Emerald Packaging makes shift to solar

Union City, Calif.-based flexible packaging company Emerald Packaging is planning to shift away from fossil fuels and power its two manufacturing facilities with solar energy systems.

The largest of the two solar facilities will go live in the first half of 2023, and the second is to be completed later in 2023, according to a news release. 

“Our company is committed to playing its part in sustainability and mobilizing a shift towards a circular economy for plastics,” Kevin Kelly, CEO of Emerald Packaging, said in the release. “It’s clear that our planet is losing the battle to stop greenhouse gas emissions. We need to step up in any way we can. So, the installation of solar and other initiatives such as reducing plastic use and increasing recyclability of our packaging makes complete sense.”

Related news: How fruit and vegetable companies are doing their part to reduce food waste

If successful, the solar installations will cut Emerald Packaging’s emissions by more than the equivalent of 47 million pounds of coal burned. It will also help reduce energy spend at this site by $12 million over 25 years, according to the release.

In addition to years of advocacy for effective plastics recycling, Emerald Packaging has accomplished the following in its sustainability efforts:

• Received California Green Business certification.

• Became an Ellen MacArthur Foundation signatory that includes pledges requiring companies to reduce the use of plastic by embracing goals to create a circular economy.

• Signed United Nations treaty in support of plastic waste reduction.

• Helping shape legislation in California addressing the need for a better recycling infrastructure.

• Introduced the first compostable packaging in the produce industry 15 years ago and continues to test and experiment with new compostable materials as they become available.

Emerald Packaging is one of the few plastics manufacturers to win a Green Business certification for its waste, water and energy reduction efforts, according to the release. And under its Ellen MacArthur Foundation commitments, Emerald Packaging will help drive the adoption of post-consumer recycled resin in food packaging and has agreed to make its packages reusable, recyclable or compostable (in accordance with NPEGC principles), with specific targets to hit by 2025, according to the release.