Restrictive Covenants – what do they really mean?

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The sense of achievement you experience when you secure your new job is immense. And rightly so. You look forward to a positive and productive future with your new employer. This is quite possibly the least opportune time to think ahead to what may happen when you leave. However, protecting yourself for that eventuality is good practice and, some employment advisers would say, essential.

What are restrictive covenants?

Restrictive covenants are clauses in your employment contract restricting your activities post-employment for a specified period, in order to protect your employer’s business interests. While your employer’s desire to protect themselves is understandable, you are entitled to do the same.

Think ahead

It is vital that you understand the range and claim restrictive covenants have over your ability to function professionally post-employment. While this may not feel like the best time to question your employer, this is probably the last opportunity you’ll have to negotiate your rights.

Make sure you understand exactly what is being said in your contract regarding your rights post-termination. For example, how long are you precluded from working for competitors? Do restrictive covenants extend to your social media accounts and connections? You are the best judge as to how you operate professionally. Think about the contacts you brought with you to this role. You don’t want to find yourself in a situation where you are prevented from working in your chosen industry.

What are the main areas covered by restrictive covenants?

Your employer will be keen to protect themselves across three key areas: competitors, clients and employees. You can be prohibited from competing with or working for a known competitor within a fixed radius of your employer’s location or across certain territories, for a fixed period of time. You can also be prohibited from luring employees away from your employer and working for existing clients for a fixed period.

Often restrictive covenants are not upheld because they are too vague, too lengthy and the employee in question is not senior enough to pose a credible threat to the business. The key to restrictive covenants being upheld is that they are specific and realistic. The courts will uphold what they believe as reasonable. It’s important that you understand how much leeway your employer has in restricting you.

Loyalty Obligations

Check your contract for the wording regarding the calculation of your bonus figure. In some cases, a percentage of your bonus rewards your performance but the majority is to reward your loyalty. There may also be terms advising that payment of your bonus is discretionary and potentially deferred to encourage you not to leave. Payments may also extend to commission, shares and any agreed long-term incentives. Pay particular attention to how these restrictive covenants affect your loyalty obligations and the timing of your departure.

Climbing the corporate ladder

Sometimes as part of your progression and promotion, you will be asked to agree to additional restrictive covenants commensurate with your increased seniority. It’s vital that you employ the same forward thinking with any such amendments.

We strongly advise you to seek independent legal advice prior to entering into any legal agreement.

Athena Executive Search specialise in recruiting senior leadership positions in the Print and Packaging sectors across Europe. For access to more articles on industry topics, recruitment and retention strategies, and our upcoming webinar series with industry thought leaders please subscribe here: https://athena50147.activehosted.com/f/1

Counter offers – the truth

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Most of us know the hard and fast rule: never accept a counter offer. We may also be aware of the statistic warning us that 80 percent of those who accept a counter offer will leave the company within six months. But do we understand why? We explore the simple truths waiting to be discovered beneath the thin veneer of flattery that is the counter offer.

The journey to leave

If your current employer is going to make a counter offer, it will be at the point at which you have been through the process of finding and committing to another job. It’s safe to say at this stage of your career that you understand the challenging questions that you must ask yourself in making a decision that works for you and your career. The process of deciding to leave an organisation is never straightforward, even when your circumstances seem black and white. Your journey to leave was peppered with pros and cons, and culminated in a clear understanding as to why a new job is the answer for you. You have explored every avenue to double and triple check that there is no way forward in your current role. You’ve done your homework and made your choice.

If only…

Receiving a counter offer can feel confusing. It may even feel flattering to receive an offer, often generous, and glowing praise to entice you to stay. Don’t be fooled. Be flattered, allow yourself that, but don’t be fooled. See the situation for what it is, not what you wish it could be. There is a crucial difference between these two trains of thought. One is grounded and pragmatic. The latter is a final attempt at fixing what you have already decided cannot be fixed.

Coulda, woulda, shoulda

The harsh truth is, any employer whose first response to your resignation is to throw money at the situation, is not looking after your best interests. It’s too little, too late. You may want to believe that they have your best interests at heart, in addition to the best interests of the company, but this is highly unlikely. Here’s why. Just as annual appraisal conversations shouldn’t hold any surprises for either party if you’re working properly together, a reactive counter offer highlights everything that isn’t working about your relationship with this company.

Play your cards

After careful consideration, you chose to leave. Why would an offer of money change your mind? The truth is, if you were unhappy with your remuneration package, or the hours you were working, or the length of your commute, or the monotony of your workload, you would have negotiated a better situation for yourself. You chose not to. You committed yourself elsewhere, and that process was hard work. You evaluated your situation carefully. You have found a better environment more suited to your needs. Do not be dazzled by offers of money at the eleventh hour. The underlying truth to a counter offer is that your current organisation is faced with having to replace you. And they don’t want to do that.

Leaving a company is a commitment to yourself and your career. Don’t give up: stay true to the decisions you have made and go for it.

Athena Executive Search specialise in recruiting senior leadership positions in the Print and Packaging sectors across Europe. For access to more articles on industry topics, recruitment and retention strategies, and our upcoming webinar series with industry thought leaders please subscribe here: https://athena50147.activehosted.com/f/1

 

Why your CV is probably being ignored

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The print and packaging job market has always been a competitive environment. Not only are we competing with other applicants for a role, we are also competing for attention. Employers (and recruiters) seek candidates focused on their career, not someone merely going through the motions of looking for another job. Here are the simple mistakes holding you back, and straightforward feedback as to why your CV isn’t commanding interviews.

All or nothing

Finding a job is a serious business. Often we start too small and stay there, then wonder why the phone isn’t ringing. By ‘small’ we mean unfocused. Little things give you away. Phrases such as “I’m putting feelers out”, casual coffee chats with industry contacts “to see what’s out there”, or sending out your CV to “see what happens”. This casual tone leaks into your CV and covering letter. Would you hire a distracted manager to run one of your talented teams?

There’s a reason we call the process job ‘hunting’. The search for your next role requires focused commitment and an investment of your time. To modify the famous RAF quote: time spent in consideration is seldom wasted. Especially when it comes to finding the role you want. You’re an experienced, talented, multi skilled candidate with so much to offer your target company in the print and packaging industry.

Can you read me?

Never underestimate the power of asking someone you trust to read your CV. They don’t need to have industry experience – in fact their lack of experience will be the key to unlocking your CV. Ask them to answer the following: does your CV makes sense (grammar), is it easy to read (layout) and – crucially – does it sound like you (tone). Listen to what they have to say. Remember: what’s obvious to you isn’t necessarily obvious to others. Your experience is your expertise; this is an opportunity to share your knowledge. Clarity and brevity are essential. Keep an open mind when receiving feedback and make the necessary changes. There’s no excuse for careless grammar, a disengaged tone or formatting errors at this stage of your career.

What are you saying?

Everyone knows they need to tailor their CV and covering letter for each job applied for. This should be your signal to go the extra mile and separate yourself from the competition. Take a step back and look at how your existing skills align with the job you want. Consider how to frame your skills in relation to your experience and the role. Look at what you are saying. What do your words communicate about you, your experience and professional goals? How are your skills a good marriage with the job?

Include statistics to back up business improvement claims made in your CV, such as performance and sales. Qualify your claims – make it easy for the person reading your CV to see that you can do the job. Mention skills you want to develop. You are a manager keen to continue learning as technology evolves. Make yourself relevant now and into the future.

Ultimately, if you don’t capture why your skills, experience, management style and vision are what a company is looking for, who will?

Athena Executive Search specialise in recruiting senior leadership positions in the Print and Packaging sectors across Europe. For advice on how to put together a great CV please get in touch. For access to more articles on industry topics, recruitment and retention strategies, and our upcoming webinar series with industry thought leaders please subscribe here: https://athena50147.activehosted.com/f/1

Why changing jobs is often your best option

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The concept of successful careers on a single track over a dedicated 25 year period is now largely regarded as myth. Today’s primary rule for success is to step outside your comfort zone. If you want a purpose-driven and successful career in which you actively participate, you will need to know when to take a calculated risk. Let’s examine the reasons why changing your employer breeds professional success – if you know what you’re doing.

Think. Don’t panic.

We understand you’ll come across organisations which do not hire candidates with a track record of shorter term roles; some companies include tenures as long as two to three years in their hiring rules. Consider the cautious culture behind this policy. Is this a culture in which you believe you can flourish? This example of strategic thinking encourages you to take into account a company’s philosophy and personality and ask yourself: is it the right environment for you?

Tunnel vision be gone

Every committed employee, regardless as to their pay bracket, knows the feeling of disappearing inside an organisation’s world. It’s easy to lose sight of the rest of the industry as you settle into your company’s working environment. Try and keep an eye on what’s going on across the industry, particularly in leadership roles. When you change roles, you reconnect with your industry – and the global big picture.

Can they give you what you need?

In scouting for a new professional home, ask yourself what the company is doing. What’s their growth rate? It’s important – and healthy – to evaluate your potential employer. You want to be as certain as you can be that they can match your development needs as closely as possible. Changing roles encourages this style of leadership thinking: evaluating a challenge with clarity and asking important questions.

By continuing to explore your industry beyond your current working environment, you continue to develop and grow, all the while refining your leadership skills.

You’re worth it

The challenge of establishing your value with your employer is one that enriches all of us. For some, the process is a leap outside their comfort zone. Your ability to embrace the exploration of new horizons over potential professional stagnation will drive the career satisfaction you seek. In taking an active role in establishing your professional worth, you become ever more adept at negotiating value. This is a crucial skill for every successful leader to have at their disposal.

No guarantees

The contemporary workplace values skilled, experienced workers who think outside the box to keep pace with the ever-evolving digital landscape. The modern workplace is a vibrant, transitory environment focused on attracting talented team players. No employer today can guarantee you job security for life. Consider how you are going to remain – or even become – a relevant, dynamic and empowered voice in your industry.

In considering your position in the trajectory of your career, you’ll orientate yourself more accurately if you determine what you have contributed. Clarity and understanding around your contribution reveals a great deal about where you are going professionally. A role in which you are complacent and mechanically performing functions is a job. A role where you negotiate, strategise and challenge yourself is a career.

Athena Executive Search specialise in recruiting senior leadership positions in the Print and Packaging sectors across Europe. Please get in touch if you are contemplating a career move or looking to recruit. For access to more articles on industry topics, recruitment and retention strategies, and our upcoming webinar series with industry thought leaders please subscribe here: https://athena50147.activehosted.com/f/1

Are you listening to your team? You really should be

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One of the biggest misconceptions we have about communication is that listening is a passive activity. How many times have we heard someone say, or said ourselves, “I’ll come along to the meeting, but I’ll just listen”? We understand listening is an essential quality of leadership, but most of us don’t know how to listen effectively.

In a marketplace where there is a global war for talent, it’s crucial for organisations to have strong leadership. One of the biggest motivations for team members to resign is because they do not feel heard, appreciated or understood. Here are some of the biggest management blind spots when listening to staff and how to easily fix these issues.

Did you know?

When someone is talking with you face to face about their attitudes or emotions, research shows the most dominant form of communication is non-verbal. Words account for 7%, tone of voice 38% and body language a whopping 55%. While we may consider discussing attitudes or emotions to fall outside of mainstream professional communication, the reality is most one-on-one chats instigated by staff indicate attitude or emotion at the core of what they are saying. Feelings of being overwhelmed are extremely common.

It’s the same, but different

On the surface, nothing much has changed about professional hierarchy structure. Much, however, has changed beneath the surface. Dissatisfied, frustrated employees cite not being heard as a major motivator to look for a new job. Companies need leaders to recognise the importance of caring for their team in order that the business may flourish and succeed. The powerful act of listening transforms workplace culture, creating a harmonious environment, greater respect between team members, increased productivity and employees going above and beyond to deliver results. Focus is undiluted, office atmosphere is calmer, and there are fewer misunderstandings and errors. All because people feel heard.

Listening demands focus

Today’s lifestyle both in and out of the office is distracted, fragmented and dominated by technology. When you give an employee your full attention and time, they feel empowered. Give them the time and space they need to say what they need to say. Be careful not to interrupt or “help” them as they express themselves. Avoid the temptation to fix. Instead, give the person the opportunity and experience of being heard first and foremost. Just this simple act of listening to what someone has to say is effective and empowering. If you cannot contain yourself, don’t interrupt with a statement. Ask if you can offer suggestions.

Another positive way of reinforcing that you have heard what someone has said is asking questions to clarify what they are saying. Again, don’t interrupt, but wait for a pause. When the employee has finished speaking, let them know what you understand from what they have said, then ask if you have understood correctly.

Encourage your team to listen to each other

Listening means waiting before adding any thoughts to what is being said. Take this learning to your team and encourage them to listen to each other. As always lead by example. Creating authentic working relationships built on trust encourages loyalty – we could all do with more of that. Make listening a priority and your team will thank you.

Athena Executive Search specialise in recruiting senior leadership positions in the Print and Packaging sectors across Europe. We promise to listen to the issues you face in your business – hopefully we can help. For access to more articles on industry topics, recruitment and retention strategies, and our upcoming webinar series with industry thought leaders please subscribe here: https://athena50147.activehosted.com/f/1

 

What are the secrets of great leadership?

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Great leadership depends upon our level of self-awareness, our willingness to learn and our acceptance that our actions and attitude influence everyone around us. When we assume a leadership role, all of our behaviour counts. Our ability to recognise and develop the qualities we naturally possess and a willingness to develop and improve upon those we don’t is what separates ordinary leaders from the great.

Collaborate and congratulate

Work with your staff, not above them. Avoid using your position as leader as the driving influence behind getting things done. Treat your staff as colleagues rather than minions and they will feel empowered to share their ideas. It costs you nothing to smile and greet staff as you go about your day. This essential courtesy practised consistently, transforms office culture. Support your team by listening to them, congratulating and thanking them for their dedication and effort.

A great leader listens; they never assume they are the most intelligent person in the room merely because of their job title. And indeed they rarely are.

Authentic, human and humble

You want your staff to succeed. You’re happy to take a backseat and give them their moment, and the recognition and rewards they deserve. You know your team, which is reinforced as you say hello as you pass each other in the hall. You do not pry; you are aware that Tom is coaching his son for his GCSE exams, and Martha is training for the marathon. You acknowledge that staff have lives and interests outside work. Your team feels valued and genuinely cared for. With the global war for talent, authentic relationships make all the difference.

A great leader enjoys a balanced lifestyle. They work hard and take their time away from work seriously too. Whether its active involvement with the family or indulging in a favourite hobby, they know they make better leadership decisions if they are not over saturated with the pressures of the job.

Creative, confidence and focused

Your team knows you’re friendly, courteous and set a consistent example of acceptable behaviour. They also know you’re not easily fooled or manipulated. You navigate your team towards company goals and your team know they are in expert hands, no matter what the circumstances. Of course, there will be those days where everything appears to go wrong. On those days, you remain calm and exude confidence. It’s your job to keep the ship on course – and your team is led by your attitude and behaviour as much as they are by your direction. Your communication style is clear; your team understands what is expected. Do not hesitate to weed out under performing staff who cannot keep up. Timing is crucial; don’t wait.

A great leader thinks creatively. Part of this creative thinking is knowing the difference between what is right and what is easy. A level head and strong sense of perspective focused on company goals get the job done. Throughout it all your team seeks guidance from you. Where do you go for your inspiration? It’s important you have a healthy perspective on your past experience to draw from, in addition to seeking out your own mentors’ wisdom to guide you.

Athena Executive Search specialise in recruiting senior leadership positions in the Print and Packaging sectors across Europe. For access to more articles on industry topics, recruitment and retention strategies, and our upcoming webinar series with industry thought leaders please subscribe here: https://athena50147.activehosted.com/f/1

360-Degree Feedback – Why You Should Be Using It

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Feedback is an essential part of business, especially for Print and Packaging businesses that employ large teams who work together. If you want to improve the communication levels in your business, here is everything you need to know about 360-degree feedback – and why you should be using it.

What Is 360-Degree Feedback

360-degree feedback is feedback that comes from many different levels. Instead of one employee receiving feedback from their manager, they would receive feedback from a variety of people, including peers, managers, other workers, customers or stakeholders. This gives more accurate feedback that includes everyone’s needs and opinions, so the employee can significantly improve their performance and skills.

How a Printing and Packaging Company Can Benefit from using it

One of the main benefits of 360-degree feedback is that you can assess an employee’s performance from multiple people’s perspectives. This is very useful, as it is possible that one manager is unaware of an employee’s bad habits, so they may not point them out. However, a co-worker or a customer may be aware of these issues, and 360-degree feedback gives them the chance to air these so that any problems can be solved.

This is especially useful for employees who work in a busy environment, as teamwork and mutual understanding are essential parts of the business

It also gives employees more power rather than just allowing managers to make decisions. This means that employees will feel more valued and appreciated. It also means that they are less likely to have problems in the workplace, as they are able to air their grievances.

How to Prepare Employees 

It is important to discuss the benefits of 360-degree feedback before implementing it, as this means that employees will be fully aware of how it works. You should take the time to state that any feedback will be anonymous, so employees don’t feel worried about giving it, and you should also say that the system isn’t being implemented to make employees feel under scrutiny. It is being implemented to improve the workplace for everyone.

You should also take some time to sit down with the managers to prepare them for the results of 360-degree feedback. Many managers are not used to receiving feedback from the employees that they manage, and so they may feel attacked and worried about any negative feedback that they get. Thankfully, proper training and an anonymous system should remove any worries that your managers have.

Starting 360-Degree Feedback

Once all of the employees have been informed about 360-degree feedback, you can start to implement it. You should set clear rules to ensure that no one abuses the feedback system – for example, you may want to set one day of the week for when employees can leave feedback rather than every day of the week.

Athena Executive Search specialise in recruiting senior leadership positions in the Print and Packaging sectors across Europe. For access to more articles on industry topics, recruitment and retention strategies, and our upcoming webinar series with industry thought leaders please subscribe here:  https://athena50147.activehosted.com/f/1

How to use social media to find a new role

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When used correctly, social media is a powerful tool to help you identify that perfect role. An active and engaging social media presence is crucial for a variety of reasons. Your activity across social media platforms says so much about who you are and helps you to present yourself in this increasingly competitive market as the ideal, talented addition to an employer.

An engaging social media feed across a variety of platforms also highlights your ability to build professional contacts as well as showcase your skills. Recruiters respond favourably to active social media feeds; they gather information based upon the quality, frequency and professional relevance of your posts. Developing your social media skills is therefore vital and we have some strategic tips to help you maximise your opportunities.

LinkedIn

LinkedIn really is the go-to networking site for recruiters. But merely creating a LinkedIn profile isn’t enough to convince hiring managers to take a closer look at you. Recruiters seek superior content, such as testimonials and recommendations from your colleagues and clients. Rather than simply listing your experience and qualifications, take the time to include background information to provide context. The more time you spend curating engaging content, the better your chances of attracting the job opportunities you want.

Recruiters seek talented individuals to network with and to interview. Highlight your skills and experience, stand out from the crowd and use LinkedIn to build an impressive database of industry contacts. The more active you are on LinkedIn, the better it will reflect on you and your suitability for a particular role.

Twitter

Twitter is by far the chattiest of all social media platforms – but don’t let that fool you. It’s a powerful tool for attracting a new job. Twitter is also a helpful resource to discover what people are saying about the company you want to work for. When you are looking for a new job, focus your tweets and retweets on industry-relevant subjects. Use keywords and hashtags to group your content with industry-specific content. Engage with respected industry leaders through following and responding to their tweets. Use your experience to offer helpful advice to other Twitter users in your industry. Recruiters will take note of what you say and who you interact with; make the most of the opportunity and highlight your skills and industry knowledge.

Facebook

Facebook’s reputation as an informal social media platform has caught out many a hopeful candidate. Don’t let this be you. Nowadays Facebook is also teeming with many helpful industry-specific groups and content. In addition to interacting with industry peers, be prepared for recruiters to peruse your profile to see how you engage with the world beyond your work environment. Who you are is your personal brand. If you prefer, create a separate profile to use as your professional Facebook page. It is, however, good practice to keep your content clean.

Social media is an effective channel through which to highlight your skills, experience and personality to potential employers, and confirm your suitability for a role. The opportunities available on social media to further your career are endless. Happy posting!

Athena Executive Search specialise in recruiting in the Print and Packaging sectors across Europe. Please connect with us on social media to keep up to date on industry topics, recruitment and retention strategies, and our upcoming webinar series with industry thought leaders. You can also subscribe here: https://athena50147.activehosted.com/f/1

 

Why digital print is a game changer in packaging

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The digital opportunity in the packaging sector of the printed graphics market is valued at over $10 billion, and with projected growth rates of 14% to 2020, this sector is booming. To keep up, equipment, software, and ink manufacturers are creating innovative tools, unique packaging specific solutions, and chemistry to enable future growth in digital packaging.

Innovation and potential

Digital print’s potential is enormous and already proven to be disruptive in other print segments. Industry leaders are supporting this trend and are pushing their return on investment ever upwards. The beauty of digital is its innovation and power is not exclusive to technology. Digital focuses on harnessing technological prowess with any organisation able to embrace evolution and development as part of its operations.  While digital is already widely accepted in the tag and label sector and the short run pharmaceutical folding carton sectors, of the packaging segment, other segments are ripe for significantly digital adoption in the next three to five years.  Particularly, the packaging sectors of corrugated, narrow web flexible film, and direct to shape (metal and plastic containers) offers the next likely high growth areas for digital.

Consumer experience is everything

The digital evolution continues to offer improved usability. As a result, the importance of a consumer’s experience continues to increase. As consumers’ confidence in digital transformation has grown, they have aligned themselves with brands and products that cater to their ever-evolving needs.  While the initial driver for digital was to enable personalisation, on the fly customisation, short run profitability, and the enabling of quicker and easier design to print campaigns are driving the next growth spurt.  Consumer’s expectations for packaging in the digital bombardment age, is also changing, just as the way millennials see and respond to advertising is changing.

Why is digital print continuing to grow?

In addition to the reasons outlined above, the growth of digital print enables print providers to exponentially improve and increase the services they offer to their customers. In addition, digital empowers innovation and encourages an increase in revenue streams not easily achieved in traditional print methods. It’s expected that digital print will make the most of the high value short runs and provide quicker turnaround times for packaging sectors.

Interesting times ahead for digital technology advancements

Today, there are both electrophotographic (dry and liquid toner) technologies and inkjet ink types of digital.  Toner based systems, such as Indigo, Xerox I-Gen, and Xeikon, have gained an early foothold on the short run tag and label, as well as some folding carton sectors.  More recently, inkjet solutions are being adopted as they can often do more than electrophotographic systems at a lower cost of ownership.  The technology advancements in the inkjet print head, electronics, and ink chemistry has now reached a point of practicality, likely eclipsing electrophotography as early as 2019.  Beyond toner and inkjet are a number of what have to still be referenced as “yet-to-be-proven” digital technologies that, if they really work, will also be very disruptive in the packaging sectors, especially those food related packaging sectors.

Excitingly, the greatest changes expected over the next decade will be in packaging. Sectors that are most likely to employ digital production processes include corrugated (direct to board and pre-print liner), metal decoration (2-Piece, and flat sheet 3-Piece), flexible (films, bags, pouches, etc.), and rigid (direct to container) applications. The folding carton sector also has the potential to grow as digital technologies develop further.

Beyond graphics and packaging

Digital continues to break new ground in all kinds of industrial applications, forging applications including flat and round glass, textiles, ceramics,  tiles, wood, plastic composites, electronics, and 3D. The term “Industrial Digital Printing’ has come to represent a kind of catch-all descriptions for every type of decoration that does not already fit into a known segment or sector.

Better Together

Organisations which recognize the phenomenal growth and potential of digital packaging are often engaging strategic alliances or in joint ventures, sometimes for technology, sometimes for route to market. This approach enables companies to capitalise on a booming market with less risk and faster time to market. These types of partnerships often bring together technology components and brands, as well as system manufacturing and customer facing solutions to help drive the industry faster into the digital age.  Some examples include  companies such as: Xerox with Impika, Fujifilm working with Heidelberg, and Xerox( Primefire 106), KBA with their own subsidiary Kamman (Direct To Shape) and new projects with Landa (S10 automation) and Xerox, Komori and Landa (Impremia NS40). Flint Group have acquired the Xeikon business in a key strategic move.

On-demand printing

On-demand printing reduces waste and also means the latest design, product information or alterations to components do not create unnecessary clutter such as superfluous records. Electrophotography and inkjet’s continual evolution and development mean that on-demand printing is possible for the packaging industry. Specialised detail such as packaging specific to a particular region, demographic or specific interest is now a practical reality for the packaging sector. Exactly where in the supply chain that the printing is happening is also changing with Digital evolution.  Digital printing near or actually in-line with the packaging converting process is also a trend, further shortening the turn-around time for a package to market while offering the flexibility only digital can offer.

There’s no doubt about it. The inclusive effects of digital development, particularly on the consumer, has changed the way in which the market interacts with packaging. Everyone wants to jump aboard this rapidly expanding sector, flourishing beneath digital technology’s ingenious gaze.

Athena Executive Search specialise in recruiting in the Print and Packaging sectors across Europe. We are excited about Digital Print and recruit for companies at the cutting edge of this sector. For access to more articles on industry topics, recruitment and retention strategies, and our upcoming webinar series with industry thought leaders please subscribe here: https://athena50147.activehosted.com/f/1

 

Waitrose ditches plastic trays and replaces them with eco-packaging

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Tomato vine leaves are being mixed with recycled cardboard to replace plastic food packaging at Waitrose.

The eco-trays will be used instead of black plastic, which is almost impossible to collect and recycle.

The move follows a successful trial at the supermarket using the waste tomato vine leaves last year. Waitrose Duchy cherry tomatoes will be sold in the special tray from mid-June.

Waitrose’s other Duchy tomato lines will be in the new brown packaging from the end of July. Black plastic trays – used for everything from fresh produce to meat and fish – generate millions of tonnes of plastic waste a year.

The organic packaging made from tomato vines will be sold from June onwards in Waitrose stores

 

Such packaging cannot be identified by the lasers used to sift through rubbish on collection centre conveyor belts.

As a result such items end up being diverted to landfill or burned for energy, rather than being recycled. In a similar innovation, pulses are being used in the packaging for Waitrose Red Lentil Pasta and Green Pea Pasta. This reduces the use of virgin tree pulp by 15 per cent and lowers greenhouse gas emissions by 20 per cent.

Nicola Waller, head of fresh produce at Waitrose, said: ‘We’re serious about looking for alternative packaging materials. This uses materials which would otherwise be wasted, which can only be a good thing. We will ensure all our own-label packaging is widely recyclable, reusable or home compostable by 2025.’

In a separate major development, the food service giant Brakes, which sends out tens of millions of meals and other products to hospitals, schools, care homes, cafes and other food businesses is to stop using black plastic trays as part of a wider effort to tackle waste and pollution.

The company said the decision was inspired by the Daily Mail’s ‘Turn the Tide on Plastic’ campaign and the recent national clean-up effort made by thousands of volunteers under the banner of the ‘Great Plastic Pickup’.

Brakes will be looking into alternative materials for black plastic ready-meal trays and other packaging. It is also considering alternatives to plastic straws and cutlery. 

Environmental campaigners are encouraging people to give up plastic for a day as a protest over unrecyclable rubbish. The group, A Plastic Planet, is calling on families to avoid using items that contain plastic packaging today to coincide with it being World Environment Day.

Waitrose said the decision had been inspired by the Daily Mail’s Turn the Tide on Plastic Campaign

Source

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5805815/Waitrose-ditches-plastic-trays-replaces-eco-packaging-TOMATO-plants.html