When a shipper’s box fails to stand out and their branding message is unclear, the need can be satisfied with a new graphic design that is printed on 100% recycled content corrugated board with eco-friendly, water based inks. However, the shipper’s delight comes from the way their new custom-printed, branded packaging looks and their customer’s experience is enhanced, not the obvious green gain: green plus branding.

A client complains of fast rising shipping costs. When a new design results in 6% lower shipping costs inbound and 14% lower shipping costs outbound, the fact that it is accomplished with a stronger, lighter weight board and a design that uses 20% fewer square inches, rarely matters to the client. The focus is on: green plus shipping cost reduction.

It is not that these companies don’t care about the environment. In fact many of them are good corporate citizens with meaningful sustainability initiatives. However, the next meeting agenda is much more likely to be focused on sales and profit performance, rather than greenhouse gasses or debating the size of the polar ice caps.

The green message? That probably remains the same for anyone still willing to make an effort to raise consciousness – each one of us can still make a big difference by doing the little things the right way.

Dennis writes in the area of sustainable packaging with his work appearing in numerous blogs and magazines, including his own blog, Inside Sustainable Packaging. Dennis and his company provide custom eco friendly packaging solutions through Salazar Packaging and stock green packaging products via GlobeGuardProducts, which is the first internet store featuring all eco-friendly packaging supplies. Recently Dennis also made news by launching GreenPackagingGroup, which is a B2B packaging blog and directory for eco-minded buyers. He is president and co-founder of Salazar Packaging.