A key part of our life cycle management process is our ongoing effort to realize the environmental and cost benefits of reduced packaging. We’re reducing the environmental impact of our packaging through redesign, reuse, increased recyclability and use of recycled content, and increased use of cube utilization. The results are less energy use in processing packaging materials, reduced cost and emissions from transport, and less storage and disposal space requirements.
Package Reduction Examples
Post-It Note® Cabinet Pack
Our Post-it® Note Cabinet Pack helps reduce waste in the office. It’s a bulk cube dispenser of 16 or 24 Post-it® Note Pads providing convenient storage and a reduced impact on the environment. The pack sleeve is made from 100% recycled paper with restricted ink use and there is no individual plastic wrapping of pads in the sleeve.
3M Scotch-Brite™ Tub and Tile Scrubber
We’ve significantly reduced the packaging of our 3M Scotch-Brite™ Tub and Tile Scrubber. The package redesign includes the removal of corrugate dividers and a diminished overall size to fit into half the transport and display space.
Power of the Cube
Cube Utilization
For those who thought high-school geometry would never serve them in real life, consider the power of the cube: In warehousing and logistics, “cube utilization” is an approach to using the space within a storage area, trailer, or container most efficiently. Cube utilization is generally calculated as a percentage of total space or total “usable space.” We’re using cube utilization to reduce the storage and transportation space required by our products.
