Innovation is the key for businesses hoping to evolve, grow, and thrive in an ever-changing marketplace that demands sustainable products for the future. This is especially important when your core business is the manufacturing of packaging solutions for a wide variety of industries and brands.
For companies like Innisfil’s Tempo Flexible Packaging, being on the leading edge of such an enormous shift in direction requires constant vigilance and the ongoing development of forward-thinking sustainable manufacturing strategies. That means not only investing in cutting-edge equipment and additional Team Members, but also educating potential end users on the innovative new packaging solutions available for everything from food to medical to lawn and garden products.
“We are constantly developing new sustainable packaging products and supporting industries that are starting to consider solutions for sustainable packaging,” said Lee-Anne Giglio, COO of the award-winning local company specializing in custom printed and sustainably minded packaging products. “Many brand owners are becoming increasingly interested in improving the materials they are using to meet their sustainability goals. That is really exciting for us!”
According to Giglio, Tempo developed the capacity to provide more sustainable packaging options in 2015, long before alignment between brand owners and other members of the packaging value chain offered alternatives to traditional plastic packaging. This focus as changed in recent years, as industry, brand owners, and many pro-active municipalities are making firm commitments to incorporating sustainable solutions into their future packaging plans. That is perfectly aligned with the vision of Tempo, a privately owned company that continues to expand and invest in new equipment in order to meet the needs of the marketplace.
“After having been located in Innisfil for over 30 years, we are the largest private employer in the area” said Giglio, who along with her brother Leonardo own and operate Tempo’s ever-expanding 110,000 square foot, vertically integrated manufacturing facility.
“Our expansion grants us the ability to bring in new equipment in order to scale up our operational capacity. The equipment brought in through capital investments is geared toward sustainable packaging. We want to be able to bring on more business that way. We have expansion plans that we are still phasing in as well. We are continuing to grow our facility and expand our presence in the community.”
Giglio acknowledges that encouraging the shift to more sustainable packing products is challenging given the fact there is not a standardized solution and there is not a consensus on the format to follow in terms of recycling or renewable resources.
“There’s a whole educational process that needs to take place since the industry has been operating with the same mindset for 50 plus years.,” said Giglio, whose company was a recent recipient of a Best-in-Class Gold Award from the PAC Global for Sustainable packaging design “This education is going to require a very dynamic shift from how the industry is used to existing. It is going to take years. Rather than one solution that fits all, a variety of solutions will be necessary Tempo Prides itself on being a trail blazer along with other similarly minded value chain members in delivering the necessary education and building awareness to assist with our investment in a more sustainable future.”
Ultimately, it will be consumer demand that drives big brands and retailers to move toward more sustainable packaging solutions. Giglio said Tempo Flexible Packaging is doing its part to inspire those industries to work collaboratively in driving positive change.
“By having our Optimist and CEO (Leonardo) sit on the Advisory of the Canada Plastics Pact, we are advocating for the plastics industry while also educating others on what is possible especially since Tempo is al the forefront of seeing the types of materials and resins that are becoming available daily. Taking the next step, educating brand owners, educating Canadian grocers and brand owners, talking with buyers, and purchasing agents about what options are available are all parts of our future-based focus.”
For more information on Tempo Flexible Packaging, visit them online.