wewow announces competition finalists!

In September we launched a worldwide search for students, graduates and budding product designers with innovative and sustainable packaging solutions for the optical media industry!

Having been inundated with entries, we were astounded by the high standard and creativeness of the designs. We are now pleased to announce the short-listed entrants who have made it through to the final stages of the competition.

2009 Finalists
Thomas Horwood-Luscombe with 'Spilt Seed'
Florin Gheorghe Alexa-Morcov with 'DisPlay'
Sarah Young with 'webox'
Sun Young Park with 'Logo Lock'
Andrew Rennie with 'SlidePak'

© wewow Ltd. 2009

We wish all of our finalists the best of luck and we look forward to crowning the winner on 29^th January 2010.

wewow supports the 10:10 campaign

wewow have joined the 10:10 campaign and will be aiming to reduce our carbon emissions by 10% by 2010.

We hope to achieve this by;

• Continuing to develop eco-friendly media packaging solutions which avoid the use of plastic in particular.
• Maintaining our commitment to environmentally friendly internal policies such as recycling and energy saving and we will continually review our eco-policy.
• We will work with local businesses in our efforts to Reuse, Recycle and Reduce. For example, we donate our used cardboard boxes to a local company who has a requirement for them.
• We will continue our efforts to work with students, graduates and fellow professionals to encourage sustainable design.

For further information and to join the 10:10 campaign click on the badge above :-)

wewow opens London office!

wewow are thrilled to announce the opening of our London office! wewow are working with more clients in and around the London area so we decided it was time for us to spread our wings and keep our ‘travelling’ emissions down to a minimum.

So if you're based in and around London and looking for CD/DVD replication, duplication or eco-friendly packaging, drop our London sales team a line on 0207 665 4455

DVD Packaging Gets a Green Makeover – DVD WowWallet is launched

Looking for an eco-friendly packaging solution for your DVDs? Check out wewow’s brand new DVD WowWallet @ www.weeco.co.uk/dvd-wowwallet

The DVD WowWallet is the latest addition to our range of green media packaging and incorporates all the great features of the original WowWallet but in DVD size!

So what’s special about our new DVD wallet? Well, it’s produced from a single piece of card, features a space for a DVD booklet and can be fully printed with vegetable based inks.

You are free to choose your preferred card too. We offer FSC accredited, uncoated, coated or even 100% recycled. Alternatively you specify the stock and we will do the rest! If you are unsure about the best options our team are on hand to help.

The DVD WowWallet is the perfect alternative to the traditional, plastic DVD case…not only does it have twice as much space to print your artwork, it also protects and presents your disc in a new and refreshing way! And even though DVD WowWallet is a premium DVD case, we’ve made sure that this package is cost-effective without skimping on quality.

For more information on any of our eco-friendly packaging products, give us a call on 01274 301410 or email us @ sales@wewow.co.uk

Go for Green with Wewow's Eco-friendly Printing

When producing an eco-friendly CD or DVD project, it is important to assess every aspect of the production process. The good news is that wewow have done the hard work for you by designing packaging solutions so that every aspect of the package is as green as possible.

The printing of a CD or DVD packaging solution is sometimes overlooked as the emphasis is often on material and design. However, wewow are committed to using vegetable based inks to produce all of their packaging products. Not only do these inks draw upon natural and sustainable sources – vegetables – they massively reduce the amount of harmful VOCs (volatile organic compounds), in comparison with petroleum based inks.

This autumn wewow have also introduced alcohol-free printing and their unique packaging solutions will now be printed on a completely alcohol free printer or on a printer which uses less than 5% (the average on most presses is 25%). As with vegetable based inks, alcohol-free printing reduces the VOCs released into the atmosphere and it actually produces higher quality results, so you will find that the finished print has brighter and cleaner colours.

For more information, please contact us today on 01274 301410 or email us at info@wewow.co.uk

Recycled DVD Cases…A Safe, Eco-Friendly Solution?

Recycled DVD cases are used throughout the optical media industry. They offer a durable and protective packaging solution for DVD media, they are certainly cheaper than premium DVD cases and they are seemingly more eco-friendly. After all, they’re produced from recycled plastic, right?

If you’re looking for a cost-effective, eco-friendly packaging solution for your media project however, recycled DVD cases may not be the best option for you. On a superficial level, recycled cases often have a strong odour which detracts from the professional finish of the project. More worryingly, a well known manufacturer has undertaken research which indicates that there may be dangers to using recycled DVD cases, as the recycled content of many cases does not meet legal requirements, due to the contamination of recycled plastics (Amaray, 2009).

There is an abundance of card-based alternatives to recycled DVD cases in today’s market; the majority of which offer a safe and sustainable solution. For example, the DVD WowWallet is close to the size of a traditional DVD case and even has room for a printed DVD booklet. In fact, it has an edge over a DVD case which can only be branded by the insertion of a DVD wrap – the WowWallet can be printed inside and out and there is no need for the extra collation cost of inserting a wrap. Since wewow only use FSC accredited or 100% recycled board you can be assured of its sustainability.

For more information visit our website or call us on 01274 301410.

Plastic CD/DVD Packaging - Polystyrene vs Polypropylene

CD/DVD packaging is a key consideration for companies and individuals who are planning to produce an optical media project. The demand for eco-friendly packaging solutions is mounting but card-based packages are not suitable for every customer’s requirements. Plastic disc packaging has a strong position within the industry and providing that careful consideration is given to the material used, be it polystyrene or polypropylene, it need not be disregarded.

Polystyrene

Polystyrene is often used to produce standard jewel cases as it is a cost-effective, durable material. It can be coloured or clear and its clarity is almost unmatched by other plastics. However, this clarity causes the case to be fragile and prone to breakages.

Cases that contain more plastic will be more durable and better suited for shipping. However, they are also more expensive. Such cases will also work better with automated collation lines because they are heavier and therefore have better tolerances.

Customers often order additional units to compensate for any breakages that occur during transit. However, this increases wastage and cost.

This material can be recycled but it can be difficult to find a recycler who accepts polystyrene.

Polypropylene

Polypropylene is often used for DVD cases and CD cases such as C-shell as it is a stiff plastic which produces more durable hinges than other materials. This substance contains rubber, making it more pliable than some plastics, and it can be produced in a variety of colours.

Polypropylene is recyclable and is often recycled. However, cases which contain recycled materials may not be as heavy and strong as those which are 100% virgin material and recycled cases often have a noticeable smell.

wewow always recommend that customers consider all of the available options and select a package which is best suited to their own individual needs. For this reason, we offer plastic based packaging alongside card-based packaging solutions and our team are always on hand to provide thorough information and guidance on all of our products.

9.9.9…Eco-packaging emergency

Do you have an eco-packaging emergency? Don’t despair weEco.co.uk is here!

With the demand for environmentally-friendly media packaging solutions mounting, wewow Ltd. are launching a dedicated eco-division to major in the development of eco-friendly media packaging! On 9/9/9 wewow will launch weEco.co.uk.

As wewow’s packaging range continues to wow their clients, weEco will become the home of the best eco-packaging in the industry. With a portfolio which includes the hugely successful WowWallet and WowPak, weEco will be an unmissable showcase of wewow’s and weEco’s growing packaging range.

In addition to an impressive range of printable, eco-friendly media packaging solutions and ‘off-the-shelf’ products, weEco will offer a unique product design service. Clients who are looking for a bespoke eco-packaging solution can commission weEco to design a new product, which will specifically address their environmental, commercial and design requirements.

Is recycled paper less eco-friendly than virgin stock?

There is a common myth that recycled paper is not an eco-friendly alternative to using non-recycled paper because it requires more energy to produce and releases more pollution.

On the face of it, recycled paper does use more energy than non-recycled stock because of the additional cleaning involved. However, waste paper does not require the vast amounts of energy which is involved in turning wood chips into pulp – which is required to produce new paper.

To dispel another myth, the production of recycled paper does NOT produce more pollution than the production of new paper. Many recycled papers require little, if any, bleaching for example. In contrast, virgin pulp, which is naturally brown, has to be bleached before it can be made into paper. Furthermore, in general, eco-friendly processes are used to clean waste paper, if necessary, such as diluting and dispersing ink into the pulp (which does not produce any extra pollution).

Recycled paper is certainly a ‘green’ option but that doesn’t mean that new paper cannot be eco-friendly. If you wish to use new paper rather than recycled, opt for an FSC accredited stock and you can be sure that your paper has come from a sustainable and well managed forest.

wewow work with a vast range of FSC and 100% recycled stocks so whatever you need we can help.

Recent Eco-friendly Projects

Recent Projects :)

wewow plan launch of unique eco-friendly packaging design competition

With the launch of their specialist eco-friendly packaging arm, weEco.co.uk, approaching wewow have announced that they will be hosting a unique competition for budding product designers.

wewow Ltd. are keen to work with the best up and coming design talent and encourage sustainable design practices, with the aim of developing a bespoke media package which will benefit both their clients and the environment.

The competition will be open to anyone over the age of 18 with a unique packaging design concept for optical media. Designers should pay particular attention to the eco-friendly credentials of their design and the winner will work with wewow to develop their idea into a sustainable and commercially viable product.

Individuals, companies and educational institutions who are interested in participating in the competition should register their interest by emailing competitions@wewow.co.uk to receive an information pack. Applications will be available online from 1^st September 2009.

Eco-friendly Optical Media Project

wewow have recently worked on an eco-friendly project with Nelson and Colne College. The project involved bringing together printed and replicated DVDs with environmentally friendly WowWallets which were produced using FSC accredited board and printed with vegetable based inks.

The end results were impressive and we are pleased to add another 'green' project to our portfolio.

Professional CD and DVD Printing Options

Gone are the days of sticking printed labels onto discs. Quality CD/DVD duplication and replication companies now print directly onto the face of CDs and DVDs with a range of high-quality solutions available for projects of varying size.

Inkjet Print

Inkjet-print technology is now so advanced that professional results can be produced with ease and at a low cost for short-run projects. CMYK ink is laid onto CD-R and DVD-R discs which are coated specifically to allow for the absorption of the ink. High standard printable discs are available but budget discs can also be used if necessary as both produce professional results. For large volume jobs, a more cost-effective option is to opt for silk screen or lithographic print.

Silk-Screen Print

For large volume projects, generally those above 500 units, silk-screen is one of the most cost-effective print methods and produces visually stunning results. Each individual colour, up to 5 being printed in total, is applied using a separate film. For designs that utilize large areas of block colour, silk-screen is the ideal solution as spot/pantone colours can be applied and produce glossy, solid results. Pantone colours also allow for an exact colour match.

Lithographic Offset Print

Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Key (Black) are printed onto the disc using rollers. Smaller text, detailed photographic images and gradients are printed much more effectively with this method. Lithographic print is available at 150-175lpi (lines per inch), in contrast to silk screen which is usually at 85-100lpi. Both methods are industry standard.

wewow always advise customers on the most appropriate print option for their project and are on hand to provide explanations and guidance of the various print options that are available.

Happy Birthday…wewow turns 5!

On 18^th June, wewow celebrated its 5^th birthday! Here at the wow offices we celebrated with fancy dress and a special lunch. Of course, we used bio-degradable plates, cutlery and cups so that our celebrations were eco-friendly!

Over the 5 years wewow has been trading there have been a lot of developments and exciting changes…having established itself as a leading media packaging supplier, wewow moved into CD/DVD replication and duplication and built a name for itself as a top quality supplier with a reputation for excellent customer service.

In recent years, wewow has developed its own range of bespoke, eco-friendly CD/DVD packaging including; wowPak, WowWallet and the recent addition of the windowed WowWallet.

Now going into our 6^th year we are looking forward to developing our unique range of environmentally friendly packaging and aim to continue promoting green issues throughout the optical media industry.

Bradford…The World’s First ‘City of Film’

Having worked with Pace plc to print and duplicate USBs and DVD-R’s as part of Bradford’s bid to become City of Film we were over the moon to hear of Bradford’s success this month. Bradford is now the world’s first City of Film and only the third city in the UK to be part of UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network.

"Becoming the world's first City of Film is wonderful news for the Bradford district, residents and the local economy. The Council has long recognised the importance of the Creative Industries to the local economy and this accolade will help increase employment opportunities, provide greater international links, boost tourism and raise the district's profile,” said Bradford Council's Executive Member for Environment and Culture, and City of Film Board Member, Councillor Anne Hawkesworth.

Having been the location for films such as Billy Liar, Yanks and The Railway Children and supporting Bradford based film makers and school students to create short films it is wonderful to see that Bradford has received recognition for its efforts.

More information can be found at www.bradford-city-of-film.com

wewow launches new environmentally-friendly CD/DVD Wallet

Here at wewow we have been very excited about World Environment Day 2009. In the wewow offices we have had a bake sale to raise money for the Forest of Bradford and have spent time actively looking for new ways to reduce our carbon footprint.

We are also pleased to announce the launch of the newest edition to our eco-friendly CD & DVD packaging range - the WowWallet with window. This optical media package can be produced from FSC accredited board or 100% recycled board. The window at the front of the wallet allows the package to be customized by inserting a CD booklet, which can be printed with vegetable based inks, rather than full colour print. Because the wallet itself does not need to be printed with branding, the wallets can be produced in bulk thereby reducing costs and waste. Furthermore, customers can buy the wallets in bulk and simply produce new booklets for new editions of their CD or DVD, rather than having to throw away excess wallets with printed artwork which is no longer appropriate. Therefore, this new product is a cost-effective and environmentally friendly solution for projects of all sizes.

This latest offering from wewow is part of their unique range of bespoke green packaging. Further information can be found at here or can be requested from the wewow sales team.

Why is cardboard media packaging more eco-friendly than traditional plastic options.

Recent research published by the non-for-profit organisation Julie’s Bicycle has shown that the carbon emissions produced by the media industry could be significantly reduced by the adoption of alternative forms of packaging, as opposed to the traditional plastic jewel case. Significantly, the greatest reduction in emissions would result from the use of entirely card options.

Because plastic-based media packaging is produced from oil and recycling rates for plastic are low, the traditional jewel case and DVD case products present a challenge to eco-aware customers. As a result, customers are calling out for a more environmentally-friendly alternative, but what is it that makes card-based products more eco-friendly than plastic products?

In contrast to plastic packages, cardboard based packaging can be produced from virgin or recycled fibre, thereby allowing the customer the option of using board from sustainable forests. The source of the cardboard used is vital in ensuring that disc packaging is sustainable as poorly sourced fibre is not an ethical alternative to plastic. wewow are committed to producing packaging solely from FSC accredited stock so you can be sure that their products come from sustainable sources. There are a range of factors which affect sustainability of a packaging product, including the energy intensity of the process – the production of the WowWallet is much less energy intensive, for example, and wewow are always looking for ways to improve their production processes.

The production of CD/DVD packaging also raises labour issues, as products produced overseas in countries with differing labour standards may not fulfil the high labour and health and safety standards which the industry should be encouraging. wewow manufacture all of their eco-friendly optical media packaging in the UK so that customer’s can be sure of the ethicality of the production process. Furthermore, UK production, and more specifically local production, ensures that carbon emissions produced by the transportation of goods is kept to a minimum.

The exciting thing about the move towards eco-friendly CD/DVD packaging is that many of the new, card-based packaging options are strikingly unique and offer a bespoke alternative to the plastic cases which provide only limited scope for originality. For example, wewow’s range of eco-friendly packaging can be printed full colour inside and out and also allows space for a booklet. Of course, the way in which disc packaging is printed is central to ensuring that the product is eco-friendly. This issue will be discussed in more detail in wewow’s next blog.

This blog is part of a series of wewow articles being published to mark World Environment Day 2009 and aiming to raise awareness of the environmental issues surrounding the optical media and packaging industry.

World Environment Day

As World Environment Day 2009 is on 5^th June, we have decided to zoom in on some of the environmental issues surrounding the optical media industry. This month, we will be publishing a series of blogs offering practical advice and guidance on how to make your media project eco-friendly.

CD/DVD packaging is coming under close scrutiny at the moment as the industry looks to improve on the impact its products have upon the environment. The question is what should customers look for when selecting environmentally-friendly packaging?

The best way to explore the various eco-friendly options that are available is to deal with a supplier who is leading the way with environmentally friendly media packaging. Not only will they be experts in this area and able to offer you lots of information and guidance, they won’t be afraid to try something new. This area of the industry is growing quickly and eco-friendly media packaging experts are constantly researching new eco-friendly options and packaging designs.

wewow have been keen to take the lead in reducing the industries carbon footprint by developing a range of eco-friendly packaging options as alternatives to the traditional plastic based products. The wowPak set the ball rolling as wewow’s first packaging option to be manufactured entirely from FSC accredited board, meaning that the wowPak is made only from sustainable sources. The plastic tray was replaced by the unique pop up compartment which securely holds the disc in place and the entire CD/DVD pack can be printed with vegetable based inks.

Following the success of wowPak, wewow have gone on to develop the WowWallet, which has become one of the most popular developments within the industry this year. Similar to wowPak, WowWallet is made from FSC accredited paperboard, printed with vegetable based inks and there is not a plastic tray in sight. In order to reduce the products carbon emissions further, wewow have introduced an option to finish the WowWallet with a bio-degradable laminate and the wallet can be secured with bio-degradable shrink wrap.

wewow are dedicated to developing their range of eco-friendly CD & DVD packaging and are set to expand the range in the coming months. In our next blog entry we will focus on the benefits of using eco-friendly packaging in comparison to traditional plastic packages.

How to use backing-tracks on your CD/DVD presentation

As a CD/DVD Replicator our customers often ask us about issues surrounding video production and mastering. This month, wewow has partnered up with one of the leading authorities on the subject of using backing tracks, Ameritz, to provide you with some helpful tips and guidance. Here are their top tips for first time users;

• The first thing that many people can be confused by is the difference between Backing Tracks and Karaoke Tracks.
  Backing Tracks are professional recreations that can be used by amateur and professional singers alike for gigs and performances, Backing Tracks also come in either .mp3 (MPEG Layer 3) or MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) formats.
  Karaoke often comes in CD+G (Compact Disc + Graphics) format which has on screen lyrics that can be used on Karaoke machines.
  
  
• When selecting your backing tracks, if previews of the tracks are available always listen to them so that you have a rough idea of how the track will sound when you receive it.
  
  
• Backing tracks are often made with either MIDI Instruments, Live Instruments or a mixture of both. While MIDI instruments are improving all the time older MIDI tracks can sound dated, tracks with as many live instruments in often give the best sound through the gigging PA’s used by singers.

Further information, as well as thousands of professional backing tracks, can be found at www.ameritz.co.uk

And of course, once you have selected the perfect backing track to complete your CD or DVD, wewow will be on hand to replicate or duplicate your master disc and to complete the project with bespoke, eco-friendly packaging.

How to use custom printing to make your discs stand out from the crowd

So you’ve made the decision to use pressed and printed CDs or DVDs for your next marketing promotion or CD release. Did you know that there is much more available than standard full colour printing?

Many suppliers offer bespoke CD/DVD printing options and often there is only a minimal difference in cost. So why not create something unique…

• Pantone Colours
  You may already be aware of the benefits of using pantone colours with silk-screen print. However, there are many unusual spot colours which are not often utilized. Have you considered using metallic pantones to add that extra sparkle to your printed media? Or perhaps you want to make sure your printed discs can be spotted from a far, in which case fluorescent pantones are the perfect option. The possibilities really are endless and the wewow team are always on hand to offer guidance and inspiration!
  
  
• Selective White Base
  Although replicated CDs and DVDs are often printed with a standard white base, your design can be printed onto a selective white base for no extra cost. This allows the silver base of the disc to shine through and create a real contrast between your bold artwork and the base of the disc. wewow have prepared artwork guidelines to help you to set your artwork up in this way, so it really couldn’t be easier.
  
  
• Coloured Discs
  So it’s not just unique print options we’re talking about, the disc itself can be supplied in a multitude of colours. There’s no better way to make your discs stand out from the crowd than by printing your design onto an orange, pink or even gold disc!
  

Don’t forget to make the most of bespoke packaging - to compliment your unique printed discs wewow offer a range of bespoke, eco-friendly packaging, the perfect way to add the finishing touches to your project.

If you’d like further guidance on the printing and replication of optical media discs please contact wewow on 01274 301410 or sales@wewow.co.uk