A DEEP COMMITMENT TO
SUSTAINABILITY
Green
Operations
Green Business certification for the past 10 years and a commitment to solar-powered manufacturing in 2023.
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Recycling
Leader
Leader in addressing plastic waste for over 20 years, actively helping to shape California’s recycling legislation.
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Active
Lobbyist
We lobby on behalf of produce growers and shippers with the Association of Plastic Retailers and the Western Plastics Association
Ellen MacArthur
Signatory
We’re one of the few packaging organizations that has joined the New Plastics Economy Global Commitment.
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Sustainable Packaging Solutions for Rollstock, Bags and Stand Up Pouches
We assess your specific needs and help you select the right packaging solution based on the following considerations:
- Cost
- Quality and performance
- Supply and availability of material
- Approved for direct food contact
- Utilization of existing processing infrastructure
- Impact on achieving major retailer goals/demands
- Marketing claims and regulatory compliance
- Consumer appeal, branding & UPC options
- Impact on carbon footprint/use of fossil fuels
Recycled PCR
Made from up to 30% post-consume recycled materials
Recyclable
100% recyclable, surface and reverse-printed polyethylene
Renewable
Bio-based resins from renewable cellulose-based sources
Compostable
Certified compostable materials that meet ASTM D6400 standard
Are you ready?
Top retailers such as Walmart, Albertsons, Target and Aldi are leading the charge towards a greener future with a goal of at least 20% post-consumer recycled (PCR) materials in their packaging by 2025. Many retail brands are adopting recyclable, reusable, or compostable packaging.
On-package sustainability claims are very complex as different countries, states, counties, and municipalities have different standards and regulations. Package sustainability claims are very complex as different countries, states, counties, and municipalities have different standards and regulations. Some claims require testing utilizing third-party entities prior to commercial launches. Entities for certification include:
PCR Resin
The Association of Plastics Recyclers (can provide guidance on printing “recyclable” on the package)
Industrial Compostability
Home Compostability
Recycling
How2Recycle-reviews final specs of a package and will confirm package can be recycled in most recycling facilities
Yes, inks and the percentage of ink coverage can impact recyclability. Generally speaking, the less ink used the easier a package will be to recycle. As recycling becomes more prevalent the amount of ink used will likely impact the value of the material being recycled.
The Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) promotes the development of the plastics recycling industry. They publish a comprehensive design guide that can be found in here. In addition, APR has a PCR certification program to create greater transparency for buyers and sellers of PCR materials.
Post-consumer resin is made from plastic that has completed its intended purpose and reached its end of life format, then was collected, sorted, and reprocessed into resin.
Post Consumer Resin (PCR) is a good option. The supply of PCR resin suitable for food contact packaging is growing rapidly and is now available for use in a variety of loading percentages.
All materials with direct food contact require an FDA No Objection Letter (NOL). This includes PCR materials. All virgin and PCR materials Emerald Packaging works with carry this NOL.
To get the NOL from the FDA the following are required:
- Independent certified 3rd party to certify the supply chain to yield Post Consumer Resin (PCR)
- Independent 3rd party to certify the PCR material is suitable for direct food contact
- The FDA then reviews the above two documents to issue the NOL
Compostable materials are an option although it needs to be determined what claims can be made on a given package, what the supply chain of such materials may be and whether industrial composting infrastructure exists in the region.
Generally speaking the answer is no. However, any value-add features such as a zipper closure would have to go through the same testing and claim confirmation process as the film itself.
The most cost-effective sustainable packaging is to design the right size package and engineer the correct film thickness to meet the application at hand. Simply reducing film gauge can eliminate a large amount of plastic being used.
We believe that there will be a large increase in the use of Post Consumer Recycled (PCR) material in the coming years. This will be coupled with a reduction in the use of non-recylable packaging such as laminations incorporating dissimilar materials that cannot be recycled.
