As the manufacturing sector has continued to adapt in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, our versatility and commitment to the next generation of canmakers has shone through in the continuation of our apprenticeship programs. One example is the Training Academy, which supports our Reprographics Studio capabilities and is based in the Braunstone, U.K. plant. The program is entering its fourth year.
Last October, we hosted a media event in Paris with our longstanding customer William Saurin to highlight the quality that canned gourmet ready meals can deliver to consumers. The event was held at Ferrandi Paris – the French School of Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management, and featured renowned 2-star Michelin chef Olivier Bellin. The menu, designed and crafted by chef Bellin, combined the finest ingredients with high-quality taste for a truly outstanding result.
Packaging graphics create a first and lasting impression in the minds of consumers when making purchasing decisions. To help our customers maximize this important opportunity, we have amassed deep graphic design and printing expertise, commercialized a robust portfolio of innovative inks and finishes and opened multiple beverage can reprographics studios around the world to help our customers take designs from an initial concept to production-ready artwork.
Employees across all our European locations once again showed their support for the annual “Pink October” campaign and helped raise awareness for those affected by breast cancer.
This year, at our promotional packaging site in Chatillon, France, we partnered with the French Cancer League to hold a “Pink October” day towards the end of the month. League representatives arranged an educational workshop to teach participants about proper breast cancer screening techniques with the help of silicone chests.
Is packaging wasted? Well, certainly, some packaging is. But it depends upon your definition of waste. If a metal can is placed into the general waste stream, for example, then yes, it is wasted. If it enters into the recycling stream, then perhaps the consumer sees it as a waste product sent for recycling, but the item itself is far from wasted.
October was a busy month for our European Ambassador Program, which focuses on recruitment activities and initiatives across our regional operations. Our team engaged in several events to help us identify the workforce of tomorrow.
Our food can plant in Murcia, Spain supported the Segura Food Bank’s “Apadrina una Calle” (“Sponsor a Street”) initiative – a project where symbolic aisles within the food bank’s facilities are named after companies that donate to this worthy cause. Our team participated in the celebratory event presided over by the Mayor of Murcia, José Francisco Ballesta, reinforcing the Company’s commitment to making a positive contribution to those in need in the local community.
A recent ranking from The Wall Street Journal narrowed down the 100 most sustainably managed companies in the world from a pool of more than 5,500 publicly traded companies, examining practices in areas such as business model and innovation, external social and product issues, employee and workplace topics, and the environment.