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PACKAGING & DESIGN FROM PAGE 60 Retail World spoke to GS1 Director of Retail Andrew Steele to learn more about the latest barcode technology and the possibilities it’s creating. “For us it’s the first real significant change to point of sale barcoding in over 40 years, so we’re really excited,” he said. “From a traditional barcode with its 13-digit number that says, ‘I am this’, we’ve gone to the whole next evolution of being able to have all this additional information in a POS barcode. “The two-dimensional barcodes we’re talking about look like a QR code, and while there are some different versions out there, the GS1 QR code is set up to a global standard. It can include lots of bits of different data, depending on what the product is and what data or attributes you want to communicate. “I work in the retail sector, so in retail foods when I’m looking at a product, the types of data would include the GTIN \\\[global trade item number\\\] that says, ‘I am a packet of this’. I might also want to have a batch or lot number, maybe a serial number and even a list of date codes that might include a use-by, a best-before and a packed- on date. “All that information can be put into a 2D barcode and, today, Woolworths can scan these at point of sale. “There are other 2D barcode solutions too, including one allowing a user to scan the code and, based on the batch or lot number, they can find out if that product is authentic and not counterfeit. There’s also a standard for 2D barcodes for the transport sector, offering information such as the ship-to address, consignment number and other data useful through the entire supply chain.” The challenge with having multiple applications and different stakeholders is that more than one barcode may be needed. According to GS1 Australia Healthcare Industry Manager Catherine Koetz, Australia already has two barcodes on a lot of products and it’s likely a third one will be added. VISY AIMS TO BE TOP OF THE GLASS Retail space isn’t the only space we need to manage, with overuse of landfill a serious environmental concern. With its vision “to be the global leader in creating sustainable packaging solutions for a better world”, global packaging manufacturer Visy’s recent investment in glass manufacturing is a clear example of a business putting its money where its mouth is. Retail World spoke to Visy Chief Operating Officer Mark De Wit to learn more about this sustainability initiative. What led Visy to invest in Visy Glass? Sustainability and innovation are always key drivers for us and the past 12 months was no exception. We invested in operations to improve our sustainable product offering, in processes to improve sustainability, in cutting edge equipment, and in creating more jobs. The addition of glass allows us to offer a full array of sustainable packaging options to our customers, including glass, beverage cans, food cans and recycled plastics, and additional fibre options for outer packaging and point of sale displays. Our offering extends beyond packaging to provide a full range of services, including automation and logistics. We’re committed to a true circular economy with our kerbside and commercial recycling business, collecting over two million tonnes of paper, cardboard, glass, plastics and metal every year for potential re-manufacture back into sustainable packaging. From a sustainability point of view, other than reduced landfill, what are the benefits of glass packaging? Glass is recyclable again and again. Many consumers will use the contents of a glass bottle and jar, and then put it straight into the recycling, to be re-manufactured back into a new glass bottle. That re-manufacturing loop can be repeated over and over, right here in Australia. Glass is one of the world’s most sustainable packaging options. It’s made of three natural ingredients: silica sand, soda ash and limestone. When mixed with recycled glass (known as cullet) those four ingredients make up the batch mixture. Increasing the proportion of cullet used has a significant impact on sustainability credentials: • Using more cullet means less reliance on valuable raw ingredients. • Collecting more used bottles and jars to recycle and re- manufacture supports Australian re-manufacturing and sustainable jobs. • Increasing the recycled glass used in production means a decrease in both carbon emissions and energy use in the re-manufacture process. When compared with the option of importing virgin glass from overseas, it becomes clear that companies choosing to import are putting at risk local jobs, sustainability targets and the supply chain. This choice will become more relevant as consumers increasingly understand they have the option of buying packaging that’s more environmentally friendly, strengthens the economy, provides more local jobs and also keeps waste out of landfill. What other sustainability initiatives is Visy exploring? Recently, Visy Executive Chairman Anthony Pratt reiterated Visy’s support for the government’s ‘modern manufacturing strategy’ priorities, pledging an additional $2 billion into Visy over the next 10 years, with $380 million of that funding projects in the next 18 months. In the glass space specifically, the company is aiming to increase the recycled content of glass bottles on average from 30 per cent to 70 per cent and working with councils to encourage the introduction of glass-only recycling bins. These initiatives will not only reduce landfill, but also increase the recycled content of our customers’ packaging, re-manufactured here in Australia. 62 RETAIL WORLD APR, 2021