Sustainability is steadily gaining the attention of American consumers as media coverage of resource conservation increases, and concern deepens on environmental issues.

We’re living in a consumer economy. Yet we recognize that a one-way product life cycle is not sustainable. You can reuse a bottle as a flower vase but, at the rate people consume our product (and I have no interest in telling them to consume less), there are only so many flower vases that you need.

Palletizing and other unitizing operations can accommodate the sustainability drive with the right adjustments.

Hershey Foods will discontinue its Ice Breakers Pacs candy in response to criticism that it was packaged in a way that resembled powdered cocaine. The single-serve packets of powdered breath mints came in film that dissolved on the tongue, but police officers and others said the product too closely resembled powdered street drugs.

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

The biggest packaging differences between Europe and the U.S. occur once the package is used up. Here’s a look at the EU’s approach.

The meat industry is facing widespread challenges. People are being advised to eat less of it for health reasons. Plus safety questions about antibiotics, hormones, e-coli and now cloning have consumers a bit on edge.

Nestlé Waters North America focuses completely on bottled water, making it unique among the beverage giants. It incorporates sourcing, bottling and distribution as well as packaging and market strategy under one process.

The Coca-Cola Co. is the world’s largest soft drink company, leading Food & Drug Packaging’s Top 200 listing in the beverage category.