Start With Reduction
The largest environmental saving in packaging is almost always taking material and volume out of the pack, not swapping one material for another. A carton that drops a board grade and loses ten percent of its footprint saves on every unit, permanently, and it saves money at the same time. We quote the lighter specification alongside the substitute material so the two can be compared on the same page.
FSC Certified Stock
FSC certification tracks the fibre back through a controlled chain of custody. It is a sourcing claim, not a recyclability claim. Paper bag stock can be supplied FSC certified, and it is the documentation retail buyers most often ask for at tender stage.
Recyclable And Biodegradable Board
Our folding carton line runs environment friendly material that is recyclable and biodegradable, with QS, ISO and IMS listed against it. Rigid boxes are paper and board construction with FSC, SGS, BSCI, ISO and Bureau Veritas listed. Paper bags are 100% recyclable as built.
One caveat worth stating plainly: heavy lamination, foil and metallised finishes complicate paper recycling. If recyclability is the priority, the finishing specification has to move with the material specification. There is no point specifying recyclable board and then covering it in metallised film.
Water Based Soy Ink
Paper bags are printed with eco friendly water based soy ink rather than solvent ink. The practical effect is no residual solvent odour, which matters when the bag holds food or garments, and a cleaner waste stream at the print stage.
Degradable Plastic Films
Our plastic bag line offers HDPE, LDPE and biodegradable plastic including EPI, D2W and cornstarch based materials, with SGS, UKAS, ROHS and ISO 9001:2008 listed. These are genuinely different technologies. Oxo degradable additive systems such as EPI and D2W accelerate fragmentation of a conventional polyolefin. Cornstarch based resins are bio based materials that behave differently again.
Which one is acceptable depends entirely on the destination market, because several jurisdictions regulate or restrict specific categories. Check the local rule before selecting the resin, not after.
Our Own Commitment
Our published position is to reduce our carbon footprint and conserve resources, and to implement green manufacturing in every part of the operation through sustainable business practice and technical innovation. Our R&A department continues to improve production technique and explore new materials for new applications.
A Short Decision Order
- Reduce weight and volume first.
- Choose a single material family so the pack is recyclable as a whole.
- Check the finishing does not defeat the material choice.
- Add certified sourcing where the buyer requires the paperwork.
- Check the destination market rule before selecting any degradable film.
