Manufacturers, customers aim for sustainability in packaging

Yakima, Wash.-based Kwik Lok Corp. now offers Enviro-Lok, a closure made from polypropylene. “It uses 38% less plastic, 68% less water and has 58% less carbon emissions than our original closure,” says Karen Reed, global director of marketing.
Yakima, Wash.-based Kwik Lok Corp. now offers Enviro-Lok, a closure made from polypropylene. “It uses 38% less plastic, 68% less water and has 58% less carbon emissions than our original closure,” says Karen Reed, global director of marketing.
(Photo courtesy of Kwik Lok Corp.)

Sustainability has become a buzzword in the produce industry, and beyond, but providing sustainable packaging or running a sustainable operation can be challenging at times.

For one thing, it can be relatively costly. And persuading customers, even those who say they support sustainability, to pay more for a sustainable product can be tough.

Packaging manufacturers say even though splurging for sustainable packaging may add some immediate costs for their customers, it can be a money saver over the long haul.

Customers often need help understanding the trade-offs, since some materials may help decrease in one area but cause increases in another, said Karen Reed, global director of marketing for Yakima, Wash.-based Kwik Lok Corp.

“We help them find which materials will help them meet their goals,” she said.

“Anytime you can implement a sustainable practice that helps you reduce waste, whether it be using less energy, water or [producing] less waste going to the landfill, you have a sustainability practice that saves money and can create efficiencies in other areas,” Reed said.

Take energy costs, for example.

“By changing to more modern and efficient systems, you can save a lot in costs over time,” she said. And by using sustainable materials, packaging may be compostable or recyclable and “a good candidate for a circular economy.”

Related: How some growers are cultivating sustainability at the apple orchard

Customers typically don’t want to spend more for sustainable products, conceded Jason Adlam, vice president of new business development for Alpharetta, Ga.-based CHEP USA. But he said they’ve become increasingly curious about sustainability and are interested in partnering with CHEP to improve both companies’ environmental footprints.

“They often see value in solutions that identify and mitigate waste and drive efficiencies through cost-saving opportunities,” he said.

In the past year, CHEP generated more than $115 million in customer value from a range of initiatives that reduce waste and emissions in the supply chain, he said.

Members of the Itasca, Ill.-based Fibre Box Association, which includes corrugated manufacturers throughout the U.S., are deeply invested in sustainability, both financially and philosophically, said Rachel Kenyon, senior vice president.

Members support life cycle studies to scientifically measure the environmental footprint of the average U.S. corrugated box in addition to sustainability programs and initiatives they implement on their own, she said.

“By nature, corrugated packaging is truly a circular packaging solution,” Kenyon said. “From efficient use of trees grown in managed forest lands to sustainable practices during manufacturing and high recycling rates that put fiber back into the system, corrugated has an established sustainability record.”

Corrugated box
The corrugated industry has spent decades striving to reduce its environmental impact and provide the most sustainable packaging possible with new technology, clean energy and a highly productive recovery/recycling infrastructure, says Rachel Kenyon, senior vice president at the Itasca, Ill.-based Fibre Box Association. (Photo courtesy of Fibre Box Association) 

During the past five to six years, Kwik Lok has expanded its view of sustainability and is evaluating all its practices and products for ways to make them more sustainable, Reed said.

Kwik Lok’s machines have always been durable and long-lasting, she said; the company has continued that legacy by adding sustainable closure products to the mix, starting with its bio-based Eco-Lok, then its zero-plastic Fire-Lok, and now its Enviro-Lok, a closure made from polypropylene.

“It uses 38% less plastic, 68% less water and has 58% less carbon emissions than our original closure,” she said. “It runs on current Kwik Lok machines, which is better for the planet and for your business.”

The company also offers new ultrasonic welded labels with the Enviro-Lok for branding, tracking and traceability.

“This label is made from the same material as the Enviro-Lok and, due to the ultrasonic weld technology, removes the sticky adhesives [making] Enviro-Lok even more prepared for recycling,” she said.

CHEP generates environmental savings for its customers and partners through its pooled pallets and containers, when compared to single-use alternatives, Adlam said. The company said it also actively seeks partnership opportunities to eliminate waste, eradicate empty miles and cut out inefficiencies in both CHEP’s and its customers’ supply networks.

CHEP aims to double the number of customer collaborations from 250 to 500 by 2025, he said.

The corrugated industry launched its investment in sustainability long ago, Kenyon said, but its profile is more prominent today.

“It is more urgent than ever for the industry to continue addressing, measuring and communicating the importance of recycling,” she said.

The association started recycling-education programs in the 1990s and helped build a robust recycling infrastructure that keeps box fibers in use in the supply chain as long as possible, Kenyon said.

The industry’s old corrugated container recycling rate has risen from 54% in 1993 to 93% today, she said.

Sustainability was at the core of CHEP’s circular business operating model long before it became top of mind for eco-conscious consumers and investors, Adlam said.

“We continue to challenge ourselves and our supply chain partners to take bold steps to improve our shared impact through aggressive goals, collaborative solutions, sustainable product innovation and community stewardship,” he said.

“CHEP’s overall vision is to build a regenerative supply chain, or simply put, CHEP has set specific, measurable sustainability targets to create a net-positive impact on communities and the planet,” he added.

The company has set a goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2040. Other goals include using 30% recycled or upcycled waste by 2025 and 100% by 2030.

“Also, by 2025, CHEP will enable the growth of two trees for every one used, while maintaining its 100% sustainable timber sourcing,” Adlam said.

 

 

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