Editorial column

The Green Movement is growing globally and is changing the traditions into a new eco-friendly approach in all industries and factories. The uprising favorism of green food, green cleaning supplies, green cars, green energy leaves industries with no choice but following the lead of the Green revolution. All products are touched by the idea of sustainability. The era of compostable, recyclable, reusable, and renewable-based is here and the reflections are undeniable. Packaging Industry though was of more importance and so absorbed distinguishable attention and was pushed to join the revolution as Green products urge green packaging. Soon there will be an increasing number of manufacturers who have chosen “sustainable” as their motto. 
The idea was first deeply considered when the concerns for global warming and limited natural resources were visibly mounted. Modern life style demands new solutions fighting back the obstacles and boundaries. One of the never ending problems of the world today is the amount of waste and garbage produced. Seeking a way out and winning the challenge, the culture of recycle and composting was introduced. This new direction has affected everyone life, being extra cautious of how much litter they are making every day. The waste stream should be controllable and it should be controlled now or it’s too late. That is the main core of environment protection. 
The first step to reduce the rubbish is to produce less of it! That is all un-necessary wrapping, packaging and stuffing should redefine. And this is exactly where sustainable packaging becomes the star of the show. Sustainability in packaging is cutting down the materials and space to get closer to the final target; an environmental friendly world.
The question remains: “is there an easy way to define and practice Sustainable Packaging?” or “is packaging avoidable?” Well designers have other viewpoints… it certainly can’t be abandoned from the production line as it plays an irreplaceable role in modern human life. Not to forget that packaging is the first face of the product that triggers the costumer’s eyes, giving him information and plays with his sense of emotions! 
However, it needs to trim down to the least possible and that is what everyone agrees on. For reaching that goal, new standards, new values and strategies are needed to be adopted and practiced. Every step of the way should be magnified and dissected thoroughly. All details should be investigated to help designers see more clearly and cut out and rearrange all extra bits and pieces and possibly change the basics and start over again. The role of the designers is strategic and significant in bringing in new ideas and innovative and practical solutions. For being more sustainable and eco-friendly, there is always room for more creativity.