NATIONAL: Puma has announced its intent to become a carbon neutral company, with new packaging a key step in the process.
At the Business for the Environment Summit in Korea yesterday, the sport and lifestyle company said it will begin to completely offset its own CO2 emissions. It will undertake carbon-offsetting projects in Africa that support local communities and the conservation of biodiversity.
In addition, it will offset emissions relating to the international travel of the Puma-sponsored national football teams taking part in the Football World Cup in South Africa.
Part of Puma's carbon neutral approach is a new packaging and distribution system, which will be implemented in Australia in mid-2011.
Announced in London earlier this month, the new packaging will reduce water and paper use by more than 60 per cent annually. Within five years, Puma intends to make the remaining packaging materials used fully sustainable.
Designed by San Francisco based industrial designer Yves Béhar, the key feature is a 'Clever Little Bag', which replaces a traditional cardboard shoe box. It comprises a reusable shoe bag that protects shoes in transport and serves to replace plastic bags when consumers take the product home.
It is the next step in the sport and lifestyle company's long running puma.safe programme, which focuses on social and environmental standards.
For more information on Puma's sustainability approach pick up a copy of Ragtrader's May 7 issue.