Greenvoice.com launches anti-packaging viral

Liz Wells, packagingnews.co.uk, 21 October 2008

Greenvoice.com, a website which focuses on green issues, has launched a campaign against excess packaging across several social networking websites.

The campaign has been designed to target a younger audience, who Greenvoice believe are more active with environmental issues.

Greenvoice wants people to sign its petition and plans to lobby the government.

It wants the government to introduce absolute restrictions on packaging, setting optimal weight regulations on packaging and introducing targets for biodegradable packaging.

Greenvoice was unavailable to talk to Packaging News.

Dick Searle, chief executive of the Packaging Federation, said: "The campaign is laughable. It shows just how little these people understand about packaging.

"If these people want to cut down on packaging then they will have to stop buying goods because packaging is just a delivery system for goods."

The campaign viral features a humorous play in which a young woman gets wrapped in plastic and cardboard on her way to meet her boyfriend.

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Comments

Rene Jorgensen - 29 October 2008

Greenvoice.com has launched an Excess Packaging Campaign and not "anti-" packaging campaign.

The difference should be clear, but to make it more evident, I can say that this Excess Packaging campaign is not anti-packaging since obviously some products need packaging, but it is calling for a reduction of "excess" packaging.

Also, please note that neither campaigners from this campaign nor Green voice has been contacted for a comment. However, I am very available for a comment: Rene@greenvoice.com or 07725243826.

Why an Excess Packaging campaign? Well, we do have a challenge called climate change that at least the government is taking serious with the new UK Climate Bill. The problem is that while recycling has gone up over the last ten years, domestic waste has still gone up 20 per cent. And lets be honest: packaging is not just "a delivery system" for goods, but also a mean of marketing and promotion.

This direction is out of touch with the current challenge of climate change, and we all need to help solve the problem. With 90 per cent of all waste being produced by the business sector, it is only fair that this sector contributes as well. There is nothing wrong with growth, but in these challenging times efficiency is another business concept that makes sense.

All this campaign asks for is efficient sensible packaging through absolute restrictions on packaging, optimal weight regulations, and biodegradable packaging. And as most of the leading businesses have figured out already, it makes business sense to market to today's ethically aware consumer.

So, if your business is packaging: how about following evolution and making money at the same time?