DVDizzy Forum

Posted: **Sun May 17, 2009 8:53 pm**

videobusiness.com wrote: Single-DVD cases to use 20% less plastic

Sony's single-DVD of Paul Blart: Mall Cop will be in more environmentally friendly packaging.
MARCH 23 | Sony Pictures Home Entertainment is launching a massive green packaging initiative, starting with the May 19 DVD and Blu-ray Disc release of Paul Blart: Mall Cop.

From Mall Cop on, all of Sony’s single-disc standard-definition DVDs will incorporate ultra-light cases that feature 20% less plastic than Sony’s previous single-disc standard DVDs and will be covered with plastic shrinkwrap that is 20% lighter. The printed artwork that wraps around boxes will use paper that contains 30% post-consumer waste. Previously, Sony had been using 100% virgin paper.

The studio’s goal is to reduce carbon emissions associated with its DVD manufacturing and distribution by 2 million pounds in North America by the end of 2009.

“What we were looking to do was be efficient and over time, deliver cost savings,” said Lexine Wong, senior executive VP of worldwide marketing for SPHE.

The lighter cases also should help the studio trim both packaging costs and freight charges.

“For the last couple of years, we have been looking at ways to be sustainable and make a difference,” said Wong. “I think our industry and our studio are really committed to environmental issues. All the studios are.”

The Mall Cop box is an Amaray-style case with parts of the box wall cut out to use less plastic. It won’t be the only box Sony uses in the future, and the studio said other green packaging might involve thinner plastic material. The ultra-light cases are currently limited to Sony’s standard DVDs packaged as single discs, but the studio is studying how to extend the change to Blu-ray and higher-end DVD releases.

The Mall Cop DVD (prebook April 16; $28.96; Blu-ray will be $39.95) also will be packaged without a cardboard ‘O-ring,’ saving more than 2,200 trees, or 322 tons of wood, according to Sony. The studio is still considering whether to drop O-rings from future titles.

The embossed cardboard sleeves that slip over many DVDs have been the subject of much industry discussion, because eliminating them would offer environmental benefits and cost savings. The sleeves can carry more elaborate artwork than paper inserts, however, so they are considered key to making releases stand out on shelves.

Several studios have been using greener packaging solutions, following Wal-Mart mandates that vendors both clamp down on carbon emissions and reduce packaging.

Already studios have worked to meet Wal-Mart’s goals, slimming average DVD packaging weight by about 30% between 2006 and 2008. The carbon imprint for a title (encompassing emissions from manufacturing, packaging and transportation to retail) dropped to 0.98 lbs. in 2008, down from 1.1 lbs. in 2006, according to the Digital Entertainment Group.

Warner Home Video was behind one of the first studio-wide green efforts in 2007 when it switched from using virgin stock to partially recycled paper in all art covering its DVDs. 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment rolled out the first carbon-neutral DVD with November release Futurama: Bender’s Big Score.

Before introducing its packaging strategy, Sony first collaborated with expert organizations the National Resources Defense Council and the Environmental Protection Agency.

“The intelligence and energy that Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has brought to this ecologically valuable initiative is inspiring and sets an example for all manufacturers of DVD packaging,” said Dr. Allen Hershkowitz, a senior scientist at the NRDC. “This is a valuable step in the right direction and should encourage all DVD manufacturers to take action against global warming, to protect intact forests and conserve resources.”

Sony is launching the effort in North America only, but hopes to soon roll it out to European and Asian markets.

http://www.videobusiness.com/article/CA6645550.html

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thoughts?

Posted: **Sun May 17, 2009 9:00 pm**

Cases are cases. I'm fine with it.

Posted: **Sun May 17, 2009 9:27 pm**

HEY! Some of my Buffy cases are like that! I was wondering why... thanks!

Posted: **Sun May 17, 2009 10:00 pm**

I fricking hate them with a passion.

I need to go online and order me some non-eco friendly cases, fast!

It's not that I mind less plastic, but they're FLIMSY as heck. You can squeeze one of those things and it feels like you're gonna break it.

I like cases that are sturdy and work well. God dang green party and forcing us to get this eco-friendly crap!!!

And anyone notice how they still waste paper trying to advertise Blu-Ray in the DVD inserts?

Posted: **Sun May 17, 2009 10:21 pm**

My copy of 9 To 5 had a case like that. They ARE flimsy but they still work and are cheap for the company so it barley makes a difference. Why a big press release for this?

-Sky

Posted: **Sun May 17, 2009 10:42 pm**

I love the thread for this on DVDtalk... I haven't seen such rage against such a small thing since the last time I watched Sean Hannity complain about Obama ordering Grey Poupon on a cheeseburger. Though I do agree with one commenter who said that if they really wanted to conserve plastic, they wouldn't release "Paul Blart" period.

Also hasn't this been happening for a while? My college's copy of "Slumdog Millionaire" had a case like this.

Posted: **Mon May 18, 2009 2:55 am**

Mall Cop was not the first one to be released with that case. The first one I got was Quantum of Solace. Stupid that there is no solid plastic under the most important part, where the disc can get scratched. Stupid.

Posted: **Mon May 18, 2009 4:53 am**

Yeah, they've been around for a while. The first time I saw one of these cases was on the collector's edition of Bad Boys (You know, the one that's on the $5 rack at Target?)

Quantum of Solace 2-disc and Slumdog Millionaire also had it. My Slumdog case is totally broken, as the plastic on the outside is totally messed up from the stupid shrink wrap they put it in... Like I said, I need to find some non-green cases and transfer all my discs to that.

And yes, Barbossa, they are stupid. I appreciate companies trying to be green (As that's one thing I've always hated - how people keep telling EVERYONE to use less power etc. but yet the big companies still release their stuff in 20lbs. of shrink wrap and plastic) but the way these cases are designed suck. I would rather they just use recycled plastic or something - but not cut holes in the case.

And as much as I'd recommend using paper cases... I would not suggest what Wall-E had at all. I'm still holding off on buying Wall-E, as my local stores still do not have it in plastic. That design is stupid, where there's absolutely nothing to hold the disc in place, so it ends up flopping around in the case and just prone to scratches. (I've even shaken some at a store and you can hear the discs flopping around in there...)

But remember the old-style DVD cases where it had a cardboard thing that flipped over the front? As much as everyone hated those flip-cases, look at how little plastic those had...

Posted: **Mon May 18, 2009 6:53 pm**

drfsupercenter wrote:But remember the old-style DVD cases where it had a cardboard thing that flipped over the front? As much as everyone hated those flip-cases, look at how little plastic those had...

Yup I remember, still got a bunch of DVDs in those cases like Matrix, Twister, Goonies. Some are still on store shelves in those cases. If they're worried about the use of plastic, why don't they just go back to these? At least the disc was more protected and there was less plastic.

I can't figue out their logic with this. The part of the disc that needs the most protection doesn't have any protection. So, what's the point of a having a case at all? Consumers will eventually end up with a damaged product that will require replacement, thus purchasing another copy, thus producing more, thus being worse for the environment. I wonder who the morons are that came up with this idea. Someone should point this out to Sony.

Posted: **Mon May 18, 2009 6:55 pm**

I find these cases VERY annoying. I have about three cases that have this type of packaging (Slumdog Millionaire, Alien, and another one I cannot remember at the moment). I am more appalled that they are now doing it with the Blu-Ray cases. I am all for protecting the environment, but this is just insane.

Posted: **Mon May 18, 2009 8:46 pm**

Yeah, on that note... does anyone know where I can buy some non-eco-friendly Amaray cases for DVD and Blu-Ray?

(I've got a ton of generic Memorex ones... I want the kind with the same middle piece as real DVDs, not the obvious third-party ones)

Posted: **Mon May 18, 2009 10:51 pm**

They don't look at all sensible. I'm all for green, but they couldn't do something else?

Posted: **Tue May 19, 2009 3:15 pm**

This is funny! I don't own any of these DVDs... Just shows how Disney-centric, and broke, mostly broke, I am...

Now I'm depressed...

...
...
...
...

Three pretty periods.

I'm happy.

If they'd just let school out already, I might regain some sanity!!!!

Yes, it is a very stupid packaging idea.

BTW jrboy, I like the title's joke.

Posted: **Sat May 23, 2009 10:00 pm**

I would feel a whole lot less guilty and have a whole lot more space if they all came like an inconvenient truth.

Posted: **Tue May 26, 2009 4:34 am**

I don't totally care as I have been re-packaging all of my DVD's with Unikeep cases.

http://www.unikeep.com/Products/MediaSt ... ndex.shtml

Posted: **Tue May 26, 2009 9:21 am**

milojthatch wrote:I don't totally care as I have been re-packaging all of my DVD's with Unikeep cases.

http://www.unikeep.com/Products/MediaSt ... ndex.shtml

EEK!

Posted: **Sat Jun 06, 2009 4:41 pm**

I find these cases to be pretty annoying. They're flimsy and some make it difficult to release the dvd. I don't like having to fuss with my dvd cases but honestly - if it's helping the environment - I can deal.

Posted: **Sun Jun 07, 2009 10:50 am**

Well, every company will tell you they're helping the environment.

It's your choice if you want to believe it or not.

We were at Starbuck's the other day, and my mom ordered an ice tea... and the cup was literally so thin it kept collapsing when you try to hold it. So it may be more green, but it's impossible to use, and therefore defeats the purpose IMO

I say, if you want to help the environment, just recycle stuff. As much as it frustrates me that companies are shafting consumers to avoid paying higher taxes in regards to environmental regulations... I think whether we buy their products or not, they aren't really helping. (And the same goes with turning your computer off at night... if you actually have a reason to leave it on, why not?)

Posted: **Sun Jun 07, 2009 6:04 pm**

I, personally, am very happy about the greener DVD cases. I am an environmentalist and was very happy when Disney decided to release WALL-E on a green DVD case. I hope they do the same with the Earth DVD. I love those eco-friendly Bluray cases, do any other films have casing like that?

Posted: **Sun Jun 07, 2009 10:06 pm**

MadasaHatter wrote:...but honestly - if it's helping the environment - I can deal.

o0Andy0o wrote:I, personally, am very happy about the greener DVD cases. I am an environmentalist and was very happy when Disney decided to release WALL-E on a green DVD case. I hope they do the same with the Earth DVD. I love those eco-friendly Bluray cases, do any other films have casing like that?

But, if even a small percentage of people who get these cases buy regular Amaray cases to replace them and toss these eco-cases, doesn't that offset any so-called "environmental" savings? While not everyone will replace them on a matter of principle, some people might find that the cheaper ones break, and then they'd have to replace them.

What about the people who buy something like Wall*E, and it scratches their disc. Then they'd have to go out and buy a whole new copy, tossing their old one in the process.

It's like the low flush toilets... Sure, they have less water usage, but if people have to flush twice to get something down, then they use just as much water...

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Want Less Plastic? New Eco-Friendly DVD Cases

Want Less Plastic? New Eco-Friendly DVD Cases