wewow.co.uk - Experts in CD/DVD Duplication, Replication and Eco-friendly Media Packaging

Plastic CD/DVD Packaging - Polystyrene vs Polypropylene

CD/DVD packaging is a key consideration for companies and individuals who are planning to produce an optical media project.  The demand for eco-friendly packaging solutions is mounting but card-based packages are not suitable for every customer’s requirements.  Plastic disc packaging has a strong position within the industry and providing that careful consideration is given to the material used, be it polystyrene or polypropylene, it need not be disregarded.

 

Polystyrene

Polystyrene is often used to produce standard jewel cases as it is a cost-effective, durable material.  It can be coloured or clear and its clarity is almost unmatched by other plastics.  However, this clarity causes the case to be fragile and prone to breakages.

 

Cases that contain more plastic will be more durable and better suited for shipping.  However, they are also more expensive.  Such cases will also work better with automated collation lines because they are heavier and therefore have better tolerances.

 

Customers often order additional units to compensate for any breakages that occur during transit.  However, this increases wastage and cost.

 

This material can be recycled but it can be difficult to find a recycler who accepts polystyrene.

 

Polypropylene

Polypropylene is often used for DVD cases and CD cases such as C-shell as it is a stiff plastic which produces more durable hinges than other materials.  This substance contains rubber, making it more pliable than some plastics, and it can be produced in a variety of colours.

 

Polypropylene is recyclable and is often recycled.  However, cases which contain recycled materials may not be as heavy and strong as those which are 100% virgin material and recycled cases often have a noticeable smell.

 

wewow always recommend that customers consider all of the available options and select a package which is best suited to their own individual needs.  For this reason, we offer plastic based packaging alongside card-based packaging solutions and our team are always on hand to provide thorough information and guidance on all of our products.

9.9.9…Eco-packaging emergency

Do you have an eco-packaging emergency? Don’t despair weEco.co.uk is here!

  

 

 

 

With the demand for environmentally-friendly media packaging solutions mounting, wewow Ltd. are launching a dedicated eco-division to major in the development of eco-friendly media packaging! On 9/9/9 wewow will launch weEco.co.uk.

  

 

 

As wewow’s packaging range continues to wow their clients, weEco will become the home of the best eco-packaging in the industry. With a portfolio which includes the hugely successful WowWallet and WowPak, weEco will be an unmissable showcase of wewow’s and weEco’s growing packaging range.

  

In addition to an impressive range of printable, eco-friendly media packaging solutions and ‘off-the-shelf’ products, weEco will offer a unique product design service.  Clients who are looking for a bespoke eco-packaging solution can commission weEco to design a new product, which will specifically address their environmental, commercial and design requirements.

Is recycled paper less eco-friendly than virgin stock?

There is a common myth that recycled paper is not an eco-friendly alternative to using non-recycled paper because it requires more energy to produce and releases more pollution.

  

On the face of it, recycled paper does use more energy than non-recycled stock because of the additional cleaning involved.  However, waste paper does not require the vast amounts of energy which is involved in turning wood chips into pulp – which is required to produce new paper.

  

To dispel another myth, the production of recycled paper does NOT produce more pollution than the production of new paper.  Many recycled papers require little, if any, bleaching for example.  In contrast, virgin pulp, which is naturally brown, has to be bleached before it can be made into paper.  Furthermore, in general, eco-friendly processes are used to clean waste paper, if necessary, such as diluting and dispersing ink into the pulp (which does not produce any extra pollution).

  

Recycled paper is certainly a ‘green’ option but that doesn’t mean that new paper cannot be eco-friendly.  If you wish to use new paper rather than recycled, opt for an FSC accredited stock and you can be sure that your paper has come from a sustainable and well managed forest.

  

wewow work with a vast range of FSC and 100% recycled stocks so whatever you need we can help.

wewow plan launch of unique eco-friendly packaging design competition

With the launch of their specialist eco-friendly packaging arm, weEco.co.uk, approaching wewow have announced that they will be hosting a unique competition for budding product designers.

 

wewow Ltd. are keen to work with the best up and coming design talent and encourage sustainable design practices, with the aim of developing a bespoke media package which will benefit both their clients and the environment.

 

The competition will be open to anyone over the age of 18 with a unique packaging design concept for optical media.  Designers should pay particular attention to the eco-friendly credentials of their design and the winner will work with wewow to develop their idea into a sustainable and commercially viable product.

 

Individuals, companies and educational institutions who are interested in participating in the competition should register their interest by emailing [email protected] to receive an information pack.  Applications will be available online from 1^st September 2009.

Happy Birthday…wewow turns 5!

On 18^th June, wewow celebrated its 5^th birthday!  Here at the wow offices we celebrated with fancy dress and a special lunch.  Of course, we used bio-degradable plates, cutlery and cups so that our celebrations were eco-friendly!

Over the 5 years wewow has been trading there have been a lot of developments and exciting changes…having established itself as a leading media packaging supplier, wewow moved into CD/DVD replication and duplication and built a name for itself as a top quality supplier with a reputation for excellent customer service.

In recent years, wewow has developed its own range of bespoke, eco-friendly CD/DVD packaging including; wowPak, WowWallet and the recent addition of the windowed WowWallet.

Now going into our 6^th year we are looking forward to developing our unique range of environmentally friendly packaging and aim to continue promoting green issues throughout the optical media industry.

 

wewow launches new environmentally-friendly CD/DVD Wallet

Here at wewow we have been very excited about World Environment Day 2009.  In the wewow offices we have had a bake sale to raise money for the Forest of Bradford and have spent time actively looking for new ways to reduce our carbon footprint.

 

We are also pleased to announce the launch of the newest edition to our eco-friendly CD & DVD packaging range - the WowWallet with window.  This optical media package can be produced from FSC accredited board or 100% recycled board.  The window at the front of the wallet allows the package to be customized by inserting a CD booklet, which can be printed with vegetable based inks, rather than full colour print.  Because the wallet itself does not need to be printed with branding, the wallets can be produced in bulk thereby reducing costs and waste.  Furthermore, customers can buy the wallets in bulk and simply produce new booklets for new editions of their CD or DVD, rather than having to throw away excess wallets with printed artwork which is no longer appropriate.  Therefore, this new product is a cost-effective and environmentally friendly solution for projects of all sizes.

 

This latest offering from wewow is part of their unique range of bespoke green packaging.  Further information can be found at here or can be requested from the wewow sales team.

Why is cardboard media packaging more eco-friendly than traditional plastic options

Recent research published by the non-for-profit organisation Julie’s Bicycle has shown that the carbon emissions produced by the media industry could be significantly reduced by the adoption of alternative forms of packaging, as opposed to the traditional plastic jewel case.  Significantly, the greatest reduction in emissions would result from the use of entirely card options.

  

Because plastic-based media packaging is produced from oil and recycling rates for plastic are low, the traditional jewel case and DVD case products present a challenge to eco-aware customers.  As a result, customers are calling out for a more environmentally-friendly alternative, but what is it that makes card-based products more eco-friendly than plastic products?

  

In contrast to plastic packages, cardboard based packaging can be produced from virgin or recycled fibre, thereby allowing the customer the option of using board from sustainable forests.  The source of the cardboard used is vital in ensuring that disc packaging is sustainable as poorly sourced fibre is not an ethical alternative to plastic.  wewow are committed to producing packaging solely from FSC accredited stock so you can be sure that their products come from sustainable sources.  There are a range of factors which affect sustainability of a packaging product, including the energy intensity of the process – the production of the WowWallet is much less energy intensive, for example, and wewow are always looking for ways to improve their production processes.

  

The production of CD/DVD packaging also raises labour issues, as products produced overseas in countries with differing labour standards may not fulfil the high labour and health and safety standards which the industry should be encouraging.  wewow manufacture all of their eco-friendly optical media packaging in the UK so that customer’s can be sure of the ethicality of the production process.  Furthermore, UK production, and more specifically local production, ensures that carbon emissions produced by the transportation of goods is kept to a minimum.

 

The exciting thing about the move towards eco-friendly CD/DVD packaging is that many of the new, card-based packaging options are strikingly unique and offer a bespoke alternative to the plastic cases which provide only limited scope for originality.  For example, wewow’s range of eco-friendly packaging can be printed full colour inside and out and also allows space for a booklet.  Of course, the way in which disc packaging is printed is central to ensuring that the product is eco-friendly.  This issue will be discussed in more detail in wewow’s next blog.

  

This blog is part of a series of wewow articles being published to mark World Environment Day 2009 and aiming to raise awareness of the environmental issues surrounding the optical media and packaging industry.

World Environment Day

As World Environment Day 2009 is on 5^th June, we have decided to zoom in on some of the environmental issues surrounding the optical media industry.  This month, we will be publishing a series of blogs offering practical advice and guidance on how to make your media project eco-friendly.

  

CD/DVD packaging is coming under close scrutiny at the moment as the industry looks to improve on the impact its products have upon the environment.  The question is what should customers look for when selecting environmentally-friendly packaging?

  

The best way to explore the various eco-friendly options that are available is to deal with a supplier who is leading the way with environmentally friendly media packaging.  Not only will they be experts in this area and able to offer you lots of information and guidance, they won’t be afraid to try something new.  This area of the industry is growing quickly and eco-friendly media packaging experts are constantly researching new eco-friendly options and packaging designs.

  

wewow have been keen to take the lead in reducing the industries carbon footprint by developing a range of eco-friendly packaging options as alternatives to the traditional plastic based products.  The wowPak set the ball rolling as wewow’s first packaging option to be manufactured entirely from FSC accredited board, meaning that the wowPak is made only from sustainable sources.  The plastic tray was replaced by the unique pop up compartment which securely holds the disc in place and the entire CD/DVD pack can be printed with vegetable based inks.

  

Following the success of wowPak, wewow have gone on to develop the WowWallet, which has become one of the most popular developments within the industry this year.  Similar to wowPak, WowWallet is made from FSC accredited paperboard, printed with vegetable based inks and there is not a plastic tray in sight.  In order to reduce the products carbon emissions further, wewow have introduced an option to finish the WowWallet with a bio-degradable laminate and the wallet can be secured with bio-degradable shrink wrap.

  

wewow are dedicated to developing their range of eco-friendly CD & DVD packaging and are set to expand the range in the coming months.  In our next blog entry we will focus on the benefits of using eco-friendly packaging in comparison to traditional plastic packages.

wewow introduces innovative eco-friendly CD packaging - WowWallet

Bradford-based CD and DVD replication company, wewow, have announced the launch of WowWallet.  WowWallet is an innovative and cost-effective solution to environmentally friendly CD/DVD packaging.

 

Following the success of wowpak earlier this year, wewow have designed another unique and attractive CD/DVD package which can be manufactured from FSC accredited board and is 100% sustainable.  The WowWallet has been developed so that it can be produced for both short run and larger projects, meaning that eco-friendly packaging is now accessible to all, regardless of budget.

  

 

wewow are dedicated to finding unique environmentally friendly solutions for a range of media projects and are set to launch a third eco-friendly disc package in the new year.

 

For more information on WowWallet or any of wewow’s service, contact [email protected] or give us a call on 01274 301410.

How To Make Your CD or DVD Project Eco-friendly

Producing a CD or DVD project which is environmentally friendly can be a minefield with many different companies promoting their varied services and products as sustainable and eco-friendly.  Here at wewow, we believe in making it as easy as possible for you to go green so we have taken the time to put together a few tips to help you reduce the impact of your CD/DVD project upon the environment.

• Green CD and DVD Packaging
  CD and DVD packaging makes a significant contribution to the carbon emissions of CD/DVD duplication and replication projects.  wewow have responded to the environmental impact of disc packaging by designed a unique range of environmentally friendly CD and DVD packaging.  The WOW! Range includes the WowPak, WowWallet, WowSpiral and WowPromo products; providing earth friendly packaging solutions for projects and budgets of all sizes.
  Environmentally friendly CD/DVD packaging also adds value to a release as it is often bespoke and demonstrates a real commitment to the environment by the DVD or CD producers.
  

• Recycled Products
  There are a number of different materials used to produce eco-friendly CD/DVD packaging and paper parts, including using recycled materials.  Recycled materials can vary from recycled card or paper to recycled CDs and DVDs!
  

• Recycling
  Your CD/DVD replication, duplication and packaging supply may offer a recycling services for unwanted and wasted discs.  If you have any unwanted CDs or DVDs then please ask your supplier what they can do to help.  If they don't accept CDs and DVDs for recycling themselves, they will probably be able to recommend a recycling company that does.
  
  
• Environmental Policy
  If you're asking your replication or duplication supplier whether they will recycle YOUR unwanted CDs and DVDs it is also worth asking how they themselves dispose of waste CDs and DVDs.  Unfortunately, wasted discs are a by-product of the disc manufacturing and print process so if you are looking for a 'green' supplier be sure to find out how they deal with waste materials.  Eco-friendly companies will generally have an ethical statement and internal environmental policy
   and should be more than happy to send you a copy.
  
  
• Eco-friendly paper parts

Paper parts such as booklets, wraps and wallets can easily be produced from eco-friendly paper, such as FSC accredited or recycled stock.  In addition to the material used to produce the paper parts, look out for printers who use vegetable-based inks and low-alcohol or alcohol free printers.

If you're hoping to produce an eco-friendly CD or DVD project it is important to choose the right supplier, who is dedicated to the environment and will offer guidance and support every step of the way.