Liberty Intercept Blog

Sustainability concerns with the use and disposal of plastic sandwich bags have apparently not hindered their sales too greatly, for a variety of reasons, particularly in schools. A story entitled "Despite Sustainability Concerns, Sandwich Bags are Sticking Around" in Plastics News this week indicates that even in school districts where children qualify for the Federal Free and Reduced Lunch Program, the use of plastic sandwich bags continues. Elementary school teachers often request one or two packages of sandwich or zipper bags from their students' use in the classroom, along with the other typical supplies children would use.

My wife returned from her business trip to Las Vegas with a gift for me. Elaine said the trade show she visited was fascinating, but my mind was focused on the shiny gift bag she held in her hand.

The smallish, designer, bottom and side gusseted, heavy card stock bag is a distinguished, full-color print to match the color scheme of the product inside. From the flat bottom, the shape tapers inward toward the opening, which features a die cut handle and ribbon closure. Inside the bag is a box surrounded by clear shrink wrap.

There are 313 patents under the name "Apple" that include Steve Jobs' name on the inventor list. Including patents for packaging, according to a recent New York Times article by Shan Carter.

Are you surprised?

I asked Simon Twilley of Pack TV to supply me with a blog post topic. His quick answer was this: "Protective Packaging, the unsung hero of Consumer Packaged Goods, or Fast Moving Consumer Goods". While his alternative title, "Why All That Arty Farty Brand Stuff Would Never Get To The Shelf Without Protective Packaging" was a bit tongue-in-cheek, the topic is valid, as new materials, converting methods, printing, and labeling flood the consumer marketplace.

A recent article from retail packaging powerhouse and fellow Twitterer Nashville Wraps (@NashvilleWraps on Twitter) brought home the real value of good customer service. Their article "Relaxed Customers Spend More Money" includes a list of the categories that matter to customers.

An unfortunate and "significant spill in the context of annual amounts of oil spilt in the North Sea" is still leaking. It's a very small spill compared to the one in the Gulf of Mexico, nevertheless, each spill has environmental consequences. We don't look to place blame; things happen, it seems like only a matter of time before one drilling site or another has a mishap. It's a difficult and complicated business, no doubt.

If you tax consumers for an item or service, you might expect them to use that item or service less to avoid paying tax. Unfortunately, the effect of Hong Kong's tax on plastic shopping bags has caused a 25% increase in the use of plastics since the levy began two years ago in July, 2009. Rather than reuse plastic shopping bags as trash bags, people have been purchasing reusable non-woven polypropylene bags for shopping and heavier-duty plastic trash bags for the purpose of garbage disposal, accounting for the increase in plastics usage.

First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt wrote in her book "This is America" of Main Street in Hingham, Massachusetts, “This is the most beautiful main street in America.”  Historical Hingham was settled in 1633 and as I was driving one of its first roads recently, I realized it would be hard to disagree with her assessment. Big, beautiful, well-manicured homes are recessed from the street; stone walls built by craftsman mold into the contours of the land; old-growth trees shade the neighborhood.

Need some new ideas for recycling at home? Here are some of the ways we reuse and recycle materials:

1. Cut the legs and seat of worn out sweatpants into squares or rectangles for washing the car, dusting furniture, wiping the bathroom mirrors, cleaning windows, or whatever other cleaning chore you have. Worn bath or dish towels can serve the same purpose - all can be machine washed until they're no longer useful.

Over the course of several chats with the head of the Intercept Technology Group, Keith Donaldson (video series to be released soon), we learned about the groundbreaking work of Dr. W. Edwards Deming, an American statistician, professor, author, lecturer and consultant. Dr. Deming had many skills, including electrical engineering, playing the drums, singing, and writing sacred music. His legacy is impressive, especially his work developing new quality control protocols for manufacturing.