The Green Revolution in Product Packaging

Product packaging, along with all other aspects of the business world, has gone green. Organizations have found an opportunity to add value to their brands through sustainable packaging and can capitalize on the consumer goodwill which cultivates through such initiatives. Analysis allows companies to find opportunities for efficiencies and therefore reduce the overall long-term footprint of their product packaging. Emerging trends in from 2010 and into 2011 include:

• Design analysis –with the goal to reduce waste and utilize fewer, more sustainable materials

• Supply chain analysis – sourcing to local producers to reduce transportation costs and carbon emissions

• Active and Intelligent Packaging – allows for monitoring shelf life and reducing costs of product loss

The sustainable packaging industry currently generates nearly one hundred billion dollars in global revenue each year with biodegradable packaging as the fastest growing segment of the market.

Ads Worth Spreading

TED (Technology, Entertainment, and Design), a non-profit organization, passionately espouses that ideas have the power to “change attitudes, lives and ultimately, the world”. This organization actively seeks “ideas worth spreading” and awards people for their efforts in this pursuit. This Tuesday TED turned their sights to the advertising community with the challenge to create an “ad worth spreading”. Thirty second to 5 minute video advertisements, submitted by January 10^th, 2011, will be judged on their ability to “reinvent, inspire and engage audiences with a new definition of what video advertising can mean in the digital age, using TED.com as its platform.” Check out TED.com for more information on this enticing contest.

Happy Social Good Day!

Can social media become a tool to better the world we live in? Today, Social Good Day, is a perfect time to ask. Do you have any suggestions to ways that "social media can be used to tackle some of the world's social challenges" including poverty and hunger (or other UN Millenium Development Goals)? To join in the discussion add a comment below, tweet your solutions using the #socialgood hashtag, or check out what speakers at the Social Good Summit, part of UN Week in NY, think about the effect social media can have on social issues. Personally, I think the global nature of social media, the speed of transmission, and the equality of contributions of are some of the benefits the new media can bring to these old issues.