This weblog is a part of our deal with Cisco workers who’re “Striving for Sustainability” by discovering alternatives to combine sustainability of their day-to-day work.
At Cisco, packaging sustainability is a key side of our technique to transition to a round enterprise mannequin. We do that by designing packaging that protects our merchandise whereas additionally minimizing environmental affect. This implies utilizing much less supplies when potential and selecting extra sustainable supplies — akin to supplies that comprise recycled content material and are recyclable or reusable.
I just lately sat down with Nicole Kenney, Program Supervisor on the Packaging Engineering workforce, who focuses her work on packaging and materials circularity. Nicole has been capable of analysis and handle initiatives to help a spread of sustainability points associated to packaging.
What impressed you to pursue a profession in packaging sustainability, and the way did you find yourself at Cisco?
Nicole: Rising up, I used to be at all times in nature and always juggling a number of artwork initiatives. I knew I wished to do one thing inventive — that led me to the textile and attire business. After incomes my diploma in supplies and polymer science, I developed materials and packaging for out of doors efficiency attire and kit. The out of doors business was one of many first to take part within the sustainability motion, and thru my work on sustainability initiatives, I spotted preserving nature was my function.
You would possibly surprise in regards to the transition from attire merchandise to expertise {hardware}, however whatever the business, packaging challenges are common: the primary precedence is to guard the product. In a round financial system, the subsequent precedence is to think about the packaging’s end-of-life. These are the challenges I’ve loved tackling with our packaging engineering workforce at Cisco.
The factor I actually love about packaging is that everybody can relate to it. Whether or not we’re making a purchase order at a retailer or receiving a cargo at house, packaging is part of our on a regular basis lives. It serves as an essential handshake between our model and our clients, however to me, it additionally embodies the intersection of science, design, and psychology. After I got here throughout the open Program Supervisor function and noticed Cisco’s environmental technique, I used to be drawn to the problem.
How is Cisco integrating sustainability in its packaging?
Nicole: For our Packaging Engineering workforce, sustainability has advanced from a nice-to-have to a necessary requirement for each new product introduction. This shift in our course of is essentially as a result of Cisco’s implementation of its Round Design Ideas, which information us in integrating sustainability into all our outputs.
In relation to materials selections, our packaging engineers are centered on lowering foam use and discovering alternate options to plastic (or eliminating plastic altogether). Packaging optimization is one other space of focus; as an illustration, multi-packing might help save supplies, which reduces value and environmental affect.
Nonetheless, packaging sustainability varies enormously from one product to the subsequent. Our packaging engineers face a difficult job: there isn’t any set recipe for a extra round pack; reasonably, it’s a balancing of a number of distinctive elements. They need to prioritize product safety, as a result of reshipping to switch a broken product undermines sustainability. In addition they think about product quantity; if a product is high-volume, optimizing dice measurement for palletization effectivity is essential. The extra models that match on a pallet, the less pallets wanted for transport, which streamlines logistics and helps our company internet zero technique.
Total, we attempt to combine recycled content material, scale back plastic utilization, and allow packaging to take part in a round system.
What function does expertise play in advancing Cisco’s packaging sustainability efforts?
Nicole: In relation to expertise and packaging, supplies innovation is crucial to advancing packaging sustainability. Our Packaging Engineering workforce collaborates carefully with our suppliers to rethink supplies from starting to finish, with a specific deal with fiber-based options.
Two examples of supplies innovation embody fiber flute and paper modular cushions. These are each fiber-based cushioning programs that we use as a substitute of standard foam. They’re made out of post-consumer recycled content material and, like corrugated cushions, are broadly accepted in present recycling infrastructure on the finish of their life cycle.
These new supplies assist contribute to our foam discount efforts. Nonetheless, we’re not merely swapping them out; in depth collaboration happens throughout the design and validation course of. Prototypes are created, match checks are carried out, and packaging checks are carried out to make sure the brand new supplies added to our packaging toolkit meet each manufacturing and sustainability necessities.
What are some challenges you would possibly encounter and the way do you overcome them?
Nicole: One problem of lowering packaging impacts is knowing how finest to measure them. In relation to sustainability, greenhouse fuel emissions (GHG) are usually the first measure of environmental affect. Nonetheless, analyzing the carbon footprint of Cisco’s merchandise, packaging accounts for 3% or much less of the manufacturing carbon footprint on common. Given this, Cisco’s Packaging Engineers maintain the carbon footprint in thoughts, however design for recyclability to divert waste from landfill and help the round financial system.
One other problem is discovering protecting supplies that may meet our world provide chain calls for and are regionally accessible. Thrilling materials improvements akin to mushroom foam or bio-based plastics typically spark curiosity, however continuity in sourcing and provide will be troublesome. It’s additionally difficult to make sure that correct restoration infrastructure for these new supplies is out there within the markets the place we promote our merchandise. These sorts of fabric improvements are sometimes higher suited to different product varieties, akin to meals or shopper packaged items.
At Cisco, we design our packaging to be separable and recyclable. Most of our packaging is fiber-based corrugated board which meets these necessities. Nonetheless, we can not management which bin our clients will use for packaging waste disposal. Recycling infrastructure varies enormously from city to city, each within the US and globally. This fragmentation poses the subsequent problem: how you can educate our clients on the easiest way to handle packaging waste. We would like clients to make knowledgeable selections about disposal after receiving our merchandise. To handle this, we have now begun to launch merchandise with easy however informative messaging to assist them perceive what to do with their packaging waste.
What future developments do you see in packaging sustainability?
Nicole: A efficiently scaled round financial system requires collaboration between the enterprise sector, customers, and authorities. Amongst them, every entity has an important function to play in driving sustainability. We’ve noticed corporations striving to supply extra sustainable options. Shoppers are more and more in search of extra sustainable choices, evidenced by their buying selections. Now, we’re seeing a surge of collaboration among the many three entities.
As an organization, we’re conscious that governments and the personal sector are prioritizing circularity, and we acknowledge that this has an affect on our clients. That is an thrilling time as a result of we’re partaking with our clients on packaging sustainability greater than ever earlier than. They’re keen to know our packaging roadmap, and we’re equally all for theirs. There’s a robust willingness to share, perceive, and collaborate, making it an exhilarating time.
This pattern provides me hope that as we work collectively, the round financial system is achievable throughout our enterprise ecosystem.
You may study extra about our packaging objectives in Cisco’s Goal Reporting Hub.
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