August 2012

The produce industry which uses tons of the nonrecyclable paraffincoated cardboard boxes each year to ship fresh fruits and vegetables all over the world is weighing a greener, waxfree option. Thursday, lakeside organic gardens of watsonville shipped a small load of iceberg lettuce to new leaf community market in santa cruz using cardboard boxes lined with a sustainable alternative. It was a test run to see if an unwaxed box could withstand the hefty cooling process involving ice and water thats required of lettuce and other vegetables.

The retailer is the first company to make the move to reduce the diameter of the inner cardboard tube on every roll by 12mm, cutting the number of delivery lorries required by the equivalent of 140,000 kg of co2. The paper in sainsburys toilet rolls has been 100 percent fsc certified for many years and the cardboard tube has also been certified since september 2011, as the household & pet team continued to look for new ways to improve the sustainability of its products.

Cascades and nextlife have agreed to an exclusive partnership to include recycled polystyrene, or no. 6 plastic, and thereby to give this plastic a second life. Specifically, nextlife transforms recovered polystyrene products into sustainable resin that will be supplied to cascades, who will use it in the production of foam trays designed for meat packaging.

Alpla will join its trade partner in its facilities and produce most of the bottles inline. This reduces shipping operations and stocking costs, optimizes delivery times and ensures optimal bottle quality by limiting the bottles exposure to physical constraint. Small volumes of bottles will be produced on sbo 20 universal2eco blowmolding machines from sidel in an offline production hall that is also designated for palletizing. "sidel has practiced good presence in mexico. And they were able to install the equipment in several locations simultaneously.

As a highend, ecoconscious personal care products company, face 4 humanity recently completed its new packaging with fiberstone treefree gift bags, complete with hemp handles. "we love the whole idea behind fiberstone, as it puts us one step closer to our goals," says kathleen crawford, cofounder of face 4 humanity

Nestle waters north america has launched resource 100 natural spring water to those living in southern california. Resource 100 natural spring water is sustainably sourced natural spring water from selected sources, containing naturally occurring electrolytes for taste. The product is packaged in a bottle made of 50 percent recycled plastic and is recyclable. As part of the products southern california kickoff, resource will host a consumer event where the brand will unveil the fountain of electrolytenment, an interactive fountain of water, at the grove in los angeles.

The event featuring a 30foot tall recycling bin in times square was a huge success with new yorkers recycling more than 15,000 empty plastic, glass and aluminum beverage containers 1,500 containers each hour. The plastic bottles collected are being recycled into pieces of plastic lumber, which grownyc will use to build raised beds in urban gardens for nyc public schools as part of their grow to learn program. 5boro green services will responsibly recycle the other items donated at the event.

Portola packagings north american facilities reduced energy usage by almost 20 percent and recycled more than 5.5 million pounds of material over the past two years. The company, known as a leading closure manufacturer, is reporting an 8 percent reduction in energy usage in 2011, in addition to a 10.5 percent decrease in 2010, compared to the year prior. In addition to energy reduction, portola plants recycled in excess of 3 million pounds of material in 2011, including plastic regrind, corrugated, paper, aluminum and steel.

Yardley london, known for their finely crafted botanical soap bars, announces the launch of its new skin indulgence bath & shower collection. This new assortment of bath & shower gels & moisturizing bath bars feature delightful new scents and goodforyourskin ingredients, something women have come to expect from yardley. "yardley skin indulgence was developed for women who want indulgent boutiquestyle bath products but not the premium prices," said randy sloan, lornamead president.