November 6, 2024
Your Association constantly receives news from subscription sources, regular public news services, members, and Associates on local and regional issues, other associations, investment firms, and publicly traded events. We view our Association’s responsibility as staying immersed in these issues, and when we do not have answers for questions you ask, we connect with our network and look to other news sources.
A cover feature article in the July 22, 2024, issue of Board Converting News was on Premier Packaging and included mention of a 22-page sustainability report. This document is available to view or download from the company’s website, www.prempack.com.
One year ago, we partnered with the Packaging School, associated with Clemson University in South Carolina, on an eight-hour online course on carbon neutrality—one piece of the total sustainability puzzle. AICC members who chose to participate were able to make significant reductions in their sustainability footprint and enjoyed the exercise. This was just one more educational benefit of AICC membership.
In August, it was reported that BlackRock rebranded the very negative phrase “environmental, social, and governance” as “transitional investing.” For those of you who are not familiar, BlackRock is the world’s largest asset management company, with over $10 trillion under management. So, what’s the big deal?
The company is the elephant in the room and is able to tell public companies where they own stocks or bonds and how they are to run their business in regard to the issues listed above.
The opposition was so loud that BlackRock needed to rebrand its tactics. This is important to you because this can have a trickle-down effect. Your packaging clients could start asking about your way of doing business. A copy of the report titled BlackRock Investment Steward: Climate and Decarbonization Stewardship Guidelines is at bit.ly/3T9xrlh.
In May, AICC held a very well-attended and successful AI Xperience. We continue to be out front on these issues. Thanks again to all the knowledgeable presenters. Keep up the good work.
Against this, we observed that Dole is moving as fast as it can to paper-based packaging and away from plastic for certain ready-to-eat consumer foods. Its claim is that the new packaging design eliminates 97% of plastic usage across an entire product lineup. I assume more paper-based wine bottles are on their way!
Deutsche Bank published a research paper on July 11, 2024. In the survey of consumers regarding the biggest economic risks in the next few years, the five that may have the biggest impact on us as boxmakers are as follows:
- High inflation
- Climate change
- Slow economic growth
- Rise of artificial intelligence (AI)
- Collapse of global supply chains
The Institute of Packaging Professionals’ new Sustainable Packaging Technical committee is just beginning. We belong to the Chemical Packaging committee in which we monitor movements in the United Nations’ hazardous materials regulations for corrugated packaging.
The Paper and Paperboard Packaging Environmental Council in Canada has been commenting to provincial governments about the Ontario Blue Dot program, which has not accomplished what lawmakers originally envisioned.
Now, their efforts are being applied to being industry experts on extended producer responsibly (EPR), especially to British Columbia lawmakers. Remember that five states in the United States have passed various forms of EPR legislation, all with varying levels of success.
SuperCorrExpo® had two sessions on these issues in September 2024, and at FastMarkets’ International Containerboard Conference in October 2023, AICC moderated a panel discussion on AI. The sustainability session at SuperCorrExpo® featured discussion on life analysis and packaging-to-product weight ratios.
Don’t go it alone. We are here to support and guide you.
Ralph Young is the principal of Alternative Paper Solutions and is AICC’s technical advisor. Contact Ralph directly about technical issues that impact our industry at askralph@AICCbox.org.
