Winnipeg, Canada
At the end of August, Susan McWatt FitzGerald, MGDC (a senior designer at Circle) accepted a term position at Red River College as the Advanced Typography instructor. Over the next few months Sue will meet with 13 students every Friday morning to review the finer points of Typography—from close examination of letters and words to their arrangement into meaningful and communicative relationships. The Advanced Graphic Design program at Red River College was designed to expand on the two-year Graphic Design program, offering graduates and industry professionals an environment to hone their skills in visual communication.
Portage la Prairie, Manitoba
Circle recently designed a Tetra Pak for Gaya,™ brand organic Noni juice (for our client, PROVALT Life Sciences in Montreal), the first of a line of nutraceutical beverages promoting a healthy and holistic lifestyle. Tetra Paks comprise unique aseptic paper-board packaging that consists of 3 separate recyclable layers—an inner plastic layer, a foil layer, and the outer paper-board layer. Canadians have been familiar with their use for years as juice boxes, but more recently the Tetra Pak is being applied to a diverse selection of food products, from soups to fine wine. Our resident digital production specialist took a trip out to GPAP (Great Plains Aseptic Packaging), in Portage La Prairie for the inaugural run of Gaya™ Noni juice and to witness how the Tetra Pak filling and packaging lines work. GPAP is Manitoba’s only facility equipped to fill the highly sought-after Tetra Paks.
The reason for the recent upswing in the use of boxed liquids can be attributed to several unique features of the Tetra Pak, most of which translate into savings in shipping and storage. Their compact design allows for a more effective use of space, as does their light weight when compared to glass. Furthermore, the aseptic package allows the product to ship without refrigeration which provides for a significant energy savings. This also allows the product to sit on the shelf beside other dry goods without concern of the product going bad—this particular feature transfers energy savings on to the retailer as well.
However, is that where the environmental and cost benefits of the Tetra Pak end? A quick call to Winnipeg Water and Waste confirmed that this city is currently not equipped to recycle Tetra Paks. Though these unique packages do have great potential to pass along their “green” attributes to the end-user, there are currently not a lot of recycling facilities in Canada (with the exception of Ontario) that are equipped to recycle Tetra Paks. As a result, the actual recycling record to date is somewhat discouraging.
We’re committed to helping our clients find more sustainable solutions on a day-to-day basis, and are still optimistic that in time—with public demand—the recycling situation will continue to improve. It is interesting to consider how Tetra Pak’s existing “green benefits” hold significant potential to contribute to a reduction in greenhouse gases… particularly with effective implementation of more comprehensive recycling programs.
Toronto, Canada
The latest issue of Applied Arts magazine (#114, September/October 2007) includes a feature by Kevin Brooker entitled “Rise of the West.” The piece starts with an interview with Circle’s Robert L. Peters and includes recent samples of the firm’s communication design work alongside that of a dozen or so other design offices. Applied Arts is Canada’s premiere magazine of visual communications. More information about the issue here or visit the Applied Arts website here.
Winnipeg, Canada
Congratulations go out to Circle’s gorgeous and genial coordinator Carol MacKay and her handsome hubby Murray… the blissful couple celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary with a delightful reception attended by friends and family yesterday. Here’s a toast to the next 40!
Their engagement photo was featured in a special section of the Winnipeg Free Press back in 1967.
