Abstract
Introduction to Report
We believe that "Sustainable Packaging "must not only be environmentally
friendly but also human friendly.
Therefore, this comprehensive report covers the latest advance in new material
development including bio-plastics derived from plant sources, material
reduction technology to create light packaging, recyclable and reusable
packaging as well as innovations in consumer packaging design that makes it
easier to use by all consumers including the elderly and disabled. Items for
inclusion in the report have made considerable contributions in reducing
petroleum and consumption, CO2 emissions and landfill waste and overall
packaging and transportation costs while at the same time improving ease of
use.
One such example is the sustainable packaging policy by "Coca-Cola System in
Japan." The system covers all aspects of the product's lifecycle from R&D
through to eventual disposal and is based on the general principles of 3R
(Reduce, Reuse & Recycle).
Research into packaging weight reduction initially began back in the 1970s and
resulted in a range of lighter bottles including the "Easy Hold Eco-Ru-Bottle"
a 2 liter size PET bottle launched in February 2009 for its Aquarius isotonic
and Sokenbicha tea beverages that weighed 47g (10g less than the previous
bottle first launched in 1995). As with all items in the "Easy Hold" range,
the bottle features a number of design features that makes it both easier to
hold in addition to pour. In May 2009, the company launched the "Easy Hold
Eco-Ru-Bottle Shiboru (Squeeze)" a 520ml size PET bottle that uses 40% less
material and weighs just 12g, making it the lightest bottle of its class in
Japan. The bottle is designed to crush down easily following use to aid
disposal. The company used the bottle (520ml/12g) for its mineral water "I
LOHAS.
The report also covers similar systems and product innovations introduced by
other Japanese beverage companies including Kirin Brewery, Suntory, Otsuka
Pharmaceutical, Pokka and Asahi Breweries, etc. The report is divided into 3
main sections:
A. Sustainable Packaging Technology: Covering the latest developments
in environmentally friendly packaging technology including an article on Kirin
Beverage's new water color ink and associated print technology for use in
printing plastic labels for PET bottles. Labels printed with the ink are soon
to be used on the company's popular "Alkali Ion Water" isotonic beverage.
B. Sustainable Packaging Materials: Covering advances in new
environmentally friendly material development including an article on Honda
Shoji's "K-plus" paper a patent pending wood free paper product produced
from an inorganic mineral powder (calcium carbonate) extracted from stone and
a polyethylene resin binding agent.
C. Sustainable Consumer Packaging: Covering innovations environmentally
friendly packaging item including an article on Otsuka Pharmaceutical's new
900ml lightweight PET plastic "Eco Bottle" for its popular "Pokari Sweat"
sports beverage. The new bottle with a total of weight of 29g is approximately
30% lighter than conventional PET bottles, which Otsuka estimate over 2 year
period will reduce the amount of PET plastic used by 276 tons, equating to an
annual reduction in CO2 emissions of 882 tons.
The report covers a wide range of packaging types including those used for
food, beverage, daily necessity items, cosmetics, household products, IT and
home appliance items as well as components for the automotive, aeronautics and
building sectors.
The report also covers the latest from the Asia's largest exhibition regarding
environmental issues "20th New Environmental Exhibition 2011 Tokyo" held at
the Tokyo Big Site over 4 days from May 24th 2011. Themes covered in the
exhibition included:
- 3R
- Resource recovery / recycling
- Control & improvement of air pollution
- Soil contamination
- Waste disposal & new energy
According to the "IT Market Report" published in April by the New York based
news and information service Thomson Reuters, in the world food packaging
sector Japanese companies occupy all of the 5 positions with regard the number
of patents held. From the top these companies are: Dai Nippon Printing Co.,
Ltd., Toppan Printing Co., Ltd., Yoshino Kogyo Co., Ltd., Toyo Seikan Kaisha
Ltd. and Fuji Seal International, INC. All of the above are packaging related
companies. The number of patents held by the top 2 companies number in excess
of 400, more than double the total amount held by the other 3 companies.
The large number of patents related to packaging technical developments held
by Japanese companies undoubtedly attests to the prominence of Japan in the
field.
Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION TO REPORT
2. SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING TECHNOLOGY, MATERIALS & CONSUMER PACKAGING
A. Sustainable Packaging Technology
- 001. Application of light catalyst increasing
- 002. Rengo win prestigious "World Star" prize
- 003. High heat resistance polylactic acid bio plastic
- 004. Polypropylene & old rice container
- 005. Kyodo develop new type of molded pulp cup
- 006. Liquid type heat resistant polyimide plastic
- 007. Cardboard & plastic one-way container
- 008. Low cost bio plastic reinforcing agent from Daiso
- 009. New coloring technology for recycled plastic
- 010. Transparent, viscous film from Mitsui
- 011. Recycled paper materials IC cards
- 012. Brine additive biodegradable plastic
- 013. Low CO2 emitting PLA/ABC plastic production process
- 014. Bio plastic car radiator tank components
- 015 Pet bottle to pet bottle recycling
- 016. Recyclable school dinnerware
- 017. Newly developed additive improves PLA processing
- 018. Stronger, lighter polystyrene for food industry
- 019. On demand 3-dimensional POP printer
- 020. Reusable PET bottles
- 021. Fast hold out box containers
- 022. Air filled shock absorber
- 023. Solid fuel from recycled fridge urethane
- 024. Low cost packaging film production system
- 025. Egg traceability system
- 026. Kewpie reduce volume of printing ink on boxes
- 027. Freon gas free urethane foam insulation foam
- 028. Tray-less wrapping machine
- 029. New "Flask" shaped pack for leafy vegetables
- 030. Lightweight OPS container from CP Kasei
- 031. High strength polylactic acid modifier for use in bio-plastic
- 032. Square standing pouch
- 033. Next generation package printing
- 034. Water color ink for PET bottles labels from Kirin
B. Sustainable Packaging Materials
- 035. Antibacterial & deodorizing paper packaging
- 036. Easy peel film tape from Unitika
- 037. Multi-dimple Dispen Pak
- 038. Suntory to use ultra thin PET bottle
- 039. Waste reducing air cushion pouch from Toppan
- 040. RFID tag for metal beverage can lids
- 041. Stylish, eco friendly wooden lunch boxes
- 042. Suntory switch to plastic wrapper for waste 6-packs
- 043. Kikkoman to use lightweight 1 liter bottle
- 044. Wrapping paper box with plastic cutting blade
- 045. High gas barrier nylon film for retort packaging
- 046. Environmentally friendly inorganic mineral paper
- 047. Trashcan made from PET bottle caps
- 048. Stone paper
- 049. New foam type PE plastic shock absorbent sheets
- 050. Easy peel off labels
- 051. Reduced thickness polyolefin film
- 052. Toyota use bio-plastic in car interior components
- 053. Next generation of PP band from Sekisui
- 054. Stretch film made from 40% recycled material
- 055. New PLA material food tray
- 056. Film bag food tray replacement
- 057. New high gas barrier plastic from Kuraray
- 058. Biodegradable flexi drinking straw
- 059. Low CO2 emitting foamed PP bowl
- 060. Environmentally friendly peel away tray
- 061. Shock absorbing sheet for food packs
- 062. New ultra thin high stretch film from Tsukasa
- 063. Wood pulp conserving stone paper
- 064. Carton neutral transparent plastic
- 065. Bio urethane from Toyo Soflantec
- 066. Wood food tray
- 067. Carbon neutral tapioca based bio-plastic
- 068. Strong, flexible biodegradable rubbish bags
- 069. "Flat" tube from Daiwa Can
- 070. High gas barrier shock absorbing wrapping films
- 071. Easy opening tofu pack
- 072. Recycled PET plastic fiber multipurpose tape
- 073. Color bands made from 100% recycled material
- 074. Rice bran ink
- 075. Ultra thin tape inner roll
- 076. Reusable film bag from Packs
- 077. Safe, fast drying environmentally friendly ink
- 078. Bamboo grass / safflower paper
- 079. Environmentally friendly peel away tray
- 080. CO2 absorbing agent reduces emissions by 60%
C. Sustainable Consumer Packaging
- 081. Otsuka to use 900ml "Eco Bottle" for sports drinks
- 082. Coca-Cola to use PET bottle made from sugar cane
- 083. Environmentally friendly umbrella device
- 084. Reusable dehumidifying agent
- 085. Kewpie reduces size of dressing bottle
- 086. Beauty cream uses unique application tube
- 087. Environmentally friendly organic cosmetics range
- 088. Female body line mineral water bottles
- 089. Zeria use Bottle-Can for health supplement
- 090. High function, environmentally friendly rice bags
- 091. Unique facial oil refill
- 092. Eco type stick glue
- 093. Seaweed film cup noodle packs
- 094. 350ml size slim "Bottle-Can" from Asahi
- 095. New light weight cup for sake
- 096. New PET bottle from frozen beverages
- 097. Sustainable PET bottle from Coca-Cola
- 098. Unilever change Lipton tea packaging
- 099. Coke introduce light weight 2 liter bottle
- 100. Kewpie reduces size of dressing bottle
- 101. Shiseido introduce refill packs to Sea Breeze range
- 102. Re-sealable screw top can
- 103. Bowl box wins Japan's Good Design Award
- 104. 18 sided dessert tub
- 105. S.T. Corp. release economy air freshener
- 106. Wide mouth plastic supplement bottle with hinge lid
- 107. Maruha Nichiro introduce safer can
- 108. Odor blocking pot noodle container
- 109. Integrated net & tray fruit packaging
- 110. Self-recycling cardboard container
- 111. Easy opening sausage meat wrapping film
- 112. Sweet potato shochu in a bamboo container
- 113. Yakult switch from foil to polystyrene lid
- 114. Sensitive document recycling service
- 115. Cosmetics container collection service
- 116. Eco type chilled coffee cup packaging
- 117. Metal like plastic film
- 118. Airline to begin use of PET bottle wine
- 119. Antibacterial water type cold preserving agent
- 120. High tech chocolate gift box
- 121. Barista style cup coffee from UCC
- 122. Inkless printer
- 123. Water boiling box for emergencies
- 124. Packed lunch trays from potato biomass
- 125. Non-woven cloths for commercial use
- 126. Recycled paper box from 100% recycled paper
- 127. Recyclable plastic chopsticks
- 128. Air freshener made from recycled gel cooling agent
- 129. Instant coffee refills from Nestle
- 130. Water draining plastic bag
- 131. Potato tower packaging
- 132. Highly stable plastic distribution boxes
- 133. Braille salad dressing bottle
- 134. One touch opening plastic container
- 135. Itoham Foods revamps wiener packaging
- 136. Cosmetic gift set
- 137. 2-capsule blister packs
- 138. Embossed laminate film
- 139. Wine can with plastic drinking cup
- 140. Egg shaped tofu container
- 141. Vegetable specific packaging from Sugimoto Nousan
- 142. Insulated shaved ice cups
- 143. Environmental Awareness raising biomass toys
- 144. Small glass size wine carton
- 145. Coca-Cola use wide moth bottle for milk drink
- 146. Easy squeeze condiment tube
- 147. Cap locking device for deodorant spray
- 148. Crown Defeating eco rubbish sacks
- 149. Low CO2 emitting packaging from Kao
3. JAPAN BIOPLASTICS ASSOCIATION (JBPA)
4. PLASTIC WASTE MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE (PWMI)
5. PLASTIC PACKAGING RECYCLING COUNCIL (PPRC)
6. THE COUNCIL FOR PET BOTTLE RECYCLING (CPBR)
7. THE JAPAN CONTAINERS AND PACKAGINGF RECYCLING ASSOCIATION (JCPRA)
8. JAPAN ENVIRONMENT ASSOCIATION (JEA)
9. JAPAN STEEL CAN RECYCLING ASSOCIATION (JSCRA)
10. FUTURE PERSPECTIVES
