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www.brandpackaging.com
BUY
> PLUS: COCA-COLA.
125 YEARS YOUNG.
makers of food-loving,
flavor-preserving glass packaging
DEPARTMENTS
06 EDITORIAL
10 NEXT+ NOW
36 JUST OUT
38 THE BOTTOM LINE > THE ROI OF
DEBBIE & ANDREW’S REDESIGN
JUL11 www.brandpackaging.com 05
>
CONTINUITY
editor-in-chief
PAULINE HAMMERBECK
hammerbeckp@bnpmedia.com
associate editor
PAULINE HAMMERBECK JENNIFER WELBEL
welbelj@bnpmedia.com
AND CHANGE
EDITOR IN CHIEF
contributing editor
hammerbeckp@bnpmedia.com KATE BERTRAND CONNOLLY
twitter: @phammerbeck art director
CHRISTOPHER PIRRONE
T
he big branding news this summer has likely been principal, Brandimage, Desgrippes and laga
HOWARD ALPORT
the 125th anniversary of Coca-Cola. It’s hard to chairman, pratt inst. graduate
imagine any other brand that can claim its global school of package design DON ARIEV
president/ceo, brandscope GARY CHIAPPETTA
impact: “Coke” is the world’s second most-widely
president, the consumer research network, inc.
understood term (“Ok” is the first) and the MONA DOYLE
principal of integrale GRETCHEN GOGESCH
company’s distribution system reaches nearly unreachable
vice dean and director, undergraduate division,
corners of the world (a sharp nonprofit is even trying to tap the wharton school BARBARA E. KAHN
that network by inserting aid products into crates of Coca- dean lindsay design DEAN LINDSAY
chairman, department of food marketing,
Cola delivered to remote African villages, www.colalife.org). st. joseph’s university JOHN B. LORD, PH.D.
president, source/inc. WILLIAM J. O’CONNOR
jft studios FRANK TOBOLSKI
Of course, this all isn’t something you can quantify. But company assistant professor, school of packaging,
CEO Muhtar Kent said it well when he told those gathered at michigan state university DIANA TWEDE, PH.D.
director, food & brand lab,university of illinois
Atlanta headquarters for the big celebration, “Coca-Cola is more than just a drink. It’s an idea…a BRIAN WANSINK, PH.D.
vision…a feeling…one of the truly common threads that actually bond the world together.” > ADVERTISING
group publisher: packaging group, MIKE BARR
(630) 801-4152 barrm@bnpmedia.com
Coca-Cola can also claim dominance in our slice of life. Is there anything more iconic, more associate publisher, SAM WILSON
(847) 405-4075 wilsons@bnpmedia.com
readily identifiable, than the Coca-Cola contour bottle? senior development manager, SENNA M. SHEHADEH
(248) 227-1029 shehadehs@bnpmedia.com
advertising/production manager, JEFF BAGWELL
For some, it would be easy to rest on that heritage. But not Coca-Cola. The brand has been living (248) 244-6481 bagwellj@bnpmedia.com
a hybrid reality of continuity and progress for more than a century—and it’s something we’ve > BNP CUSTOM MEDIA GROUP
business development manager, CHRISTOPHER WILSON
seen more dramatically in recent years with new packaging formats and an altered identity that (248) 244-8264 wilsonc@bnpmedia.com
scrapped graphic soda conventions like drops of water for a focus on the brand’s core: the classic > AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT
audience development manager
Spencerian script and “Coke red.” And then there’s the brand’s “Open Happiness” campaign, PEGGY PEREZ
which, essentially has expanded the idea of enjoying a Coke into a meaningful, memory-making multimedia coordinator STACEY NOOCHA
audience audit coordinator
moment. Genius! CAROLYN M. ALEXANDER
for subscription information or service, please
contact Customer Service at:
So while we celebrate the brand’s impact on packaging, design, marketing and — it’s no Phone: (847) 763-9534
Fax: (847) 763-9538
overstatement — the world, we also look to the future with a check-in on CEO Muhtar Kent’s E-mail: BP@halldata.com
vision for 2020 and the company’s Venturing and Emerging Brands unit, which is charged with www.brandpackaging.com
finding and developing the next big thing. Coke has certainly been that over the last 125 years — it > LIST RENTAL
postal contact KEVIN COLLOPY
will be interesting to see what the next century brings. BP 800-223-2194 x684
Kevin.Collopy@infogroup.com
email contact MICHAEL COSTANTINO
800-223-2194 x748
W Chicago–City Center
PackagingThatSells.com
> CORPORATE DIRECTORS
publishing TIMOTHY A. FAUSCH
> HOW TO CONTACT BRANDPACKAGING publishing JOHN R. SCHREI
PHONE (847) 405-4000 FAX (847) 405-4100 INTERNET http://www.brandpackaging.com corporate strategy RITA M. FOUMIA
MAIL 155 pfingsten rd., suite 205, deerfield, il 60015 marketing ARIANE CLAIRE
production VINCENT M. MICONI
BRANDPACKAGING (ISSN 1558-3570) is published 8 times annually, Jan/Feb, Mar, Apr, May/Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep/Oct finance LISA L. PAULUS
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2011, by BNP Media II, L.L.C. All rights reserved. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced in whole or clear seas research BETH A. SUROWIEC
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06 www.brandpackaging.com JUL11
ADVERTORIAL
Closing
the
>> by Erika Flynn
W
hat if you knew that more than one Because of vertical integration within the company’s
billion water and soft drink bottles Midwest facility, EcoStar® materials minimize the
had been diverted from landfills and total carbon footprint, according to Jennifer Mitchell,
converted into packaging that could marketing communications manager for the company,
make your product stand out on-shelf? And what from primarily sourcing bottles throughout the
if you were told this same packaging offers greater Midwest to streamlining local and regional operations
clarity, improved functionality, top-notch seals and at every step of the process.
closures, and sells more products? Would you want to “We’re taking everything that’s collected from
continue the conversation? curbside recycling and bringing it back in to grind,
wash and process it through our system into flake and
SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING roll stock materials,” says Mitchell. “Companies buying
EcoStar® packaging from Placon Corporation is RPET thermoforms from Placon are getting a complete
made from up to 100% post-consumer bottles and vertically integrated process back a step earlier than
thermoforms. As one of the first thermoformers to other thermoformers.” Being able to control the entire
produce plastic packaging from recycled materials, process, she adds, enables Placon to control both its
the company continues to prove its leadership in supply and the products’ quality. of commercial, design and program management
the industry, now with nearly 20 years of experience According to Mitchell, new equipment within the professionals concentrates on developing right-sizing
working with post-consumer recycled PET. EcoStar® facility has unique capabilities that enable options, recycled content and “smart” solutions that
In May, the company opened the doors of its new the production of 100% post-consumer recycled link environmental sustainability with design impact.
70,000-square-foot EcoStar® closed-loop recycling PET for food packaging. “Many times when you “Besides delivering a package that encourages
facility, becoming one of the first thermoforming have recycled content, a virgin layer has to be what customer interaction with your product, we’re attuned
companies in the food and consumer packaging is touching the actual food,” she says. “But with the to the delivery, distribution and merchandising
industry to implement its own in-house recycling decontamination process this material goes through, requirements of mass merchandisers,” says Mitchell.
facility to process post-consumer bottles as well as it is approved for food contact.” “Keeping an eye on the constantly evolving
thermoforms. EcoStar® recycled PET products include Dimensions Bakery packaging is now also requirements of mass retailers and environmental
utility flake, LNO (letter of non-object) flake for available from the company, which is a complete standards means we offer a knowledgeable partnership
food packaging, and sheet products for the food and line of bakery containers that, along with using up that helps make your job easier.”
consumer products markets. to 100% post-consumer recycled content, it also Whether food items or retail product packaging,
provides exceptional clarity to promote in-store sales. Mitchell adds that keeping products visible to
According to the company, the line provides retailers consumers is key. “We all know it promotes more
with “a way to address environmental concerns sales when people can see what they’re buying,”
without sacrificing packaging integrity, freshness or she says. “Being able to see any product clearly will
appearance.” The PET material and secure perimeter generate more sales than something that’s sitting
snap on the packaging keeps it closed and the product behind a closed cardboard box. We have the ability to
safe from store to home. color trays or anything a customer would want, but
the majority of everything we make is clear packaging
CONSUMER PACKAGING CREDENTIALS for store shelves.” Q
Consumer packaged goods customers are recognizing
Placon as a launch partner early on in their new
program initiatives, and Placon has an internal team
of professionals in place that serves as an integral part
of any customer’s product launch. Working to meet www.placon.com • www.ecostarplastics.com
both customer and industry requirements, this team 800-541-1535
innovation
>
W H E N PA C K A G I N G M AT T E R S .
You don’t need just any package for your product, you need the right one.
Choose Placon as your thermoform packaging partner when design,
experience and the environment matters. You’ll receive unparalleled
service and unique solutions for even the most challenging packaging
project. Don’t settle for anything less than the best solution. We’ll help
you find it. Placon. When Packaging Matters.
>
your
800-541-1535 | www.placon.com
NEXT
NIKE (MAKES
POSTER) FREE
+NOW
Nike has put packaging at the center of a global
campaign for Nike FREE, a line of shoes meant
to simulate barefoot running. A promotional
wrap that “celebrates the individual” has been
created for the shoeboxes to highlight the
footwear’s positioning for everyday athletes.
Though it surrounds the box, the wrap
maintains the same production parameters as
the conventional shoebox and serves as a
keepsake poster—a way to reinforce the alternate
meaning of “free” in Nike FREE. (Campaign
creative: Hybrid Design, www.hybrid-design.
com; creative director Dora Drimalas; design
director Caleb Kozlowski; design Sumila Mehta.)
10 www.brandpackaging.com JUL11
JU
Packaging. Processing. Powerful.
P R O D U C E D B Y: CO-LOCATED WITH:
12 www.brandpackaging.com JUL11
transparentcontainer.com/impulse1
When you consider that only 10% of the world’s forests are certified, we have a long way to go.
The good news is that there are a number of credible forest certification programs. And each one,
including SFI, encourages responsible forestry. When you buy or source SFI-labeled paper, packaging
or wood products, you increase demand for responsibly managed forests. So look for the SFI label,
and source wisely. For more on forest certification and what you can do, visit www.sfiprogram.org.
NEUROSCIENCE EXPLAINS THE
H
ow brands like Gerber and Chips Ahoy! are using neuroscience
16 www.brandpackaging.com JUL11
JUL11 www.brandpackaging.com 17
F
ew would dispute that emotion plays solely on rational, fact-based product comparisons. Instead,
an important role in packaging. In a they sort through items quickly—and the packages that
world of overwhelming choice, with “break through” and make an immediate connection
hundreds of products in each category, are most likely to end up in the shopping cart.
shoppers simply don’t have time to
That’s why we’ve partnered with EmSense, a neuromarketing
consider all the options and can’t rely
firm, to bring the study of emotions and
cognition to package research. Without question,
WHAT WE MEASURE neuroscience represents a promising new research
tool, which may offer a window to a greater
We analyze neuroscience data with a very simple framework. EEG understanding of shoppers’ motivations and,
readings are considered along two critical dimensions—emotions ultimately, a path to better packaging. By looking
(positive or negative) and cognition (the amount of thought)—and at EEG readings that reveal emotions (positive
four response/reaction types: unengaged, confusion, interest and or negative feelings) and cognition (the amount
easy enjoyment. of thought), marketers and designers can use
neuroscience as a diagnostic tool and a source of
design inspiration. And by linking these measures
30
18 www.brandpackaging.com JUL11
Pure. Simple.
Perfectly protected.
At xpedx, we extend design strategy beyond the
physical package, by helping you find smarter ways
to market your products and generate profitable sales —
concept to production, distribution to consumption.
GETTING THE DATA In these case and others, the pattern is clear: On-shelf measures
(purchase patterns, etc.) tell us which packaging systems are
So, how do we actually measure and analyze working and neuroscience measures (among others) help us
shoppers’ emotional responses to packaging? uncover why.
Through an unobtrusive headset that gathers
their EEG readings (i.e., brainwaves). By And while it’s best to be cautious in generalizing across
linking these readings directly to eye- brands and categories, we have seen several consistent
tracking data, we are able to know exactly drivers of negative emotion toward a packaging system.
what a person was viewing when we Take, complexity. Negative reactions appear to be linked to
measured their neurological responses. The instances when shoppers are being asked to work “too hard”
practice eliminates reliance on shoppers’ to decipher packaging (usually due to small print or unclear
claimed feelings or behaviors, which can be messaging). We also know that it’s critical to get the food
difficult to accurately gauge or express— visuals right, as slight changes can have a significant impact.
people often don’t know exactly how and why For example, we’ve found that something as seemingly
they made certain decisions. minor as omitting the rising steam from a hot entrée visual
or not properly executing the “cheese pull” on a frozen pizza
20 www.brandpackaging.com JUL11
drove negative emotional reactions marketers and designers for getting the
toward packages. “Neuroscience can most value from neuroscience research.
First and foremost, researchers should
In addition to identifying which do more than use neuroscience in conjunction with
elements need to be fi xed, and why, other packaging research tools, rather
neuroscience can often help us identify the design than as a replacement for them. It’s also
uncover alternative approaches (more important to avoid thinking in terms
appetizing food visuals, more relevant
claim treatments, etc.) that were more
elements that are of absolute measurement (i.e., the most
“emotional” design). Instead, the focus
compelling—and were ultimately should be on understanding reactions
incorporated into new packaging.
inadvertently to design elements and using this
learning to optimize packaging.
Of course, we are still in the early stages
driving negative Finally, neuroscience insights are
of using neuroscience in packaging most valuable if they are gathered early
research and we have many issues to reactions. It can in the design process rather than at
explore, including the differences in the end of the process, when the
emotional reactions across product help to discern the primary objective is to validate and
categories and cultures; the role of there is less opportunity to make
context versus universal approaches; underlying factors fundamental changes.
and the link between emotion and
purchase decisions. driving poor When marketers and designers use
neuroscience in this way, they can develop
However, based on our experience, performance.” packaging that resonates emotionally
we can offer several guidelines to and also performs effectively on shelf
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JUL11 www.brandpackaging.com 21
ORIGINAL VERSION LAUNCHED VERSION
+ Neuroscience insights led to signifi cant refinements in the new Chips Ahoy! packaging — and resulted in an improved
version being launched into market.
22 www.brandpackaging.com JUL11
ADVERTORIAL
Packaging the
by Erika Flynn
Expertise
A
n executive at xpedx recently commented, “My biggest challenge is getting Southwick's team functions as an ad agency on the front end because of its
customers to think about their product packaging not just in terms of its capabilities to create both conceptual graphics and structural designs. “And we
physical design, but rather as an evolving end-to-end process that affects can build a very capable bridge to our clients, regardless of what size or how they
many touch points throughout the supply chain.” operate,” he says. Any client will interact with several members of his team on any
As a division of International Paper, xpedx has teams of packaging experts across given project.
eight design centers in the U.S. who each day embrace the discipline of Packaging He adds that design center specialists offer their clients the "entire spread of
ExpertiseSM to bring success stories to life for its broad global base of customers. possibilities” in terms of packaging and printing, from temporary to permanent
programs, P-O-P displays, to any type of flexible or fiber-based packaging. “That is
Orchestrated Solutions one way we differentiate ourselves in the marketplace.”
Notes Kevin Southwick, an xpedx package design center manager, Packaging Expertise
starts with the initial design brief and ends with distribution at the final destination. Structural Proficiency and Insight
It is an orchestrated activity, encompassing many areas of specialization, from design While packaging structure may not be as glamorous as design, it touches every
services, production line automation and sustainable production and processes, to opportunity across multiple material categories, allowing for SKU reduction, detailed
custom services and supply chain expertise. 3D design work, or performance improvement. Design engineers at xpedx create
innovative packaging solutions utilizing molded and wire-cut foam, fiber-based
Business Growth Through Packaging Expertise containers including corrugated and honeycomb, as well as flexible packaging with
Every enterprise has unique business objectives, yet Packaging Expertise from xpedx film lamination and eye-catching graphics on shrink film, labels and bands.
has proven itself as a universal conduit to achieving measurable results. “Everyone, One of the company's biggest selling points, Southwick notes, is being material
from the art director, the graphic designers, the structural engineers and the supply neutral. “We’ll design to any material or substrate that fits the design solution. We are
chain specialists, will interface with each client to extract the information they need able to roll up a myriad components into one entity, packaging together the right staff,
to be successful,” says Southwick. the right software and the right capabilities.”
Packaging, he adds, can benefit virtually every aspect of a business, bringing
positive impact to cost reduction, production efficiency, sustainability, as well as Cost-Effective Solutions for Today and Tomorrow
marketing and brand initiatives. xpedx designers create the optimal solution with cost savings being a driving factor.
The innovative thinking behind Packaging Expertise at xpedx transcends design, The company may be asked to re-create an existing package and look for opportunities
materials, equipment, workflow and logistics to enhance a company’s performance. within material- and cost-reduction. In other cases, it goes deeper and gets into high-
It can be as incremental as a new approach to load containment prior to shipping, or end audits or process profiles to identify ways to reduce materials, lower cost, enhance
as dramatic as reconfiguring entire product packaging to cut costs, reduce its carbon throughput and productivity and be more sustainable.
footprint and enhance shelf appeal. What’s more, there’s no translation needed in terms of what Southwick calls “the
arcane language” associated with all the channels a typical project has to go through.
Differentiated Design “We speak the language of design and production across all of those materials and
The design centers at xpedx function on three levels, Southwick says. They create prep methods, and that enables xpedx to manage the entire process.” Q
conceptual and production-ready structural and graphic designs (including
prototypes); they function as field-level consultants; and finally, serve as a
merchandising and procurement entity “to ensure we’re getting the best cost for our packaging@xpedx.com
513-248-7858
clients from our very large supply chain.”
EN T
ReIN
VERY
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10/06/11 - 10/07/11
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PRESENTATIONS FROM TOP WITH INDUSTRY EXPERTS
INNOVATORS AS WELL AS YOUR PEERS
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BRAND (re)NEW
DR. PEPPER SNAPPLE GROUP’S
SINGLE-SERVE
BOTTLE By Jennifer Welbel
> The story: In 1885, pharmacist Charles Alderton invented it’s got to be perfect, in many
Dr. Pepper in Waco, Texas. More than 120 years later, the ways,” says Utay.
Dr Pepper Snapple Group (DPS) — the result of numerous
mergers and acquisitions by Cadbury Schweppes Americas As a result, R&D/Leverage
Beverages — became a standalone, publicly-traded company. began by conducting
Today, DPS is the leading producer of flavored beverages in comprehensive consumer
North America with more than 50 brands of carbonated soft research. The first component,
drinks, juices, teas, mixers and waters, including Sunkist Soda, “the unlock phase,” consisted
7UP, A&W, Canada Dry, Crush, Mott’s and more. of ethnographic work. Here,
R&D/Leverage and DPS
> The challenge: In 1997, many DPS brands began immersed themselves in the
using a proprietary, 20oz single-serve package that featured consumer experience, spending
an embossed splash-like pattern (often referred to as the time in homes and cars, and in
“splash” bottle). But after 10-plus years in the marketplace,
the company wanted to rework the bottle structure and create
stores and gas stations. ( BEFORE )
an improved visual and tactile design that would work across They then conducted brainstormingming sessions
sess
ssiio
ss ions that
ions t ha
hat were
w re
we
21 brands within the DPS portfolio. Yet, despite multiple fer
eren
ence
designed to make consumer preferences ces explicit.
explp ic
icitt. According
Acccord
rd
din
ingg
redesigns, consumers continued to prefer the original, “splash” everage’s director of research,
ev
to Tamara Christensen, R&D/Leverage’s research h,
version. According to Robin Utay, director of packaging, “[Consumers] get very wrapped up iin n the label. So, when n
Dr. Pepper Snapple Group, “I don’t think we were listening we try to get feedback from them [on tactile or structural
to consumer needs. [Instead] we were developing what we elements], they are still thinking very visually.” Therefore,
thought was the right thing, which was just something that during the brainstorming sessions, Christensen’s team
was different from what we currently had and would stand covered 15 concept bottles in black bags, which enabled
out on shelf.” To come up with the ideal design — one that consumers to give targeted, structural feedback. “After that
would tap consumer insights upfront — DPS joined forces with exercise, we had a pretty clear picture of the bottles and
plastic packaging design solutions firm R&D/Leverage. structures that were preferred for functionality,” she says.
> The solution: For DPS, it was essential that the new bottle
was a consumer-preferred package. It was also important to them
CREDITS
that they perfect the 20oz single- serve size, because consumer
research showed that the bottle was their “on the go, preferred RESEARCH AND PACKAGE DESIGN
package.” “The 20oz size is central to our efforts to grow our R&D/Leverage, www.rdleverage.com
business in single-serve formats across our flavor portfolio, so
26 www.brandpackaging.com JUL11
The last step was to ask consumers to design their ideal
bottles. But according to Christensen, “We were less interested
in how they would design the bottle—what features or
shapes—but more how they would connect that [design to]
specific benefits they were looking for.”
EDITOR’S NOTE:
Interested in submitting new/redesigned packages?
Email welbelj@bnpmedia.com with project background, images and supplier credits for consideration.
JUL11 www.brandpackaging.com
ck
kaging.com 27
2
TALKBACK
THE END OF
OIL-BASED
PLASTIC?
W
ith Coca-Cola
Coca-CCola widely
widely rrolling
olling o
out
ut iits
ts PlantBottle,
PlantB
Bottlle, and on the heels of Pepsi
announcingi iit would
ld b
begini testing
i a 100 percent plant-based
l b d PET bottle,
b a
senior scientist with the Natural Resources Defense Council said we’re seeing
the beginning of the end of petroleum-based plastics. Is that overstating
things? Or did he hit it on the head? We asked three industry experts for their thoughts:
28 www.brandpackaging.com JUL11
> ANDREW DENT > TOM SZAKY > ERIC HARTMAN
VICE PRESIDENT, LIBRARY AND FOUNDER AND CEO, TERRACYCLE DIRECTOR OF PACKAGING
MATERIALS RESEARCH, MATERIAL TECHNOLOGIES & COMMERCIALIZATION,
CONNEXION PRODUCT VENTURES
I am very excited by this
I welcome the developments we have development and commend Pepsi I do applaud Pepsi’s announcement that
seen from beverage companies, such for their action and effort, [but] I it will soon begin testing a 100 percent
as Pepsi and Coca Cola, to increase the fear it may be overstating things plant-based PET bottle. Ultimately,
amount of plant-based raw materials quite a bit. As I see it there are two moving away from petrochemical-
used in their packaging, and I hope main challenges to bioplastics and derived polymers to those that are
many others will follow suit. The use compostable packaging: sourced from renewable resources is
of plant-based plastics has been seen what we must do in order to improve
mostly in food service and packaging, 1. Consumer response: Look at the sustainability of packaging.
and it may well be a glimpse of “the what happened with SunChips, a
beginning of the end” for petroleum- compostable chip bag was pulled Unfortunately, most of the
based plastics — but I wouldn’t hold because of consumer complaints infrastructure that supports the
my breath! Some of the more basic about the noise. What will we (the production of these plant-based
packaging containers lend themselves American consumer) find wrong polymers is still heavily dependent
well to this change, but there are many with a plant-based plastic bottle? The on the use of petrochemicals as a
other more demanding applications, feel? The smell? The taste? I cringe source of energy, and the amount of
whether they are in the packaging of at the thought of what we will find petroleum that actually goes into the
more volatile or corrosive contents such wrong next. production of plastics is relatively
as fragrances, cleansers, bleaches that small. Just like it took us the last 100
require multilayered packaging or more 2. Pepsi is a massive company with years to develop a society based on
resistant materials than the plant-based nearly endless resources and a highly the use and exploitation of petroleum
solutions can currently handle easily. entrenched brand. I fear too many resources, it will take us time to wean
small companies, private labelers and ourselves off of them and embrace
Looking beyond packaging to the generic manufactures will not soon the use of alternative technologies
wide world of plastics, there are many have the resources to pull off this kind to create materials similar to what
engineering plastics that cannot of switch. we use today. I don’t believe that the
currently be replaced by plant- use of petroleum-based plastics is
based solutions — again in the more I hope that I am wrong, but I don’t coming to an end just yet, but it’s a
demanding higher performance or see the end of petroleum-based start. As the Chinese philosopher
more corrosive environments — and in plastic coming soon enough. After Lao-tzu said in the 5th century
applications that use higher molecular all, the first electric car was sold in BC, “A journey of a thousand miles
weight plastics, it is hard to see how the 70’s. begins with a single step.” BP
plant-based solutions could ever replace
current solutions. I am optimistic,
however. Given how innovative chemists
EDITOR’S NOTE:
have been in creating our current range
Suggest a topic for a future Talkback discussion. Email editor Pauline
of amazing plastics over the last 40 years,
Hammerbeck at hammerbeckp@bnpmedia.com.
think what they could do for these new
plant-based versions!
JUL11 www.brandpackaging.com 29
F
or The Coca-Cola Co., marking its
125th anniversary is less about looking
back at the Coca-Cola brand’s storied
history and more of an opportunity to
highlight the company’s future.
125
first Coca-Cola. The fact that we are a thriving business, a growing
business and a dynamic business 125 years later is not a testament,
for sure, to our age, but to our youth.”
Y
YOUNG
and bottling partners to identify a framework for what he saw as a
dramatically changing global landscape.
“The world that we were inheriting at the end of 2007 was shaping up
to be one that would be significantly different than even a year or a
couple of years before that,” says Kent. “The change was very rapid.”
The leadership team identified key global trends that, they believed,
would fundamentally change the company’s business — and the
world — by 2020. Chief among them is the emergence of a larger,
global middle class; Coca-Cola predicts 800 million to one billion
new people will join the middle class ranks by 2020.
The rest of the trends trickle down from there. Coca-Cola predicts
a massive relocation to urban environments around the world;
over the next several years, an urban population equivalent to the
size of New York City will be created about every 90 to 100 days,
says Kent. The middle class boom will also result in a rebalance of
economic wealth, shifting the economic landscape from one or two
superpowers to several: the BRIC countries, but also Indonesia,
Turkey, Morocco, Vietnam, Chile and Mexico. The growing global
population will naturally put more strain on the world’s supply of
commodities and energy, creating a scarcity of natural resources.
And with population growth on both sides of the spectrum — an
increase in people ages 40 and older and the rise of a sophisticated,
engaged youth generation — Coca-Cola is watching demographic
shifts. The consumer landscape is also marked by a fundamental
LOOKS
30 www.brandpackaging.com
www.b
b JUL11
+ Coca-Cola CEO Muhtar Kent marked the Coca-Cola brand's 125th anniversary during the annual shareowners meeting in
April. The meeting featured a chorus of 125 students from metro Atlanta and New York. Credit: Michael Pugh.
reset of priorities, values and expectations, and consumers are Of course the global megatrends are just a framework. To put
demanding more from companies and sharing their priorities the strategy in place, Kent organized corporate goals around
for products, packages and pricing. simple ideas: profit, people, portfolio, partners, planet and
productivity. As he broadly explains, the vision is to “more than
The trends indicate a future marked by great change, but Kent double our system revenue, [win] with the greatest talent pool
says they also present increased possibilities. “We see a world in the world, certainly [leverage] the power of trademark
with more people, more wealth, more demand for choice, living Coca-Cola and our sparkling beverages, [create] the most
on-the-go and highly mobile lifestyles that [have] contributed valuable portfolio and [ensure] that we have greater leadership
to a higher demand for ready-to-drink, non-alcohol beverages,” position than we have today in the sustainability spectrum by
he says. embedding that into our business planning process.”
The company believes that global market demand can grow At the heart of the plan is the idea of building on the power of
its business from its current $650 billion marker to $1 trillion the company flagship — trademark Coca-Cola — to bring people
in the next decade. Translated into daily servings, that means together around the world. “Coca-Cola is more than just a drink:
doubling from the current level of 1.7 billion servings of Coca- it’s an idea, it’s a vision, it’s a feeling and a great connection,” says
Cola products worldwide every day to 3 billion daily servings Kent. “It’s one of the truly common threads that actually bond
by 2020. the world together, tie the world together.”
FORWARD By Jennifer
Zegler
JUL11 www.brandpackaging.com 31
Innovation is clearly based on consumer realities, says Guy
Wollaert, Coca-Cola’s senior vice president and chief technical
officer, who has roles covering research and development, science,
global product quality and integrity and supply chain functions.
“One of the true strategic advantages of a truly global system, “Arrogance is what almost brought us down in the 1990s — being
such as this one, is transfer of knowledge,” says John Farrell, the away from markets, not touching the consumer, not
company’s vice president and chief strategy officer. “So as you’re understanding the consumer,” he says. “That’s what keeps me
having a great product or a good consumer proposition, the awake, because you can easily get mesmerized by the portfolio of
faster you can transfer it to other countries around the world, wonderful brands that we have. Today, the consumer needs to be
the greater your opportunities are.” understood even better than any time before. We have to earn the
trust of our consumers every single day.”
A recent example is the international success of Minute Maid
Pulpy, a juice drink that features added fruit pulp. The beverage Kent insists that achieving the goals set forth is not going to be
launched in 2005 in China, where the local preference is for easy, “It is not for the people who have a faint heart,” he says, “But
pulp. The brand is now available on three continents in 18 is it achievable? The answer is absolutely yes.” BP
geographies and has been designed to appeal to local taste
profi les in each market. In 2010, the pulp-enriched juice
product was introduced in Algeria, Malaysia, Singapore and Jennifer Zegler is the editor of Beverage Industry,
Vietnam, and in Kazakhstan as Piko Pulpy and Mexico as Valle www.bevindustry.com. Follow Beverage Industry on
Pulpy. The global expansion resulted in Pulpy joining Coca- Twitter, www.twitter.com/beverageind.
Cola’s roster of billion dollar brands.
32 www.brandpackaging.com JUL11
HOT {NICHE}
By Jessica Jacobsen
BRANDS
COKE’S VENTURING AND EMERGING BRANDS TEAM
SCANS THE GLOBE FOR BRANDS WITH THE
POTENTIAL TO BECOME THE ‘NEXT BIG THING’
W
ith a portfolio of more than bicha
it repurposed the Japanese Sokenbicha
500 brands offering more ng
tea brand, along with its marketing
than 3,500 beverages, The and packaging, to appeal to the US
Coca-Cola Co. has expanded take
consumer. It also has an equity stake
greatly since it poured its ully
in ZICO coconut water and has fully
fi rst Coke 125 years ago. acquired Fuze and NOS, which
But even with this vast portfolio, Coca-Cola continues were incubated to scale and then
to search for the next ‘big thing,’ charging its Venturing graduated to the company’s core
and Emerging Brands team to do just that. Cola
business units. In March, Coca-Cola
fully acquired Honest Tea, which
The goal is to make sure that Coca-Cola isn’t surprised by an
completes a transaction that began
trends in the beverage marketplace, and to boost innovation nit,
three years ago, led by the VEB unit,
efforts and find high-potential growth brands, says Deryck van when the company purchased a
Rensburg, president and general manager of VEB, which is a minority stake in the company.
dedicated operating unit of Coca-Cola North America.
Spotting brands like these involves
“This is extremely important to the company’s overall vision research. VEB team members are active
and strategy,” he says. “In the four years since the VEB team ng
in the marketplace and in absorbing
was formed, we have created a portfolio of brands developed consumer needs and demands.
by external entrepreneurs, imported to the US and crafted
from scratch.”
+ Coca-Cola's Venturing and
For instance, VEB has entered into a global joint venture Emerging Brands team fully
with an Italian company to create illy issimo, a high-end acquired Honest Tea in March.
h.
espresso in a can. It has also borrowed from its operations The unit seeks out niche brands
ds
in France to sponsor Cascal, a naturally fermented soda with high-growth potential.
in f lavors like black currant and cherry; and Japan, where
JUL11 www.brandpackaging.com 33
+ Led by its VEB unit, Coca-Cola purchased a minority
stake in ZICO coconut water in 2007.
34 www.brandpackaging.com JUL11
+ Coca-Cola's VEB unit partnered with Italian coffee company illycafe to launch illy issimo, a line of ready-to-drink
coffee beverages.
“I think the reason that Coke invested [in Honest Tea] is we’re “I appreciate that Coke saw value in our team and our
really at the center where a lot of the trends are, with healthier leadership and what we were doing,” he says. “They really have
products [and] environmentally friendly products,” Goldman says. continued to invest in us and our management.”
“We expect to continue to grow aggressively in the years ahead.”
VEB also appreciates lessons learned from its investments
But the value of being part of Coca-Cola’s VEB business unit and acquisitions, such as the natural sales channel force that
expands beyond distribution. accompanies Honest Tea.
“We bring a great deal of passion, entrepreneurial energy, [and] “When Honest Tea was first created, the management team
a great deal of knowledge on a natural foods industry,” says knew they needed to get their product to the natural channel,”
Goldman, “but for a lot of our team there [are] so many new van Rensburg says. “VEB is now able to leverage this industry-
dimensions that we don’t have expertise in.” leading sales team to sell current VEB brands as well.”
Goldman says he expects that Honest Tea will benefit from Van Rensburg says all of these efforts reflect why VEB has
Coca-Cola’s depth in marketing and with packaging, such as chosen to invest in entrepreneurs like the team at Honest Tea.
the company’s bio-based PlantBottle. “They provide a source of innovative ideas and energy that
enhance our own,” he says. BP
“We’re very excited to have access to that kind of
technology,” says Goldman. “That’s something we never Jessica Jacobsen is managing editor of Beverage Industry,
would get on our own operating out of our little office in www.bevindustry.com. Follow Beverage Industry on
Bethesda, Maryland.” Twitter at www.twitter.com/beverageind.
But, what stands out most for Goldman, now that his
company is fully part of Coca-Cola? He says it’s the EDITOR’S NOTE:
company’s commitment to Honest Tea’s brand, quality These features were adapted from Beverage Industry's
and authenticity. Coca-Cola 125th Anniversary coverage in June 2011
JUL11 www.brandpackaging.com 35
JUST OUT
> USA
POCKET-FRIENDLY
KLEENEX PACKS
LAUNCHED: JUNE 2011
Adding a dash of style to conventional Kleenex
pocket packs, Kimberly-Clark launches Kleenex
Wallet Packs. Each folding, wallet-style package holdss
en
n by current fashion trends (think zebra-patterned flowers
10 tissues and features creative graphics that are driven rs o
orr a re
redd an
and
d bl
blac
a k “s
black ste
t pp
pin
ingg
“stepping
stone” design), with contrasting patterns on the inside of each poly sleeve. Brand design agency Webb deVlam developed trend boards that
inspired the internal senior design team to create the collection. Kleenex Wallet Packs are sold individually and also in assorted packs of
three. (Package design: Webb deVlam, www.webbdevlam.com and Kimberly-Clark's senior design team, www.kimberly-clark.com)
36 www.brandpackaging.com JUL11
> CANADA
CORONA EXTRA ENJOYS A DAY AT THE BEACH
LAUNCHED: MAY 2011
Where’s your “happy place”? That’s what Corona Extra encourages consumers to uncover
with its “Find Your Beach” campaign. To promote the campaign, the brand created nine
limited-edition bottles that feature collages of relaxation-related imagery, such as beaches,
mountains and lakes. The colorful designs also carry over to the 6-pack carriers. (Package
design: Shikatani Lacroix, www.sld.com)
> USA
BOT BEVERAGES:
ALL GROWN UP
LAUNCHED: MAY 2011
Originally introduced in 2007 as a kids’ beverage marketed to moms, bot is relaunching with an updated brand identity.
Redesigned to target health-conscious adults, the enhanced flavored water has replaced its character-focused packaging
with a modern, white dot pattern that stands out against a solid, colorful background (green, orange, blue, red, yellow or
purple, depending on the variety). Bot is available in key lime, valencia orange, blue plum, mixed berry, meyer lemon and
concord grape. (Package design: TDA_Boulder, tdaboulder.com)
> UK
WAITROSE LOVES LIFE
LAUNCHED: JUNE 2011
Developed to provide more healthy options at the grocery store, Waitrose introduces its latest
sub-brand Waitrose LOVE Life. The 270-product line is the retailer’s largest sub-brand launch since
essential Waitrose and includes such nutritionally balanced foods as a blueberry, black currant &
beetroot smoothie; chicken and mango lettuce wrap; and Italian bean soup. The colorful packaging,
which is a departure from Waitrose’s typical monotone designs, features vivid food photography and d
front-of-pack nutritional information. The Waitrose LOVE life logo will also be used on products
across the retailer’s entire offer to highlight nutritional benefits. “The new identity effectively works too
ays
indicate the nutritional value of the range and the design reflects its energy, vitality and positivity,” says
Rupert Thomas, Waitrose marketing director. (Package design: Pearlfisher, www.pearlfisher.com)
EDITOR’S NOTE:
Interested in submitting new/redesigned packages? Email Jennifer Welbel, welbelj@bnpmedia.com
with project background, images and supplier credits for consideration.
JUL11 www.brandpackaging.com 37
THE BOTTOM
LINE
D
ebbie and Andrew met at 17, married at 22
and had four kids. Struggling pig farmers,
they diversified into sausage-making and set
up Debbie & Andrew’s as a small company
in 1999. The pair developed recipes in their family kitchen
(where product development still happens) and sourced
pork from British farms with high animal welfare standards.
INDEX OF ADVERTISERS
BRANDPACKAGING PACKAGING PMMI-Pack Expo............................................................................................................... 11
THAT SELLS CONFERENCE ............................................................................. 24, 25 R+D Leverage ................................................................................................ Back Cover
Ciulla Associates................................................................................................................4 Southern Film ................................................................................................................... 21
Diamond Packaging .........................................................................................................7 Sustainable Forestry Initiative ............................................................................14, 15
Leibold ............................................................................................................................... 22 Sustainable Packaging Forum .................................................................................. 39
Owens Illinois ...............................................................................Inside Front Cover, 3 Transparent Container................................................................................................... 13
Placon ...............................................................................................................................8, 9 Xpedx ........................................................................................................................... 19, 23
This index is for the convenience of our readers. Every care is taken to make it accurate. BRANDPACKAGING assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions.
38 www.brandpackaging.com JUL11
The Future Direction
of Sustainability
7th Annual
PRODUCED BY
SPONSORS