Surveys and statements by industry leaders show that sustainability is continuing to pick up momentum with consumers and retailers.

One of the things we’ll remember from 2007 is the many recalls of product imported from China. Almost every month, the public was hit with another health scare or product safety concern that resulted in recalls: pet food that contained melamine, toothpaste with diethylene glycol, toys with lead-based paints.

Going green is turning into a growth industry. Both consumers and suppliers are talking about it. Expectations are changing. Being kinder and gentler to our planet has become part of who, and what, many of us want to be. Buying green products or using green packages helps to satisfy the “virtue quota,” the amount of goodness people need to contribute to the world to feel like good people.

It is human nature that we are much more likely to respond to a single large event than a number of small events. This is true even though the cumulative effect the small events may exceed the single large event.

“Home grown” is taking on a whole new meaning these days. It’s all about health and wellness, sustainability and community.

Like everything else these days, “green” claims have hit packaging in a big way. The emergence of new claims, such as “renewable” and “sustainable,” and claims about carbon offsets and renewable energy are all the rage now. They’re being pushed by product manufacturers, as well as by major retailers.

Cutting back on bottled water is becoming a way to do your part to save the planet. Even though the category was created by packaging technology and marketing, bottled water is an integral part of consumer lifestyles.

It’s a brand new year, with a brand new name for the magazine. It’s also time for New Year’s resolutions. Will this be the year you stop fighting the crocodiles and begin draining the swamp?

Last month you read the final issue of Food & Drug Packaging. When it launched in 1959, its purpose was to report on packaging developments specifically in the markets overseen by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

While there has been significant progress made during the past year toward a greater overall understanding of sustainability, corporate social responsibility and sustainable packaging, Jason Pearson, the president and CEO of Greenblue recently made a keen observation.