisps and Tesco being the most prominent.

PAS 2050

In 2008, the British Standards Institute launched PAS 2050, a publicly available standard, or a consistent method for assessing greenhouse gas emissions across the lifecycle of a product.

Tesco

Tesco introduced carbon labels to 30 products in its range in 2008, including orange juice, light bulbs, laundry, potatoes and tomatoes. The grocery retailer has since labelled 120 own-brand products and expects to have footprinted 500 products by the end of the year. Tesco’s carbon labels include information on how to reduce a product's carbon footprint when you cook it, use it or dispose of it and in some cases it will tell you how it compares to similar products.
 

BRC Label

The British Retail Consortium (BRC) launched the BRC Label in March 2009 with the support of the Waste and Resources Action Programme (Wrap). The label simply and clearly states which parts of the pack are:

• Widely recycled
• Sometimes recycled - check with your local authority to see if they are recycled in your area
• Not currently recycled

The aim of the scheme is to help consumers recycle more packaging and to help local authorities to increase recycling rates, especially for materials that can be recycled, but currently have low recycling rates. The BRC established the independent advisory service OPRI to advise on the UK-wide label, which is aimed at private label and own-brand owners.
See a list of brand owners that have signed up to the scheme

Sustainable guidance for designers

INCPEN, the Industry Council for Packaging and the Environment says: 'Packaging has a key role to play in helping society live more sustainably. It is a crucial part of the system for delivering products from their point of production to their point of consumption. We already have policies on Sustainable Production and Consumption. The link between production and consumption is distribution, and packaging’s role in Sustainable Distribution is vital.'
It has produced factsheets for you to use on:

• Carbon Footprinting & Lifecycle Assessment
• Energy from Waste
• Environmental Labelling
• Legislation - Packaging & Environment
• Lightweighting
• Recycled Content
• Reuseable Packaging

Envirowise has produced Packguide: A guide to packaging eco-design in collaboration with INCPEN.
 
The Sustainable Packaging Coalition has produced design guidelines for sustainble packaging design which includes:

• Design sustainability
• Design for transport
• Design for environmental best practices
• Design for fair labor and trade practices
• Design for renewable virgin materials
• Design for reuse
• Design for recycling
• Design for composting