EPAC LAUNCHES BORN GREEN
Flexible packaging operation ePac has launched the ePac Born Green educational campaign, to address what it says is the critical need for its customer base to become knowledgeable and confident about their own sustainability goals.
ePac is highlighting its own environmental benefits, which include eco-friendly consumables, the use of recycled products, lower energy requirements, waste minimalization, and the benefits of on-shoring. ePac produces digitally printed pouches and flexibles, with food entrepreneurs its key market.
As part of the ePac Born Green campaign, ePac has shared a series of educational resources directly with its existing customer base, and the broader Melbourne community of small businesses via social channels.
Specifically, ePac has aimed to break down complex topics, like the latest developments in sustainable packaging and changes in regulation in Australia, into a series of easy-to-follow instructional and educational videos, equipping small businesses with the information they need to make informed decisions about their packaging needs while meeting their own unique environmental targets.
A few of the main topics covered in the educational resources include; what changes are taking place in 2025 under APCO and supermarket mandates, how to meet these targets, what packaging options are available, what the circular economy actually is, the impact of wasted resources in food production, and representing your brand values and how to avoid inadvertent greenwashing
Claire Summers, APAC marketing director for ePac Flexible Packaging, said, "We see ePac as fulfilling the role of the trusted advisor for our customers. We provide support to our younger, developing customers where a packaging technologist is not available, and guide our more established customers on the latest sustainable developments, to ensure all brands are representing their companies values correctly to the marketplace and steering clear of unconscious greenwashing.
"With the Australian government and major supermarkets enforcing packaging mandates by 2025, there will be a lot of customers left vulnerable in knowing what is required to be ranged in retail. ePac is here to help them navigate the increasingly challenging sustainable packaging space in Australia. This has included releasing to the market, market mono-polymer packaging that fits in with APCO guidelines which would then allow it to be considered recyclable under the new 2025 guidelines.”
Since launching in Australia 18 months ago ePac has built a strong network of customers of all sizes, through its innovative business modelled it says by upstream thinking, which leverages digital printing technology to deliver order to demand, fast, flexible packaging manufactured onshore. Now ePac is now taking the next step to guide its customers through their own circular business models, encouraging them to avoid unnecessary waste from ever being created, and using existing waste as a resource.
IN what it says is an industry first in Australia, ePac’s digital printing technology uses polymer-based inks – which consume less energy than solvent or UV curable inks. It also uses recycled film and cannisters diverted from landfill, to produce a carbon neutral printing process. Overall, by using less energy usage during setup and production, and minimising the need for high volumes of inks and substrates, ePac says it reduces customers’ environmental impact when compared to conventional printing practices.
ePac says its on-shore manufacturing enables local businesses to receive high-quality flexible packaging at lower costs, while minimising environmental footprint by circumventing the need for costly overseas shipping, while its order-to-demand model avoids obsolescence and keeps unused plastic packaging out of landfill. The company says its local, onshore manufacturing model minimises transit distance for feedstock via local sourcing. Additionally, the global ePac One network of connected printers ensures that orders are scheduled to the nearest plant to reduce time spent on the road.