ePac Flexible Packaging has committed to helping customers of all sizes achieve their sustainability commitments, with the launch of its new ‘ePac Born Green’ educational campaign.
Since establishing operations in Australia in late 2021, ePac has built a strong network of customers of all sizes through what it describes as its " innovative business modelled by upstream thinking, which leverages industry leading digital printing technology to deliver order to demand, fast, flexible packaging manufactured onshore".
Now, ePac is taking the next step to guide its customers through circular business models, encouraging them to avoid unnecessary waste from ever being created and utilising existing was as a resource.
As part of its newly launched ePac Born Green educational campaign, the company 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 says it 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.
The company says these will help equip 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 a 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, says she sees ePac as fulfilling the role of the trusted advisor for its 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,” she explained.
“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.”
An industry-first in Australia, ePac’s digital printing technology uses polymer-based inks – which consume less energy than solvent or UV curable ink – along with 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 reduces customer’s environmental impact when compared to conventional printing practices.
Meanwhile, ePac’s onshore 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.
ePac’s 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.
