[TC]² Bi-Weekly Technology Communicator
Ensuring Quality Products
by Integrating Sewability Factors
and Quality Analysis Techniques
December 4, 2007 – Seminar at [TC]²
The acceptability of the end sewn product is dependent upon a proper mix of all inputs. Beyond the use of the appropriate seams and stitches, the fabric and patterns must match the end use. Operators must be trained in proper methods and management must have the skills to identify and correct problems.
This seminar includes discussion of all these areas. The end result should be a reduced cost for first quality product and satisfied customers. For more details on this program, click here.
Seats Still Available! [TC]²’s Grading for Fit Seminar November 14-16 covers the basic principles of grading through hands-on projects, which include deriving grade rules and manually grading three basic garments. To register, or for more details, click here.
Environmentally Friendly Packaging
By Kim Anderson, [TC]²
Many factors contribute to the design of a package. Perhaps the most obvious factors include cost, marketing and theft-prevention. One aspect which is sometimes neglected is the impact packaging has on the environment. Millions of tons of packages and packing material are thrown away each year. However, environmental impact is a broad and complicated topic.
Although a package’s environmental impact can be a significant concern in the design process, the integrity of the package and the product it contains must take precedence over any actual or possible environmental impact. Economic viability is an important aspect of the design process as well. An environmentally friendly package will not be beneficial to the company if it does not protect the product or if there is a significant increase in cost.
Other important considerations in the package design process are ease of handling in the warehouse and during transportation; the ability to be shipped individually or on a pallet in high density; the ability to display marketing information on the package; and compliance with North American regulations. The design of all packages, environmentally friendly or not, needs to take into account the package’s total life cycle—including manufacturing, distribution, marketing, consumer use and disposal.
Once these criteria are satisfied a company can begin to incorporate green alternatives. There are a number of ways to produce a green package.
Using packages made from environmentally friendly material or recycled material is one of the most obvious ways to produce a green package. Wal-Mart has recently challenged their packaging suppliers to provide greater use of environmentally friendly packaging. The company has started a scorecard of its 60,000 worldwide suppliers. One of the scorecard measurements is based on conserving natural resources.
Greener packaging means a lot more than using greener materials. Using less material per package can have a significant environmental impact. Wal-Mart’s challenge to its packaging suppliers also includes reducing the amount of packaging. Wal-Mart has requested its suppliers to reduce its amount of packaging by 5% by the beginning of 2008. Two days after the Wal-Mart announcement one of America’s largest box makers, Georgia-Pacific, put out a release saying it had a system in place to help end box users cut their packaging cost. Wal-Mart expects the effort to save billions of dollars.
Another green package alternative is to offer a reusable package that can be used by either the supplier or the consumer. Reuse is a great alternative to filling up the landfills. Ujeans, a company specializing in mail order custom jeans, is committed to being an environmentally friendly company. They use environmentally friendly manufacturing, dyeing and recycling techniques in creating jeans. UJeans sends the product in denim envelopes made from reclaimed denim. Instead of throwing the package away, customers can use the attractive and unique bag that is even equipped with a zipper in a variety of ways including storage or transport.
Using packaging made with materials that can be recycled is another way for a company to make a positive environmental impact. When using materials intended to be recycled, a number of factors should be considered, including whether or not the package can be easily broken down into recyclable components and whether a recycling facility is in close proximity to the packages’ final destination.
Marks and Spencer has made environmental practices a priority and have coined their efforts ‘Plan A.’ In the words of the Chief Executive, Mr. Stuart Rose, "Plan A is about taking big, bold steps to lead the way in responsible retailing. It will fundamentally change the way we do business…we believe a responsible business can be a profitable business."
By 2012 Marks and Spencer intends to ensure that none of its packaging ends up in a landfill. They are actively looking for new ways to reuse and recycle. Some of the things they are implementing include reducing the amount of packaging and carrier bags used; using packaging that is easy to recycle or compost; and making it easier for customers to recycle packaging by adopting a UK Government-approved labeling system.
Using environmentally friendly packaging can add attractiveness and support product differentiation, however, marketers need to do their research to ensure that their green intentions come to a successful fruition. The packaging can enhance the product’s image and acceptability, but marketers must consider the brand’s image. If the brand has a strong ethical or homespun image, green packaging works well. However, green packaging might be a different matter if the brand’s image is intended to evoke luxury. The effectiveness of any advertising campaign depends upon the target. An effective green marketing campaign should target businesses as well as consumers.
Green issues can often be gray, but remember—no material has a monopoly on virtue, no material can be solely judged on how it is disposed of, and the material’s production and distribution are key to its environmental impact.
[TC]² Activity
Green Design Seminar at North Carolina State University with Charlie Rose
By Jim Lovejoy, [TC]²
Charlie Rose, a well known broadcast journalist, moderated a panel discussion of experts in sustainable design at North Carolina State University on October 16. The panel consisted of architect Thom Mayne, public health expert Dick Jackson and NC State College of Design Dean Marvin Malecha. Below are some general statements from the panel:
Concerns
• The current energy usage in the U.S. is not sustainable into the future
• By the end of this century the U.S. population is projected to be 600 million, and even if we each use half the energy, we won’t have enough
• The U.S. per capita usage of energy is double that of Europe’s per capita use
• 70+% of energy produced in the U.S. goes to buildings
• Many older buildings cause serious health issues
Solutions
• The San Francisco courthouse designed by Mr. Mayne uses 40% of the energy of comparable buildings including more use of stairs, skip stop elevators and natural lighting
• Develop tougher building codes similar to those used in Europe
• In California, 6% of the roof surface must allow natural light to come through
• In Switzerland, most windows must be able to open for natural airflow
• Improve education in design and architecture schools to include sustainable design
• The National Council of Mayors has proposed all new buildings by 2030 must be carbon neutral
• Revitalize cities with affordable housing to reduce the amount of daily commuting
Member Profile
By Karen Davis, [TC]²
[TC]² is pleased to recognize Gerber Technology as a Bronze Sponsor of the 2007 Student Internship Program.
One of four business units of Gerber Scientific, Inc., Gerber Technology provides design, product lifecycle management, and automated production solutions for the sewn and flexible goods industries. Its product offerings include the AccuMark™ pattern design suite; AccuNest™ marker making software; and Fashion Lifecycle Management. A complete product line of automated material spreading and cutting systems improve productivity, maximize material utilization, and deliver precisely cut parts from a variety of flexible materials, including leather, consistently.
A valued [TC]² member, Gerber provides the AccuMark Silhouette drafting table with a digitizer, AccuMark software for pattern design, grading and marker making, the V-Stitcher 3D pattern visualization tool, a plotter, and the DCS 3500 conveyorized GERBERcutter® system with a fabric feeder for use in [TC]²’s Demonstration Center. Gerber also participated in the Cool Zone, a 4,000 sq. ft. exhibit coordinated by [TC]² at the May 2007 SPESA Expo. Gerber provided a cutter for the t-shirt demonstration and also displayed its PDM software solutions.
[TC]² and the interns gratefully acknowledge Gerber’s contribution and thank the company for its support of the 2007 intern program.
Important Dates
November
6-7 |
AAFA’s “Knock It Off! Brands and the Counterfeiting Quandary” Conference. Long Beach, California. More information at www.apparelandfootwear.org. |
7-8 |
Apparel Tech Conference, FIT, New York City. For details, visit www.apparelmag.com |
14-16 |
Grading for Fit. Seminar at [TC]². For information or to register, click here. |
December
3-5 |
31st Miami Conference on the Caribbean Basin. Go to www.c-caa.org for details. |
4 |
Ensuring Quality Products Seminar at [TC]². For information or to register, click here. |
For detailed information about industry events, visit www.techexchange.com
Thanks to the techexchange site sponsors
Apparel Magazine, Gerber Technology, Lawson, Lectra, Methods Workshop and Reach Technologies.
A Look Ahead in the Newsletter
AAFA Supply Chain Leadership Committee Review
View previous editions of this newsletter
[TC]²
211 Gregson Drive
Cary , NC 27511
www.tc2.com
Phone: 919-380-2156
Fax: 919-380-2181
Email our editor:
If you are not on our mailing list and wish to receive this bi-weekly newsletter, via email:
To subscribe to the newsfeed, copy and paste the following URL into your newsreader:
http://www.tc2.com/newsletter/newsfeed.xml
If you would prefer not to receive this free bi-weekly newsletter, and wish to be removed from our mailing list:
