Lisa Bauer-Lotto coordinates implementation of sustainability

Lisa Bauer-Lotto

strategies for Green Bay Packaging (GBP) and provides assistance to customers. She is responsible for company-wide sustainability programs and supply chain integrity of the containerboard product line. Started in 1933, Green Bay Packaging Inc. (www.gbp.com.) is one of the largest privately held, vertically integrated, corporations consisting of timberlands, recycled and virgin linerboard mills, corrugated container plants, a folding carton plant, specialty converting operations, pressure-sensitive roll label stock and a sawmill facility. Headquartered in Green Bay, Wis., Green Bay Packaging is dedicated to the sustainable development of its products and forestry resources throughout all of its manufacturing facilities in 14 states and Mexico. GBP employs approximately 3,000 people. 

Bauer-Lotto has more than 19 years of experience in environmental sustainability and the packaging industry. Ahead of her scheduled presentation at Focal Point 2013: Frontiers in Packing at UW-Stevens Point on October 22, Bauer-Lotto talked about sustainability, customer engagement, and GBP initiatives.

 

WIST: What are some the challenges that the corrugated industry currently faces? And how is Green Bay Packaging innovating its products to overcome them?

Bauer-Lotto: There are the traditional challenges of logistics, environmental regulations, costs and supply chain integrity within the industry. However, many challenges are opportunities for continuous improvement. GBP strives to provide service and quality with a value-add and brand innovation: retail ready packaging, product-to-packaging ratio, packaging design, process efficiencies, partnerships to advance resource conservation a long with recycling and cross-functional teamwork. 

 

WIST: How is internet retail by the likes of Amazon, Zappos, LL Bean and so on and those companies' packaging strategies impacting the way you do business with your customers? 

Bauer-Lotto: Each customer has a unique brand, marketing and consumer delivery system. Internet mail orders can complement in-store purchases by making items readily accessible to consumers. For products that require a box, sending to a store or directly to a consumer, optimizes retailer and packaging strategies. Alternatively, in-store display packaging graphics are value-add in promoting product attributes the consumer can tangible see and gain their attention, prompting an immediate purchase. 

 

WIST: What single message would you like participants to take away from your Focal Point 2013 presentation next week? 

Bauer-Lotto:  Green Bay Packaging takes pride and teamwork to make products work for our customers and their end-consumer, to optimize efficiencies and build brand value. Sustainable packaging aspects, employee engagement of process and teamwork contribute to services, lower costs and quality products delivered by GBP. 

 

WIST: How are you measuring customer engagement with GBP sustainable packaging initiatives? 

Bauer-Lotto: GBP can provide sustainability report cards and quantify sustainability initiatives on products and process achievements. GBP has a robust sustainability and product guarantee engagement with customers, including key indicators and packaging aspects, to ensure materials comply with business strategies of our customers.  

 

Focal Point 2013 targets challenges and opportunities in the packaging and converting industries. In addition to Bauer-Lotto, the conference features a full slate of experts representing important aspects in the current landscape of the packaging and packaging-materials industry. On the program are Lisa Bauer-Lotto, Green Bay Packaging; Paul Fowler, WIST; Paul Gardner, Recycling Reinvented; Amanda Humes, Conagra Foods; Jeffrey Keithline, Keller & Heckman; Gopal Iyengar, NewPage Corporation; Chris Reitmeyer, IPS; Jeff Timm, Timm Consulting; and Wayne Wegner, Bemis Company.