Boston

Semper International, a placement firm for skilled help in the graphic arts and printing industries, announced that, according to its research, the printing industry may finally be starting its recovery from the economic downturn.

Staples has launched a new corporate strategy to drive sustainability in the supply chain for product manufacturing, packaging and distribution. The office products retail chain is challenging its key suppliers to compete in a “Race to The Top” to find innovative sustainable solutions in these three areas. Announced at this week’s Supplier Summit in Boston, Staples says the strategy aims to increase environmental, economic and social sustainability and remove waste and inefficiency of all types. “We’re letting our key suppliers know that sustainable business practices will join price, quality and service as a major factor in driving purchasing decisions,”

EskoArtwork announced its series of Spring 2009 Innovative Solutions learning seminars, conducted from March 10 to April 9 at nine cities throughout the U.S. Attendees will learn how they can raise productivity, reduce time-to-market, lower costs, and expand business.

BOSTON—Curtis Packaging has been approved as a Ceres network company by the Ceres board of directors. The board cited the company’s focus on sustainable packaging and established leadership in the industry. Curtis Packaging is the first packaging company to join Ceres, a coalition of investors, environmental groups and public interest organizations working with companies to address sustainability challenges, and is among more than 70 companies in the Ceres network, including more than 25 Fortune-500 companies. As a result of the company’s focus on environmentally responsible packaging, Curtis Packaging has recently established a leadership position in the industry, resulting in doubled sales in the

BOSTON, Mass.—The seventh annual RFID Smart Labels USA Conference and exhibition will be held in Boston, February 20-21, 2008. This industry event will offer many learning opportunities at the two-day conference, tutorial-style Masterclasses, and tours of local companies. Based in the RFID-stronghold of Boston, this event will introduce first-class speakers, explore the key RFID issues, and provide exclusive access to some of Boston’s leading RFID companies. This analyst-driven event provides: • Analysis of what is selling, what isn’t, what the technology needs are and experience from the biggest users • The big success stories: Hear from the companies that have secured the

Editor’s note: RFID is running hot and cold in the North American packaging market. It’s a technology solution still in its early development, with many issues, risks, and potential rewards. In this column, Peter Harrop, CEO of IDTechEx, provides a glimpse of some of the behind-the-scenes factors that will impact future implementation of RFID. IDTechEx is a knowledge-based consultancy company that provides research and analysis on RFID, printed and organic electronics, and smart packaging. It will host the RFID Smart Labels USA 2008 conference in Boston February 20-21 (www.idtechex.com/USA). It’s like Yogi Berra once said, “It’s Déjà Vu all over again.” Today,