Ziploc: Difference between revisions
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==History== |
==History== |
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Robert W. Vergobbi first patented zipper storage bags on May 18, 1954. Later that year Minigrip licensed them, intending to use them as |
Robert W. Vergobbi first patented zipper storage bags on May 18, 1954. Later that year Minigrip licensed them, intending to use them as pencil bags. It would soon be discovered that the bags could do much more. Robert Lejeune, a 5th grader, won the National Science Fair by demonstrating the ability for ziplock bags to retard food spoilage. Dow Chemical marketed this ability to the public by introducing Ziploc food storage bags to consumers in 1968. In 1984 ITW purchased Minigrip. Then in 1986, ITW and Dow Chemical joined forces with Zip-Pak to produce a resealable zipper feature on packaging. ITW purchased Dow’s share of the business in 1991 and formed Minigrip/Zip-Pak. They would attempt to expand resealable packaging to new markets. Meanwhile, in 1996, Hefty came out with a sliding zipper bag. <ref name="discountplasticbags.com">http://discountplasticbags.com/scripts/ZiplockBags.asp</ref> In 1997 Dow Chemical sold the rights of DowBrands, which included Ziploc, to SC Johnson for somewhere between US$1.3 and US$1.7 billion.<ref>Susan Warren. Wall Street Journal. New York, N.Y.: Oct. 29, 1997. </ref> <references group="foo" /> Zip-Pak developed Polypropylene compatible zippers in 2003. <ref name="discountplasticbags.com" /> |
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==Products== |
==Products== |
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Revision as of 03:41, 30 September 2009
Ziploc is a brand of reusable, re-sealable zipper storage bags and containers originally developed by Dow Chemical Company, and now produced by S. C. Johnson & Son. According to Dow's website, the bags were originally test marketed in 1968. The bags and containers come in different sizes for use with different products. The brand offers sandwich bags, snack bags and other bags for various purposes.
History
Robert W. Vergobbi first patented zipper storage bags on May 18, 1954. Later that year Minigrip licensed them, intending to use them as pencil bags. It would soon be discovered that the bags could do much more. Robert Lejeune, a 5th grader, won the National Science Fair by demonstrating the ability for ziplock bags to retard food spoilage. Dow Chemical marketed this ability to the public by introducing Ziploc food storage bags to consumers in 1968. In 1984 ITW purchased Minigrip. Then in 1986, ITW and Dow Chemical joined forces with Zip-Pak to produce a resealable zipper feature on packaging. ITW purchased Dow’s share of the business in 1991 and formed Minigrip/Zip-Pak. They would attempt to expand resealable packaging to new markets. Meanwhile, in 1996, Hefty came out with a sliding zipper bag. [1] In 1997 Dow Chemical sold the rights of DowBrands, which included Ziploc, to SC Johnson for somewhere between US$1.3 and US$1.7 billion.[2] Zip-Pak developed Polypropylene compatible zippers in 2003. [1]
Products
Ziploc has expanded their products to more than just sandwich bags. Ziploc products now vary from freezer bags to twist n' loc containers. They have expandable bottom bags which stand on their own. They also have big bags. These bags are used for non-food storage and are as big as 2 ft (0.61 m) by 2.7 ft (0.82 m). The zip n' steam bags are used to cook food in the microwave. The flexible totes made by Ziploc are used for non-food storage and are as big as 22 US gallons (83 L). A new Ziploc product is their evolve line of sandwich and storage bags. All the bags in this line are made with 25% less plastic and are manufactured using wind power. [3]
Advertising
S.C. Johnson & Son uses written, online, and televised commercial advertising for their product Ziploc. The advertisements run in: The United States, Brazil, Thailand, Germany, and span over the rest of the world. Ziploc's head of marketing is Scott Heim who handles their multi-million dollar advertisement campaigns. In 2002, S.C. Johnson & Son launched its biggest campaign in history, a US$50 million-plus campaign to launch a new line of disposable tableware/storage products to be marketed under the Ziploc brand name[4]. S.C. Johnson tends to focus their campaigns in the direction of Television commercials. In the 2002 campaign, $35 million was devoted to a TV campaign.
Manufacturing
The manufacturing of Ziploc bags varies among different products. The Ziploc Evolve bag is made using 25% less plastic than traditional Ziploc bags, and is manufactured using wind power, a cleaner renewable energy source. The Ziplic Evolve bag is also packaged in recycled paperboard, a technique used to increase the conservation of trees. [5] The regulation Ziploc storage and freezer bag is made from polyethylene plastic resin, the most commercially used polymer that is available in a large range of flexibilities and densities, allowing Ziploc bags to safely hold and store various amounts and densities of foods. [6]
Criticism
Controversy
S.C. Johnson & Son has faced several controversies over their product, Ziploc. One of the uses that is most controversial is the Ziploc omelet. To make the Omelet you are required to place the Ziploc bag in boiling water. Through the years there have been many accusations against S.C. Johnson & Son saying that when the bags are boiled, the toxic substance, Bisphenol-A, which is used in the manufacturing of some polycarbonate plastics, is released into the contents of the bag. [7] S.C. Johnson & Son heard about the claim and published an article saying that Ziploc brand bags do not contain any of the Bisphenol-A substance. [8] There are still warnings out saying that the steam that is created in the bag could allow a number of other chemicals used in the bag's manufacturing to release into the food.[7] Ziploc has not commented on this aspect of the argument.
Competition
Ziploc faces strong competition from such competitors as Glad, Hefty bags and many privately owned, generic, store brand plastic bags and containers. As Jules Rose, chairman of Sloan's Supermarkets Inc. in New York City, states: "This is a highly competitive market with a lot of players and unusually strong private label sales." Ziploc's biggest competitor by far is Glad. In 1992, Ziploc was faced with sudden competition from the booming sales of archival First Brands Corporation's Glad-Lock bag. Glad Lock bags jumped 13.1% in 12 weeks in the end of 1992, giving Glad-Lock an 18.4% share of the market compared to Ziploc's 43% share.[9]
References
- ^ a b http://discountplasticbags.com/scripts/ZiplockBags.asp
- ^ Susan Warren. Wall Street Journal. New York, N.Y.: Oct. 29, 1997.
- ^ http://www.ziploc.com/
- ^ Christine Bittar. Brandweek. New York: Oct 15, 2001. Vol. 42, Iss. 38; pg. 4
- ^ http://www.scjohnson.com/family/fam_pre_pre_news.asp?art_id=403
- ^ http://www.ides.com/generics/PE.htm
- ^ a b http://www.home-air-purifier-expert.com/bisphenol-a.html
- ^ http://scjohnson.com/family/fam_pre_pre_news.asp?art_id=359
- ^ Mcmurry, Scott. Wall Street Journal. (Eastern edition). New York, N.Y.