EPA Packaging Design Winners to Display at Pack Expo LV

Published: April 14, 2003, By PRESS RELEASE

Pack Expo Las Vegas, October 13-15, 2003
Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV, USA; packexpo.com

ARLINGTON, VA, USA—The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Solid Waste, in partnership with McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry (MBDC), reports it will display the winners of the first ever "Cradle to Cradle Design Challenge for E-Commerce Shipping Packaging and Logistics" at Pack Expo Las Vegas.

Says EPA's Angie Leith, "We wanted to make sure the [competition] receives the broadest possible exposure. As the premiere packaging trade show in the US, with more than 17,000 attendees, Pack Expo Las Vegas is the venue."

Charles Yuska, president of the Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute (PMMI) and show organizer, says the organization is "pleased and honored" the EPA and partner MBDC chose Pack Expo to display the winners. "The packaging professionals in attendance will have an opportunity to view cutting-edge packaging solutions that are environmentally sensitive and meet the needs of both consumers and businesses."

According to information from EPA and MBDC, "the premise of the [challenge] is to rethink and redesign e-commerce shipping packaging for a cradle-to-cradle life cycle. Designs will consider packaging and its complementary life cycle, including: the systems needed to facilitate cyclical material flows; the ecological and human health characteristics of the materials; and how physical design facilitates reuse and recyclability."

Continues EPA: "[It's] specifically targeted at the shipping packaging associated with the suburban home delivery of Internet purchases of books, CDs, DVDs, and videos, including systems for package recovery. Because cradle-to-cradle solutions will require collaboration among a variety of stakeholders, including packaging manufacturers, logistics specialists, e-commerce companies, and industrial designers, cross-disciplinary group submissions are encouraged. All interested groups and individuals are invited to participate. Student entries will be judged separately."

Cradle to Cradle Design Challenge for E-Commerce Shipping Packaging and Logistics entries will be evaluated on a variety of levels from packaging materials to recovery-system considerations. Winning entries will be selected based on the degree to which cradle-to-cradle principles are incorporated. Entry deadline is: August 15, 2003. For more information about the design challenge, visit mbdc.com/challenge.