Feature in FY2011:
Environmentally-conscious packaging design

The packages you two have designed won an award at the Japan Packaging Contest held by Japan Packaging Institute.

Itano:To be honest, I feel relieved that both of the entries we made won an award. Among the 3Rs, we place the highest emphasis on "Reduce." Our efforts in reducing the total amount of packaging materials while promoting the use of paper-based materials seemed to be highly evaluated in the contest.

Besides making entries to contests, do you take any other actions to advertise your attempts outside of the Company?

Nakamura:Not only for advertising purposes but also for the purpose of creating opportunities for ourselves to exchange information with other companies, we actively participate in events of industry groups and workshops and introduce our attempts to people outside the Company.

Itano:In September 2009, we held the "Kansai Transport Packaging Discussion" meeting as a special workshop of the Kansai Branch of the Japan Packaging Institute. Participants from various companies engaged in heated discussions on the themes that had been decided based on a questionnaire survey conducted in advance. This meeting was favorably received by the participants.

Nakamura:I think this event contributed to some degree to the vitalization of the packaging industry. I hope we can continue to be involved in this type of activity.

What is the ideal form of packaging? How do you think packaging should evolve?

Nakamura:I think no packaging at all would be the best.

Itano:I agree. I think the ultimate form of packaging is "no packaging at all."

Nakamura:However, it is actually difficult to completely eliminate packaging. I think it is ideal if all packaging materials are reused and recycled, using IT and irrespective of the borders between companies.

Itano:I think packaging will be increasingly influenced by trends in logistics. Promoting recycling "irrespective of the borders between companies," as Nakamura just said, is a good idea. Collaborative actions between companies such as the shared use of trucks on roundtrips should be encouraged more vigorously.

Finally, tell us your dreams and goals for the future.

Itano:I think the person who first thought of the current form of a corrugated cardboard box was a genius. It can be folded and assembled quickly. I want to create a new packaging material that is simple but useful to society, like a corrugated cardboard box. Though it is still an obscure goal, I hope to establish a packaging method that can be immediately typically identified as "Kyocera Mita's packaging."