Package of the Month
Back to the Roots Embraces 100% PCR Packaging
Back to the Roots has been driving sustainability in the Lawn & Garden industry for over a decade with its 100% organic promise and original Grow Kits made from upcycled coffee ground waste.
Back to the Roots, America's leading organic gardening brand, announced that in the 2024 garden season, packaging for its best-selling Organic Potting Mix will begin transitioning to bags made from certified circular, 100% Post-Consumer-Recycled plastic (PCR) — a first for the soil category.
For this launch, Back to the Roots is leveraging new recycling technologies recently pioneered by leading consumer brands such as Kind Bar, Mars, Mondelez, and Unilever to help drive the Lawn & Garden industry forward.
To develop the 100% PCR packaging, the company partnered with ProAmpac, a global leader in flexible packaging and material science, and had the recycled material certified under the Global ISCC PLUS Certification (Institute of Sustainability & Carbon Certification). This widely recognized international sustainability certification uses a mass balance approach to verify the quality and authenticity of the recycled material along the supply chain from waste feedstock to the final product.
"ProAmpac, as an innovator of sustainability and a circular economy in material usage, is proud to leverage our ISCC-certified supply chain to offer advanced recycled PCR content (cPCR). Ensuring the technical and durability needs that outdoor environments require, cPCR performs at the same high level as virgin resin-based film," said Gary Koellhoffer, Product Manager at ProAmpac. "Back to the Roots is a brand partner who shares our sustainability goals, and their adoption of advanced PCR content in the Lawn & Garden industry is inspiring. This launch sets the trend, pushing more brands across the industry to embrace cPCR and work towards greater sustainability in packaging."
courtesy of Back to the Roots
TIPA and CNG Partner to Bolster US Compostable Packaging Market
TIPA, a global leader in compostable packaging solutions for food and fashion, and Charter Next Generation (CNG), a leading US specialty film manufacturer, recently announced a partnership to drive local US production and adoption of compostable packaging. Alongside the collaboration that expands TIPA’s US reach, the company also launched a new compostable film exclusive to North America. CNG will manufacture TIPA’s new specialty packaging films for food, consumer, healthcare and other end use markets.
Under the partnership, CNG, one of North America’s largest producers of high performance films, is set to produce two films from TIPA’s proprietary compostable materials: TIPA’s newly-launched TIPACLEAR 301 and its TIPACLEAR 319. Both are highly transparent home compostable films for food and consumer goods packaging, available in various thicknesses and applications. The two films are exclusive to North America. With TIPA’s solutions in its portfolio, Chicago-headquartered CNG plans to further penetrate the North American market for compostable films.
As brands and manufacturers face increasing demand for innovative sustainable packaging solutions to reduce the world's dependence on traditional plastics, TIPA offers fully compostable substitutes for traditional plastic counterparts, while bearing the same functionalities, such as transparency and durability. At the end of their use, though, when placed in a compost bin, they disintegrate and biodegrade into nutrient-rich soil, within months. TIPA’s packaging is also seamlessly compatible with existing machinery throughout the entire supply chain of packaging production.
courtesy of TIPA
RyPax and CelluComp Collaborate to Launch All-Fiber Bottle
Asia-based molded fiber packaging production firm, RyPax, and Scottish-based CelluComp, the developer of the propriety micro fibrillated cellulose product Curran®, crafted from root vegetable waste, are collaborating to introduce the very first all-fiber bottle solution with an interior coating that offers a biodegradable and renewable solution for one of the most widely-used packaging designs on the planet.
The pioneering leap the two independent businesses took was developing a novel pulp fiber made with a mix of Curran®, bamboo, and bagasse. This material is extremely strong with minimal porosity, enabling the application of a thin, impermeable coating to the bottle’s interior. This advancement empowers manufacturers to take the next important step in environmental packaging by eliminating the need for plastic liners. Furthermore, the all-fiber bottle design exudes premium aesthetics. It boasts a best-in-market finish, which will appeal to luxury brands across the beverages, beauty, and cosmetics sectors.
The partnership is poised to scale production for a range of industry applications, spanning from beverages, beauty, health, medicine, and food to various retail brands. This collaboration aims to help manufacturers in providing more sustainable products, thereby reducing waste, and aligning with sustainability objectives. Moving forward, RyPax and CelluComp will work closely with DTI to explore further fiber packaging solutions, including fiber screw threads, caps, even thinner coatings, and intricate branding methods on bottles.