Puma thinks outside the box with eco-packaging
Famous footballers such as Pele, Johan Cruyff and Maradona originally brought Puma’s name to UK audiences, and current stars such as Usain Bolt have kept the company in the spotlight.
But now the sports and leisure firm wants to be known as much for its sustainable business plan as for its big sporting names.
At London’s Design Museum on the banks of the River Thames the German firm unveiled its new environmentally-friendly packaging for its footwear, which will mean an end to the traditional shoe box.
After more than two years of looking at various solutions, industrial designer Yves Behar of Fuse Project has came up with what is dubbed Puma’s “Clever Little Bag”.
From the end of next year the sports kit maker aims to cut its carbon footprint by putting its shoes in a frame made from a single cardboard sheet and wrapped in reusable shoe bags.
Customers can leave the card at the store, or take it home and recycle it. The bag can be re-used or recycled, and is biodegradable.
‘Sustainability necessary’
According to Puma the move will save 8,500 tonnes of paper, and mean a reduction of 60% in water and energy used during the production process.
It will also mean a reduction in transportation, due to the lighter packaging which does away with much cardboard, tissue paper, and various forms of plastic wrappings.
The new design does away with much of the traditional footwear packaging
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“Sustainability in business is no longer negotiable, it is absolutely necessary, and we companies are overdue in taking responsibility,” declares Jochen Zeitz, Puma’s youthful-looking 47-year-old chief executive and chairman.
“Business is part of the environmental problem; and we need to do what we can to fix it – companies need to lead the way.
“Meanwhile, consumers are becoming increasingly discerning in their choices and we need to address this too.”
The move is part of what Puma says are ways of cutting its carbon “pawprint” over the next five years.
And the firm says it is only the limitations of current technology that is preventing its products from being totally environmentally-friendly.
“Over time we hope to be 100% recyclable, but at the moment we want to reach standards that are achievable today,” Mr Zeitz says.
No job cuts
The delay in implementing the new packaging is due to having to run tests to take the bag through Puma’s supply chain, and “educating” its partners.
Mr Zeitz says that covers everything from showing retailers how to stack the bags in stores to dealing with the conservative working traditions of German warehouse staff.
Mr Zeitz says the move is cost neutral in the medium to long term
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Meanwhile, he says the move is “estimated at being cost neutral in the mid to long term, and slightly negative in the short term”.
Puma say it has factored this into its development costs, and is looking forward to when the programme will save it money by using less energy and less materials, while producing less waste.
At the moment the majority of its products are made in Asia, in countries such as China and Vietnam, so the bags will be initially manufactured there too.
When sub-production facilities are up and running in places like Argentina and Brazil among others, then bags will also be made in plants nearby to factories there.
Mr Zeitz says there are not expected to be any job cuts as part of this programme.
Motor sports
However, why does a company with such green aims sponsor Formula One, perhaps one of the most environmentally-unfriendly sports?
Not only are the cars burning large amounts of fuel, albeit with a biofuel element, but huge amounts of equipment have to be transported by truck or aircraft around the world from race to race.
Puma is a supporter of the Ferrari Formula One team
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The firm, which has a Puma Motorsports division, backs the Ferrari and Red Bull F1 teams, makes clothing for two Nascar racing teams, and sponsors and supplies the Ducati Corse Moto GP motorcycle team.
“If you look at the number of [F1] races a year, the limited amount of [carbon] footprint is small,” says Mr Zeitz.
He says motor racing body the FIA is trying to persuade F1 to become more environmentally-friendly, through increased use of biofuels and other measures.
Mr Zeitz also says that Puma is in constant discussions with its F1 and Moto GP partners to try to influence them to become more green.
Be he adds: “We don’t want to become complete purists and say we will not use our cars any more.
“We are not saying we have to be perfect, we know we are not in a perfect world, but can improve some areas through things such as better technology.”
He also points to Puma’s involvement in competitive sailing as a sign of its green credentials.
World Cup hopes
Mr Zeitz has spearheaded the worldwide restructuring of Puma, and made it one of Germany’s best-known businesses abroad.
Since 2007, Puma has been majority-owned by PPR, the French luxury goods maker that also owns Gucci, and has expanded into the lifestyle clothing arena as well as making sports kit.
The new packaging has been designed by Yves Behar
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And with less then two months to go until the World Cup in South Africa, the firm is hoping the football jamboree can boost sales.
Puma sponsors 12 African teams, so it expects a “home field advantage” with the tournament being in Africa.
It sponsors Ghana, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Mozambique, Egypt, Tunisia, Namibia, Morocco, Angola, Senegal, Togo and Algeria.
Before the World Cup kicks off on 11 June, Puma’s fourth-quarter results are due out at the end of April.
The company’s third-quarter pre-tax profits, released last November, before interest fell 21.6% to 98m euros ($145.8m; £87m).
Big rivalry
Meanwhile, Mr Zeitz has promised more progress on one of Europe’s biggest sporting business stories of last year – the move to end its long and bitter rivalry with Adidas.
The rivalry was started 60 years ago by their founding brothers – Adi and Rudolf Dassler, who had started making sports shoes together in the 1920s.
Diego Maradona wearing Puma boots in the 1986 World Cup final
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They fell out during World War II and founded firms on either side of a river in southern Germany, Adi with Adidas and Rudolf with Puma.
Last year the two firms played a friendly football match to try to end the feud.
“It’s something we want to continue,” Mr Zeitz says.
“I would certainly hope and believe we will do something again, it should not be a one-off.”
For now the firm is concentrating on telling the world about its new packing system.
Deyan Sudjic, director of the Design Museum, says: “They have invested time and money in the project to come up with something that is elegant yet meets its objectives.”
Reference Link
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8619165.stm
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BBC News
Organic farmers presented awards
The award function was organised as part of an exhibition of organic products.
KOCHI, India: Noottupara Haritha Sangham, an organic farmers’ group, based at Kanjikkuzhi in Alappuzha district, won the award for the best group of organic farmers at the Organic Kerala agricultural exhibition, organised here on Sunday.
The programme was organised by the Organic Kerala Charitable Trust, in association with the Kerala State Biodiversity Board and Rajagiri Outreach, another organisation based in Kochi.
Organic practices
More than 20 farmers of the group are employing organic practices in 17 acres to produce vegetables at Kanjikkuzhi.
The local panchayat development committee is undertaking the marketing of the produce.
The award was received by K.P. Bhasuran, on behalf of the group, from Jayakrishnan, chairman of the trust.
Exhibition
The award function was organised as part of an exhibition of organic products. Paddy, wheat, vegetables and fruits were among the items on show.
The four-day exhibition will conclude on Monday.
Farmers from Palakkad, Kozhikkode, Kottayam and Alappuzha, who are participating at the exhibition, explained the farming methods to the visitors, the general convenor of the event, M.M. Abbas, said.
Reference Link
http://www.hindu.com/2010/04/19/stories/2010041959600300.htm
Courtesy
The Hindu
Textbooks by post
India Post signs MoU with KBPS
3,200 textbook societies are the target destinations
All books to be delivered before new academic year
KOCHI, India: The Department of Posts will this year deliver textbooks to various societies that route them to schools in the State. Textbook depots had been doing the job earlier.
India Post, Kerala, has entered into a memorandum of understanding with the Kerala Books and Publishers Society (KBPS) that publishes the entire lot of textbooks for State schools.
The delivery of textbooks had been a problem as various agencies had been taking up the endeavour each year and many complaints cropping up owing to delays.
Shibu M. Job, Director, Postal Services, Central Region, said the department had already picked up a consignment of two volumes of Class X books for delivery on April 10. The MoU was inked the day before. The printing of these textbooks, along with the first volumes of books for classes I to IX, had been completed months ago. It is the first time that the KBPS has been entrusted with not just printing but also delivery of the books.
Special system
As the quantum of cargo is huge and destinations many, the postal department has devised a special system for delivery, Mr. Job said.
The entire lot of class X textbooks, weighing about 1,100 tonnes, and also the first volume of textbooks for classes I to IX will be delivered before the start of next academic year, he said. The 3,200 cooperatives of textbook societies in the State are the target delivery destinations, he added.
The first consignment picked up by the postal services was for Thodupuzha and Kattapana in Idukki district, a difficult terrain topographically. The non-delivered books from textbook depots of the Education Department were also picked up.
The first lot would be delivered to the post office warehouses in Kattapana and Thodupuzha, from where these would be delivered to the various textbook societies under which come a group of schools in the area.
The work involves picking up books from the KBPS in Kakkanad and combining it with the lot available in textbook depots and then delivering it to the respective school societies.
All the Class X lots will be picked up by Monday and delivery will be completed by April-end, Mr. Job said.
The second phase will be to pick up the first volume of books for classes I to IV, after which comes books of classes VI and VII and lastly those of classes VIII and IX will be picked up. All books will be delivered before the start of the next academic year, he said.
Reference Link
http://www.hindu.com/2010/04/19/stories/2010041955660400.htm
Courtesy
The Hindu
Teach art in schools, says artist
Exhibition of paintings inaugurated at Vibhuti Art Gallery in Udupi
KEEN INTEREST:Artist Gunasagari Rao explaining her paintings to Dean of Kasturba Medical College Sripathi Rao (second from left) at the exhibition in Udupi on Sunday.
Udupi, India: Veteran artist and former chairman of the Karnataka Lalit Kala Akademi Peter A. Lewis said on Sunday that art should be taught to children in schools.
He was presiding over the inaugural function of an exhibition of paintings of Gunasagari Rao, organised by junior artists here. The exhibition is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Vibhuti Art Gallery here till April 20.
Significance
Mr. Lewis said that art helped children in giving vent to their feelings and creativity through drawings and paintings. This would also help children in their studies. They would be able to understand their culture. Children should not become mere book-worms. “Art is an integral part of every person’s life,” he said. Mr. Lewis said that it was essential that artists supported their fellow professionals in trouble. M.F. Hussain was one of the greatest artists of India. But, it was saddening that he had to seek nationality of Qatar. “Artists are never interested in politics. They are above it,” he said.
Inaugurating the exhibition, dean of Kasturba Medical College Sripathi Rao said that art was meant for all. Nobody could confine art. Hitler tried doing it and failed. Manipal University always encouraged artists and art exhibitions, he said.
Artist P.N. Acharya welcomed the gathering. Director of Chitrakalamandir College of Arts K.L. Bhat was present.
Reference Link
http://www.hindu.com/2010/04/19/stories/2010041959340300.htm
Courtesy
The Hindu
19 theatre artistes presented awards
Honour:Theatre personalities along with the awards given to them by the Karnataka Nataka Academy in Mysore.
MYSORE, India: The Karnataka Nataka Academy (KNA) conferred its annual awards upon 19 theatre personalities at a function at Jaganmohan Palace auditorium here on Saturday evening.
Nadoja Prof. D. Javare Gowda, Chairman of the KNA D.V. Rajaram, and Secretary, Department of Kannada and Culture, B.R. Jayaramaraje Urs, presented the awards.
Noted theatre personality N. Rathna released the Academy’s award-winning work, Ranga Brindavana, and Mr. Urs distributed grants for theatre organisations that supplied sceneries and costumes to rural theatre.
Ranga Meravanige — a colourful procession of theatre personalities accompanied by folk troupes, was flagged off by Mayor Purushottam at Town Hall, and it concluded near Jaganmohan Palace.
Programme on culture
A 60-minute programme that presented the rich tradition, history and culture of theatre was the main attraction for those assembled. It provided a brief glimpse into theatre in Karnataka so far.
A Lifetime Achievement Award was conferred upon theatre personality S.R. Shankar Rao. Lakshman Rao Muttagi was given the K. Hiranniah Award.
Y.M. Puttannaiah of Mysore, H. Pandurangappa (Bellary), Lingaraju Palled (Koppal), Hanumanthu (Hassan), Manjunath Belakere (Mysore), N. Ravindra (Bangalore), Jayamma Kallur (Bijapur), Jayaprakash Mavinakuli (Udupi), Shanthabayi Diggi (Gulbarga), Rangashree R. Rangaswamy (Bangalore), Prakash (Mandya), Husenappa Pulameshwara Dinni (Raichur), T.V. Kabadi (Haveri), Prakashrao Payyar (Dubai), and S.M. Nagarajachar of Tumkur were given annual awards.
Ranga Mukhagalu, a work by Rajashekara Kadamba of Mysore and Rangabhoomi Diggaja Natashekara Pandita Basavaraja Mansoor Jeevana Saadhane of Martandappa M. Katti of Hirebasuru Haveri got the awards for the best works on theatre.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Urs said it had been decided to increase the annual income limit fixed for paying monthly pension to artistes from the present Rs. 3,000 to Rs. 12,000. Similarly, pension which was being given to dependents of artistes in case of death, would be increased from Rs. 300 to Rs. 500.
Presently, over 3,600 theatre artistes were getting pension of Rs. 1,000, another 400 artistes would be given pension this year based on a report submitted by a committee headed by Hampa Nagarajaiah. The Government was not interfering in the work of Academies and were in fact encouraging them to work independently by earmarking Rs. 160 crore for the Department of Kannada and Culture. “No other government in the country has earmarked this huge amount for language and culture,” he said.
Expressing his gratitude to the Government for increasing grants, Dr. Rajaram said that while the previous governments were providing grant of Rs. 15 lakh, the present government had increased it to Rs. 40 lakh. “However, there is a need to increase the grants to facilitate Academies to expand their activities,” he said.
Recalling the contribution of theatre to society, Prof. Javare Gowda underlined the need to stage plays that highlighted social concerns. He urged the Government to construct auditoriums in all taluks in the State to promote theatre.
Reference Link
http://www.hindu.com/2010/04/19/stories/2010041950590200.htm
Courtesy
The Hindu
Centre to release coin on Thanjavur Big Temple
CHENNAI, India: The Centre has agreed to release a commemorative coin of Thanjavur Big Temple, which is completing 1,000 years.
An official release stated that Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi had written to the Centre with a request to issue a commemorative coin, stating that the temple had unique Dravidian architecture and was listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Monument.
In response, Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee had said that the Centre had decided to issue the special coin based on the unique and outstanding architecture.
Mr. Karunanidhi has also written to Union Minister for Communications and Information Technology A. Raja to release a special stamp to commemorate the occasion.
Reference Link
http://www.hindu.com/2010/04/19/stories/2010041955720400.htm
Courtesy
The Hindu
Students' pictures portray dreams, aspirations
Creative eye: Students take a look at the pictures displayed at a photo exhibition in Chennai on Sunday. —
CHENNAI, India: Some photographs chronicle visual history. A few others capture a glimpse of life’s happenings. But an exhibition of pictures by students of Olcott Memorial High School here on Sunday talks about stories behind the pictures.
Nearly 100 photographs, all taken by students of Class IX of the school, have in them the aspirations of children. Classified into different themes such as nature and place, the pictures were captured in and around Theosophical Society. A solitary crab crossing a road adjacent to the beach, a tiny worm slithering on a man’s foot and dry twigs surviving the windy afternoon were pinned one after another, each with impressive lighting and exposure. Sunshine, flowers, market and the sea also featured in the work of 16 students, who were selected from 50-odd students for their willingness to learn. A group of teachers and volunteers got together to train the children for the project, funded by the Youth Parliament Foundation and UNESCO. Their lessons began with the basics. For the next 3 months, the students learnt all about flash, shutter control, exposure and aperture. They were sent on assignments around Oorurkuppam and Theosophical Society. “It was fun, as we were seeing such sophisticated cameras for the first time. We weren’t told about any theme. They wanted us to shoot whatever we found interesting,” says B. Suresh, one of the student participants.
“It is an attempt to change perceptions about young people. Their creations testify the latent talent in them and their attitude towards society,” says Shoba Narayana, programme coordinator.
Reference Link
http://www.hindu.com/2010/04/19/stories/2010041958510200.htm
Courtesy
The Hindu
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