"In 2019, the theme [was] sadly ‘not enough’. We are in an unprecedented moment of environmental and human crisis where marginal energy savings or incremental shifts in business are just not enough."
That’s what Jessica Appelgren, vice president of communication at Impossible Foods, said when asked about the theme of corporate sustainability in 2019. With pressing environmental challenges facing the world, there’s an awareness among corporate sustainability leaders that this decade must be different. To avoid a reckoning later, we must take action NOW.
But what action should we take? With so many different challenges, it’s hard to know where to start. Fortunately, PakTech is here to help. Whatever your organization’ sustainability goals, improving your product’s packaging is one of the fastest ways to boost environmental outcomes. Here’s how PakTech handles will help your organization meet its sustainability goals today.
A key goal of sustainability is to use as few resources as possible to achieve the same goal, such as water, energy, and raw materials. Classic examples of conservation at home include installing water-efficient shower heads, replacing light bulbs with LEDs, and choosing more fuel-efficient vehicles. Organizations can do all of these and more, but bigger savings lie in product design and packaging.
Made from 100% post-consumer recycled resin, PakTech handles use 90% less energy and 100% less petroleum versus virgin plastic production. When compared to boxboard, PakTech still wins out—boxboard uses 19.5% more water, 81.8% more energy, and causes 475% more mineral and fossil depletion. PakTech multi-packs are the clear choice.
Similar to resource conservation, waste minimization is all about getting the most out of resources expended. Here, though, it’s about minimizing that which is thrown away, and maximizing what’s recycled and reused. Take Nestle, which in 2017 achieved zero-waste-to-landfill status for 73% of its factories in the U.S., with a goal of 100% zero waste by 2030. More and more organizations are adopting similar goals.
PakTech handles are not only made from 100% recycled material, they’re 100% recyclable as well. That means the sustainability benefits can be reaped again and again, as long as they’re recycled—which is why PakTech takes it a step further with our recycling program, created to ensure as many PakTech handles as possible are repurposed into items such as composite lumber, flower pots, pipe, park benches, new PakTech handles, and more. Check where your closest recycling partner or drop off location is, or volunteer to become one today.
Lowering or eliminating emissions is another key sustainability goal, and methods can include everything from investing in energy-efficient machines to switching to renewable energy. For instance, PakTech has invested heavily in environmental manufacturing methods such as using hydroelectric machines, LED lights in our warehouse, and regional railcars for our recycled resin supply to cut down on our carbon footprint. While lowering direct emissions such as these is important, upstream emissions must also be considered. Namely, what emissions are we encouraging through the materials we purchase? For example, in our product’s packaging.
PakTech multi-packs emit 78% less greenhouse gasses compared to virgin plastic production. Compared to boxboard, PakTech again comes out on top, as boxboard is 8.1% worse for climate change and depletes the ozone 54.1% faster. PakTech handles can help you lower your emissions and shrink your carbon footprint immediately.
Pollution prevention touches many areas. Less waste and lower emissions both prevent pollution directly, while conserving resources means there’s less material which could potentially end up as pollution. But there’s another key concern in pollution prevention: using materials which are less or non-toxic to the environment.
PakTech carriers are made from HDPE #2 plastic, which is one of the safest plastics in use today. It is food-grade material suitable for storing perishable goods such as milk, with no known health concerns. What’s more, since PakTech utilizes post-consumer recycled material to create its handles, we’re rescuing 100 million gallon-sized jugs from landfills and the ocean every year, further preventing downstream pollution and helping the environment thrive.
It’s been said before, but it bears repeating: conservation is all about getting the most out of as few resources as possible, and nowhere is that more evident than with recycling and utilizing recycled products. It’s a way to get value out of the same raw materials two, three, or many times more. The more we recycle and create recyclable products, the more sustainable our economy will be.
Maybe you’re one of the many organizations with the goal of 25% recycled packaging by 2025? Well, PakTech can supply 100% recycled secondary packaging today—delivered in 100% recycled boxes, no less!
No matter your aim, when it comes to meeting your corporate sustainability goals, PakTech is ready to help. Whether it’s conserving resources, minimizing waste, reducing emissions, or preventing pollution, our 100% post-consumer fully recyclable handles can help you achieve your goals today. Contact PakTech to learn more.