green is universal

Evan Almightly Eco Friendly DVD Packaging

Posted at 10:17 PM on November 09, 2007 comments (1)

By Richard Bicknell, Universal Studios Home Entertainment Canada

Earlier this year, we started a "Green Committee" at Universal Studios Video. This group has absolutely attacked the issues and opportunities inherent with all things 'green' with an energy that quite frankly took my by surprise. I always knew that we had a passionate team but from a personal level it was wonderful to know that I spend my days with so many people who share in my concerns and beliefs about this critical issue.

One of the first things the team thought of was DVD packaging. Traditionally in a polypropylene-based case, the idea was to develop a plastic-free alternative. Working with a Canadian supplier several prototypes were created until we had landed on one that we felt would satisfy our environmental standards. All we needed was a title to launch it with - then along came EVAN ALMIGHTY, with its themes of eco-responsibility and production effort to zero out its environmental impact, EVAN ALMIGHTY was the perfect and natural choice.

Our package uses paper endorsed by the Forest Stewardship Council, soy-based inks and a waterless printing process that eliminates ink getting into ground water and producing VOCs - volatile organic compounds - which have been linked to global warming. Our slim eco-pack also fits 100 to a box - thus requiring less impact on the environment from a shipping perspective. This Canadian-initiative was launched on DVD on October the 9th. Early sales support what consumers told us during our package testing in the summer - that a vast majority would continue to buy the same amount of DVDs even if all of them came in this package. Music to our ears but more importantly great news for our planet!

Richard Bicknell, VP Marketing
Universal Studios Home Entertainment Canada
http://www.udvd.ca