What’s the deal with biodegradable packaging?

With so many types of “1) __________” products on the market today that range from plastics, chemicals, paper and non-wood paper products, it is important to realize 2) ______ how products actually degrade and how they affect the 3) _________ when they do. “Biodegradable” actually refers to only organic matter that 4) _________ from plants and animals and is broken down in the soil by other 5) _______ organisms. Terms like “photo-degradable” and “oxo-degradable” are often confused as being “biodegradable” by the consumer. Their life 6) ______ are very different in that they are initiated by chemical 7) _______ and leave chemical or biomass residues behind in the soil upon degrading. The key for the consumer is to choose 8) _______ that are made from organic sources with no chemical additives or chemical coatings. These are the 9) _______ for the environment.	DEGRADE
	EXACT
	ENVIRON
	ORIGINAL
	LIFE
	CYCLIC
	ADD
	PRODUCTION
	SAFE

GRAMMAR FOCUS

Work individually. Study the information below.

Emphasis

Emphasis accentuates this or that part of a sentence by use of:

1. EMPHATIC WORDS AND CONSTRUCTIONS:

It is/was … who/which/that …, e.g. It was his neighbor who had made the call to police.

All (that) = the only thing, e.g. All (that) she cares about is her career. All (that) he did was tell me lies.

What…, e.g. What keeps me in shape is aerobics. or Aerobics is what keeps me in shape.

What … do… (to emphasise an action performed by someone), e.g. Dave lost his job and was short of money, so what he did was (to) sell his flat and move in with his brother.

Question word (except for which and whose) + ever…, e.g. Why ever did you tell the truth?

Question words (except for why) + ever can be written as one word, e.g. Whoever told you I was engaged?

We also use ever to put emphasis on negative sentences, e.g. Nobody should ever know our secret. I’m sure I haven’t seen this woman ever before.

Do/Does/Did + bare infinitive…, e.g. Do stop talking. She does like her job. I did say so and I can repeat it again.

Ex. Change the sentences as in the example:

1. I don’t need pepper. I need salt.

It’s not pepper I need, it’s salt.

2. Sarah isn’t a nurse. Mary is.

3. We didn’t go to the cinema. We went to the theatre.

4. I don’t like coffee. I prefer tea.

5. I didn’t go abroad last summer. My sister did.

6. They bought a flat not a house.

7. He didn’t get married last week. His best friend did.

Ex. Rewrite these packaging tips using ‘what’, as in the example.

1. You should remember to choose the size of the package according to its content, as under-filled boxes are likely to collapse; overloaded ones may burst.

What you should remember is to choose the size of the package according to its content…

2. You need to use "arrow-up" label for non-solid materials.

3. You have to ensure all text on the packaging is readable.

4. You must use materials which can be easily recycled such as glass, aluminium and paper rather than plastic.

5. You should try reusing packaging such as ice cream containers or empty jars for food and utensil storage or for school/art groups.

Read the information, then rewrite it emphasizing the words in bold.

1. Ron Howard directed ‘The Da Vinci Code’.

It was Ron Howard who/that directed ‘The Da Vinci Code’.

2. Dan Brown wrote the original novel.

3. It was previewed at the opening night of the Cannes Film Festival on May 17, 2006.

4. The Da Vinci Code was released in the United States by Columbia Pictures on May 19, 2006.

5. The book and movie were criticized by the Roman Catholic Church.

6. The film made the third biggest opening in history earning over $230 million worldwide in its opening weekend.

7. The film's soundtrack, composed by Hans Zimmer, was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score.

Rewrite the sentences using emphatic constructions, starting with the words given.

1. Give them what they need.

Do………………………………………………..

2. What should I wear to the party tonight?

What ever……………………………………….

3. He needs someone to love him.

All that.....……………………………………….

4. Who took my papers?

Who did...........................................................

5. He is a betrayer

It is……………………………………………….

6. I'm going to enjoy every day of my life.

What ……………………………………………

Rearrange the parts of the sentences, with special attention on the placement of these parts to achieve emphasis when needed.

1. come do please in.

2. the I was received it who promotion.

3. competition the I you that believe will do win.

4. would I really shower good a what like is.

5. all and did he stand was laugh.

6. see you did him entering I apartment.

7. empty it comes looks a huge no one like museum where ever.

Complete the sentences, using your own ideas.

1. All I need is …

2. What I really want is…

3. What I enjoy is…

4. What I can’t stand is…

5. What I don’t understand is…

6. What I would like to do is …

7. What I would like to know is…

2. INVERSION after the following words and expressions when they come at the beginning of a sentence (clause).

• after the time adverbials: never (before) rarely seldom barely/hardly/scarcely...when/before no sooner...than	Seldom do we have goods returned to us because they are faulty. Hardly had I got onto the motorway when I saw two police cars following me.
• after only + a time expression, e.g.: only after only later only once only then only when	Only later did she realize that she'd been given the wrong change. Only once did I go to the opera in the whole time I was in Italy.
• after only + other prepositional phrases beginning: only by only in only with	Only by chance had Jameson discovered where the birds were nesting. Mary had to work at evenings and weekends. Only in this way was she able to complete the report by the deadline
• after expressions with preposition + no: at no time in no way on no account under/in no circumstances on no condition	At no time did they actually break the rules of the game. Under no circumstances are passengers permitted to open the doors themselves.
• after expressions with not..., e.g.: not only… but (also) not until/till and also not + object	Not until August did the government order an inquiry into the accident. Not a single word had she written since the exam had started.
• after little with a negative meaning	Little do they know how lucky they are to live in such a wonderful house.
after so + adjective... that such + be...that	So successful was her business, that Marie was able to retire at the age of 50. Such is the popularity of the play that the theatre is likely to be full every night, or
neither... nor... never… nor…	For some time after the explosion Jack couldn't hear, and neither could he see. The council never wanted the new supermarket to be built, nor did local residents.

Rewrite the sentences, using the words or phrases given.

1. I have seldom seen such a foolish person.

Seldom…………………………………………………………………………………….

2. I had just stepped down the gangway when I was surrounded by cab drivers, all wanting to give me a ride to the hotel.

No sooner………………………………………………………………………………….

3. You can achieve a success only by working hard.

Only by…………………………………………………………………………………….

4. We had scarcely begun to discuss this matter when she stood up and left the room.

Scarcely …………………………………………………………………………………..

5. When the play started I realized that I'd seen it before.

Only after………………………………………………………………………………….

6. She has never before felt so awful.

Never before………………………………………………………………………………

7. She didn’t mention her earlier marriage.

At no time………………………………………………………………………………….

8. They shouldn’t be blamed for what happened on any account.

On no account……………………………………………………………………………

9. John was not only a revengeful person, he also was a master hypocrite.

Not only……………………………………………………………………………………

10. Ann doesn’t realize that nothing is exactly perfect.

Little………………………………………………………………………………………...

Fill in the blanks with a suitable word or phrase.

1. Never …before had he seen… such a beautiful picture.

2. No sooner……………………… than there was a telephone call.

3. I can’t swim very well and neither …………………….

4. Not until June……………………………..

5. So……………………........that I forgot about my promise.

6. Such …………………………. that I was pretty sure I was in love with him.

7. He …………………………… nor did he like his stepmother.

8. Hardly…………………………when he started complaining.

9. Not only……………………… but she will also have to study hard.

10. Under no circumstances ....................press that button.

Make up sentences using emphasis.

1. owls / only at night / leave / their nests.

2. powerful / their love / so / could shake / was / that / nothing / it.

3. I / had returned / in / that / realized / home / I / my watch / had left / Jenney's bathroom / only after / I.

4. you / under no circumstances / to disturb / are allowed / the pilots.

5. in no way / to share / I / my flat / with / will agree / Mike.

6. we / have faced / such / never before / a trouble.

7. into the garden / you / must / climb / on no condition.

8. rarely / see / female / we / taxi drivers.

9. he / did / won / so excellent / his work / that / it / a prize.

10. not till / he / found out / his wallet / got home / he / that / was gone.

LISTENING

Explain the meanings of the following phrases from the video in English:

1. customer support manager

2. the carbon cycle

3. renewable raw material

4. СО₂

5. carton recyclable raw material

6. household waste

7. sustainable packaging

SPEAKING

Why Green? Why Now? Understanding the state of our environment and why this is the topic in the spotlight now Facing a limited supply of resources: Is there depletion, to what extent and how will it impact you in the future? Why the current mainstreaming of the green movement isn’t just a fad

Look at the packages below, which of them do you like most? Why?

Make up a discussion on the topic ‘Can green packaging and luxury be balanced for packaging?’ Use the plan below, adding your own ideas.

• There is such a thing as eco-luxury packaging.

• Collaboration between the packaging engineers, graphics designers, marketing and sales groups, aimed at following the key characteristics that make packaging luxurious and sustainable.

• There are some sustainable materials that have little or no impact on current package appearance.

• Reduction of volume and weight.

• The issue of incorporating sustainability without raising prices.

• There are companies which manage to incorporate luxury and sustainability in their packaging.

Make up an oral report on one of the topics below. Use the instructions, which will help you to prepare the report.

• Break the topic down into its component parts and examine each part in detail to get to the essence of the topic.

• Use several resources for your report.

• Locate, gather, and organize relevant, accurate information.

• It is important that the report has an interesting, attention-getting opening and closing.

• Support this or that opinion with arguments and evidence, for and against.

• Include your personal opinion, supported by evidence.

• Make sure you keep within the 7-minute time limit.

Topics for reports: 1) Environmental aspects of sustainable packaging; 2) Green Packaging Market; 3) New sustainable materials; 4) Biodegradable technology; 5) Upcycling Packaging.

WRITING

You received the following invitation to the Greener Package Awards. Write an article for a local newspaper about the event, discussing the advantages or disadvantages of the green packaging now available and expressing your own views (250-300 words).

On Saturday 15 September we will be arranging an awards competition that constitutes the first global independent, neutral awards competition focused on packaging sustainability.

The winners—announced fall 2009—can be considered examples of packages and best practices that the rest of the industry can learn from.

The Greener Package Expert Network will be judging the entries, with the 2009 competition chaired by Adam Pawlick, Manager of Sustainability, ConAgra.

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