Thursday, December 8, 2011

GRAPHIC TREATMENT

2, maximum 3 colours
experimented with variety of fonts
no clutter/ clean, elegant look and feel
attraction to female audience and male also
perhaps more information about sustainability to be added

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

RESEARCH 9, OTHER BIODEGRADABLE MATERIALS

PLA - Polylactic Acid which is a biodegradable plastic derived from renewable plant resources such as corn starch. The PLA most commonly used in food packaging has a relatively low melting temperature and therefore is only suitable for packaging cold food and drinks. PLA food packaging products are generally manufactured through a process of ‘thermoforming’ whereby heat is used to mould PLA sheets into specific shapes. Since PLA has a relatively low melting temperature this means that less energy is required and therefore less carbon dioxide is emitted during the manufacturing process of PLA food packaging products.

PSM - PlaStarch Material. PSM is derived from the renewable resource corn starch which is modified, rendering it more heat resistant. As with PLA, PSM is made using renewable resources thereby preserving the earth’s non-renewable resources such as coal and oil.

Specific forms of PSM meet the EN 13432 standard and are certified as compostable.

Sugar Cane Pulp - This biodegradable material comes from the reeds of sugar canes and makes an excellent substitute for the plastics used in conventional fast food takeaway packaging which takes many years to break down.

Products made from sugar cane pulp are not only made from a renewable resource – plants – but also have the added benefit that sugar cane pulp would otherwise be a WASTE product which is now being put to good use. Sugar cane pulp products can be used in microwaves, ovens, and refrigerators.

INGEO - END OF LIFE..

Renewing Ingeo: End-of-Life Options

NatureWorks have carefully developed a vision for the disposal & recycling of products made with Ingeo. Yet when thinking about environmental impact, it's important to recognize that true evironmental advantage starts at the beginning.

By design, using Ingeo results in 75% less greenhouse gases than the oil-based PET plastic it replaces, even if both end up in a landfill.

Ingeo has more end-of-life options than any other plastics material:

COMPOSTING	FEEDSTOCK RECYCLING	RECYCLING (recovery & sortation)


INCINERATION (with energy recovery)	LANDFILL

INGEO...WHAT IS IT? HOW IT IS MADE??

NatureWorks LLC are at the forefront of PLA (Polylactic Acid) production technology and are constantly improving the production process to make it more energy efficient and environmentally sustainable.
From plants to plastics, making Ingeo is a completely new and innovative process.Their technology is found nowhere else in the world and provides an eco-friendly option in many segments.

THIS POSTER CAN BE VIEWED by ACCESSING:

http://www.natureworksllc.com/The-Ingeo-Journey/Eco-Profile-and-LCA/~/media/The_Ingeo_Journey/EcoProfile_LCA/HowItsMade/NatureWorks_How_Ingeo_is_Made_poster_pdf.pdf

Green Gate company's packaging are largely made of Ingeo. Specific forms of Ingeo meet the EN 13432 standard and are certified as compostable.

The following image shows how our PLA lined eco hot cups break down in just a few weeks:

RESEARCH 8, INKS, PRINTING, LABELS AND ALL IN ONE

from the researchi found:

Company Alocalprnte.com recoginzes environmenatl issues with regards to printing and they do print with vegetable inks.

Company EcoGraphic prints with Vegetable Inks:

"Vegetable-based inks

One solution to VOCs is the use of soya or vegetable-based inks which have lower rates of VOC emissions. Petroleum inks emit 25 to 40 percent VOCs when they dry, while rates for soya and vegetable-based inks are as low as two to four percent. Vegetable oils used in printing inks are essentially non-hazardous. Mineral oils are typically refined from crude oil which is a valuable, finite resource. Energy requirements for extraction, refining and treatment are high. In contrast vegetable oils are derived from renewable resources. Soya and vegetable based inks also benefit the environment due to greater ease of removal from wastepaper during de-inking for recycling."

Company Printwell do also print with Vegetable inks. They state: "We have a strong environmental policy:

Our plate-making equipment is chemical-free and reputably the most environmentally-friendly in the world
Our vehicles run on liquid gas
We use paper which is 100% post waste or where it is not possible we use paper from sustainable forest sources
All waste paper is collected and recycled
All chemicals are safely disposed of
All metal plates and films are recycled
All inks are vegetable based (less solvent air pollution)
We work with suppliers to ensure they recognize and reduce the environmental impact of their products or services

We are 100% committed to reducing our impact on the environment. Our comprehensive Environmental Policy covers every aspect of our business. This is reinforced via innovative training, communication and constant re-appraisal of working methods ."

Company Packaging Environmental do print stickers with vegetable ink!!

Packaging Environmental Ltd was formed in 2007 by two old school friends. After working in the UK and abroad they saw the negative environmental impact that conventional oil based packaging was having on the planet and wanted to do something about it. After many long days, working weekends and sleepless nights PE Ltd is now a thriving organisation that is pioneering the manufacturing, development and use of eco products.

A key ethos of PE Ltd is to provide their products in a cost effective way to all organisations no matter how large or small and to provide our customers with an exceptional and friendly service.

SEACOURT company. Leaders in: Waterless Printing. Also print labels.They say: "We are proud of our achievements:

-We are the World's first Zero Waste Printer
-Multi-award winners, including the Queen's Award for Sustainable Development 2011
-Awarded the highest accreditations for our Environmental Approach
-Communicate your best practice approach using Naturally Responsible straplines"

BERKSHIRE LABELS company: http://www.berkshirelabels.co.uk/ produces compostable labels. They state: " BioTAK®, developed by Berkshire Labels are a range of compostable self adhesive labels and adhesives based on renewable and replenishable resources all certified to EN13432, the European Industrial Compostable Standard. They are certified in there own right which, stands us out from all other ‘fully compostable’ claims made by our competitors."

It is so reassuring to know that changes can be achieved and make big difference on our environment! ..another emails sent with regards to samples.

GREEN DETAILS AND TOUCHES..

Biodegradable & Compostable Labels

Company LabelsPlus produces biodegradable labels made from renewable and replenishable resources and are produced with a compostable adhesive. A revolution in environmentally friendly labelling, biodegradable labels have been accredited with EN13432 (the biodegradable & compostable packaging standard).

Available on white semi gloss paper, unbleached paper and clear material. They can supply them as either singles or on roll and can print them in up to 9 colours, including 4 colour process.

Great Stuff. All sounds good. My design will only encompass 3colours...but I am not sure what type of ink do they use?..email was sent.

Environmental impacts of printing inks

Some of the pigments used in ink contain metallic substances which are harmful to human health and the environment such as cadmium, chromium, lead and mercury. Conventional printing inks are petroleum-based and used with alcohol-based solvents. During the process alcohol and petroleum evaporate emitting Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). These represent environmental pollution and a health hazard to press room workers. In terms of atmospheric pollution, VOCs react with nitrogen oxides in the presence of sunlight to create ozone pollution or photochemical smog.

Vegetable-based inks

RESEARCH 7, WHY PULP?

Reseach on some companies re: molded pulp boxes:

Paper Pulp Solutions: http://www.paperpulpsolutions.co.uk/mouldedpulpproducts.htmhtml, they produce variety of pulp products. and there is a pdf file with them on their web.

Moulded Paper: http://www.mouldedpaper.co.uk/environment.htm

Cullen company do pulp corners: http://www.cullen.co.uk/pulp-corners.html

Pacific Pulp: http://www.pacificpulp.com/ company based, unfortunately in San Diego but very helpful even rough price given on molded boxes! :)

Company 'PULP CIRCLE' (http://www.pulpcircle.com/sustainability.html)

and EXPLAINS that the pulp is:

Flexible

pulp can be molded to fit any shape
pulp packaging is highly versatile across a huge range of product sizes and types
the tooling process is very quick and simple