What’s New in Sustainable Packaging
By Yadim Medore
Growing concern about our environment is driving development of more and more sustainable packaging options. Here are some of the most innovative new products:
Renewable Aqueous Coating
Shorewood Packaging has introduced the first renewable water-based printing paper coating, TerraGreen. Made from resins and waxes extracted from plant and tree sources, this is the first water-based coating made from renewable resources. It is solvent-free and totally free of petrochemicals. It can be applied as a gloss or matte coating on an offset litho press and has all of the essential characteristics of traditional water-based coatings. Paperboard packaging that utilizes this water-based coating can be recycled when collected and processed in a municipal recycling program. TerraGreen coating has been tested and assessed as “readily biodegradable” by WESSLING Laboratories GbmH.
www.shorewooddigital.com
A Lighter Approach to Liquid Packaging
Ecolean, an innovative lightweight liquid packaging structure from Sweden, weighs over 50 percent less than conventional liquid food cartons or bottles. It has a unique “bottle” shape, but once empty, it’s as flat as an envelope. It reduces raw materials consumption (a 1-liter package weighs only 10 grams), and saves energy during production, transport and waste handling. It’s made from a thin plastic film, part plastic (PE and PP) and part mineral chalk (40 percent by weight). It is currently sold in 30 countries around the world, but not yet in the United States.
www.ecoclean.com
Pulped Recycled Cardboard Milk Packaging
A new milk and liquids package, GreenBottle, has just been introduced in the UK. Made from 91 percent recycled materials (waste office paper), it consists of an outer shell made of pulped recycled cardboard, similar to what is used to make egg cartons, and a corn-based bioplastic bag liner. The liner takes up less than .5 percent of the space of a plastic bottle if disposed of in a landfill and will biodegrade in about six weeks. After the milk is gone, the bioplastic bag can be removed and composted/disposed of, and the outer shell can be recycled or composted. Possible usages for GreenBottle include juices, smoothies, yogurt drinks, water, shampoos, hand creams, liquid detergents, engine oils, etc.
www.greenbottle.com
Water in a Box
A new bottled water company is packaging water in an old-fashioned milk carton. Because of this, it can make the same sustainability claims as a milk carton. The paperboard is from certified, well-managed forests and the cartons ship flat to the filler vs. empty plastic or glass bottles. The company intends to donate 10 percent of its profits to world water-relief foundations and 10 percent to reforestation foundations.
www.boxedwaterisbetter.com
Biodegradable PET Bottles
ENSO Bottles claims to have created the only “truly” biodegradable PET bottle in anaerobic, aerobic and compostable environments. Their biodegradable process expands the molecular structure of the plastic by altering the polymer chain and adding nutrients and other organic compounds, which the company says allows the plastic to biodegrade in both compost and landfill environments into biogases and inert humus, leaving behind no harmful materials. The bottles are also recyclable and can be mixed into the standard PET recycling stream.
www.ensobottles.com
Compostable Salad Packaging
UK retailer Sainbury’s has released a packaged salad in new biodegradable packaging. The packaging is made using Amcor NaturePlus compostable film.
www.amcor.com
Eco-friendly Blister Pack
Transparent Container Corporation’s EcoLock System eliminates the cross-contamination of paper to plastic found in similar packaging solutions, maximizing the post-consumer recycling opportunities of the packaging materials.
www.transparentcontainer.com/ecolock
Sustainable Labels
Distant Village has introduced Pure Labels, adhesive-backed label stock that is made from tree-free paper and is 100 percent recyclable. Distant Village also works to economically empower remote communities by sourcing from artisans who have no access to commerce and have no opportunity for jobs with a fair wage. Pure Labels are made from a combination of abaca (manila hemp, an abundant and renewable indigenous species in the Philippines), wild grass, water and caustic soda, and utilize recycling-compatible adhesives (RCA), the same adhesive used on postage stamps. In addition, they use reclaimed silicone-coated liners that would have otherwise been landfilled in the manufacturing process.
www.purelabels.com
A More Sustainable Rotisserie Chicken Package
Robbie Manufacturing has introduced a pouch package for hot rotisserie chicken, designed to replace the disposable, rigid plastic two-piece dome packaging that most grocery stores currently use (including Whole Foods). The Hot N’ Handy packaging has a handle for carrying, has a resealable zipper for saving leftovers, and can be microwaved. The manufacturing process produces 85 percent less CO2 and uses 88 percent less crude oil than the rigid two-piece dome, and reduces solid waste in the landfill by 66 percent.
www.robbieflexibles.com
Yadim Medore is principal and creative director of Pure Branding (purebranding.com), a strategic branding and package design agency dedicated to Conscious Branding—revealing authentic brand strategies that enable people to be the change they want to see in the world. Pure Branding’s global clients are exclusively in the natural products industry and include Gaia Herbs, Aura Cacia, Organic India, Vitamin Angels, Dr. Hauschka, Boiron USA and Late July Snacks. You can reach him at yadim@purebranding.com.
