Monday, March 08, 2010 by Lee Mannering
Sustainability stories: Earthbound Farm and packaging
According to a report from Pike Research, the sustainable packaging market is growing much faster than the overall packaging industry, and is expected to double in size from $88 million in 2009 to $170 million in 2014. The report finds that, along with the growth rate, is an increasing burden on the environment in terms of raw materials, energy, transportation, and disposal. Researchers recommend several key areas where changes by the packaging industry can reduce its environmental impact.
In the produce industry, packaging has become an integral part of many companies’ sustainability efforts. In fact, last year at Fresh Summit, Earthbound Farm received the PMA Impact Award: Excellence in Packaging for the environment/sustainability category. I spoke with Chad Smith of Earthbound about their award-winning packaging.
“Earthbound has switched to post-consumer recycled polyethylene teraphthalate (PCR PET) plastic for all our clamshell salad packages. Post-consumer recycled PET is made from plastic products, like soda and water bottles, which have been used and then recycled. As the price of virgin PCR PET increases, there’s more value on the recycled product,” Chad said. Specifically for Earthbound, the switch to PCR PET will:
- Save 424,224 million BTUs (MMBTUs) of energy
- Avoid 16,191 tons of carbon dioxide emissions
- Save 68,307 gallons of water
- Keep 1,308,623 pounds of solid waste out of the landfill
He added that while Earthbound hasn’t seen an ROI per se on the PCR PET switch, it’s not something that should scare other companies as it’s been relatively price neutral – and that he’s seen no major challenges so far in working with the recycled plastic. This is just one of many efforts Earthbound has undertaken to become more environmentally friendly.
As the produce industry looks to become more sustainable, it’s important that we share stories of our industry successes to help educate one another and show the positive steps we’re making to become more environmentally friendly, more energy efficient, better stewards of the land, and so forth. Many thanks to Chad and Earthbound for sharing their insights with us. If you have a sustainability story or video you’d like to tell us about, please let us know.