Packaging innovation - in design, process, functionality - was a strong theme at PACK EXPO International. Our coverage of the technologies drawing attention at the show continues...

Amazon.com‘s self proclaimed “Frustration-Free” packaging is a gratuitous swipe at packaging.

Rather than take the negative approach, we wonder why the initiative to eliminate packaging designed to merchandise products and prevent in-store shoplifting – something you obviously don’t need when your product arrives in a plain brown box with the mail – wasn’t called something positive. “Convenience packaging” or “Amazon Special Presentation Packaging” would work, wouldn’t they?

Forcing manufacturers to develop “branded class of trade”-specific packaging isn’t new. The big box retailers have been driving manufacturers nuts for some time with their demands for exclusive put ups, which certainly are not frustration free on the operations side of the packaging pipeline.

So, huzzah, Amazon, for making it a little easier for grandmas and grandpas to open the presents they’ll buy their grandkids at e-tail. But, let me ask you this: Would “Amazon Easy Access Packaging” have been that much tougher to promote?

Another PACK EXPO is behind us. It was a good one. Energy on the show floor was high. Attendance was good, and exhibitors reported quality leads. Despite the economy, it appears packagers are continuing to invest in their operations.

We've put together a report of show highlights and will continue our coverage of new product introductions in the days ahead.

After weeks of anticipation, PACK EXPO opened yesterday with the traditional marching band fanfare. We learned Wal-Mart plans to expand its Packaging Scorecard internationally in a keynote address, which described the retailer's progress toward its goal of eliminating packaging waste and its plans to move forward.

There are more keynotes to come and lots to see on the show floor from integrated lines to semiautomatic machines. Other highlights include biodegradable films and pavilions devoted to RFID and containers and materials.

It's not too late to join us.

PACK EXPO International - the largest packaging show in the world’s largest packaging market - opens next Sunday in Chicago’s McCormick Place.

If you haven’t yet registered to attend the exposition and conference, you can do it now online here.

Wal-Mart is laying down the law for its suppliers: “Get with the sustainability program and prove it!” Or words to that effect, anyway.

A thousand or so of the company’s Chinese suppliers got Wal-Mart’s latest sustainability message first hand last Tuesday.

There’s a good chance we’ll hear more about Wal-Mart’s initiative during Amy Zettlemoyer-Lazar’s keynote address on November 9th during PACK EXPO. Wal-Mart’s plan is to put the standard in place for the Chinese starting in January. The rest of the World will be expected to get with the program beginning in March. Want to find out more? Register Here for Zettlemoyer-Lazar’s keynote address. See you there!

In the context of the current economy, “sustainability”, a core theme of PACK EXPO International, is likely to be viewed by attendees with an eye to conserving the most precious resource of any packs ops - money.

Wal-Mart, in a special Sunday afternoon (NOV 9) keynote address, takes up sustainability theme in relation to its sustainable packaging scorecard. Nestlé (Monday, NOV 10), Deloitte Consulting (Tuesday, NOV 11) and Dow Chemical Co. (Wednesday, NOV 12) all offer morning keynote sessions focused on various aspects/questions concerning packaging sustainability. Register to attend these important industry presentations at http://pei2008.packexpo.com/attendee/registration.html. We’ll see you there!

There are a lot of pink packages on the shelves these October days. The number of pink containers we’re seeing in club stores, office supply stores, drug and grocery stores, etc. attests to the popularity and broad appeal of cause-related packaging.

And now, researchers at Cone, Inc. and Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business have research showing that cause related marketing is a sales booster, too. From Procter & Gamble, a company that knows a thing or two about marketing, we’ve noticed pink canisters of Folgers Coffee, bottles of Dawn dishwashing liquids and composite cans of Pringles potato crisps - in whole or in part pinked up to observe National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Double digit sales increases are not uncommon when a product sends a cause-related message to consumers, according to the 2008 Cone Cause Evolutions Study. Most (85%) of consumers say they have a more positive image of companies that support causes they care about. There’s no indication in the study that consumers are buying pink packages of products they wouldn’t otherwise buy, but there is a strong suggestion that pinking up is a strong force in getting consumers to switch brands. Cause-related marketing is associated with product sales increases of 14%-28% - a boost that would be almost impossible to replicate with any other marketing strategy. Obviously, doing good is good for business.

Packaging protects. Usually, that protection is either physical OR environmental.

Making their way around the country these days are packages that afford their contents - temperature-sensitive prescription drugs - protection of both types. Remarkably, the packages are (A) flexible (B) reusable (C) recyclable and (D) economical when compared to other options that might be used. While the pharma field is the first to see the benefits of this pack, national chocolateers may see in Entropy Solutions a packaging answer to the age old challenge of moving chocolate to consumers in the melting heat of summer.

Ergonomic, user friendly packaging is the focus of many patents. One of those patents - US 7,040,500 B2 - issued in 2006, made news in the last few days because, its holder contends, three ideas covered in the patent - a lid that holds a special scoop in place, a channel around the base of the container that allows users to scoop out the granular contents of the container and a stacking feature - are infringed by another manufacturer. The holder of the patent, Bristol-Myers Squibb, is taking Abbott Nutrition to court, contending that its new infant formula canister violates the patents BMS developed for its infant formula. In the quest for innovation a growing number of companies are seeking to protect package designs with patents. What Abbott’s stance on this matter is, remains to be seen. We’ll watch and report.