Sustainable Packaging

Burton Snowboards and Mountain Dew Introduce Recycled Bottle T-Shirts

Picture of plastic Mountain Dew bottle. In an effort to raise environmental awareness, improve sustainability and reduce plastic waste, beverage giant Mountain Dew has partnered with Burton Snowboards to launch Burton's Green Mountain Project: a line of apparel and outerwear made from recycled plastic bottles. The first collection, launched in November 2011, features a collection of T-shirts with material made from 50% recycled plastic and 50% organic cotton.

The T-shirt collection includes three styles, each displaying a design that focuses on the importance of a sustainable environment and our connection with nature. The shirts' retail price is $27. More Burton products made with sustainable fabrics will continue being released in 2012 and 2013.

The use of recycled materials is becoming more common in today's fashion and clothing industry, as products like sneakers made from recycled plastic and handbags made from upcycled packaging hit the market. And with big names in the beverage industry such as Mountain Dew, Coca-Cola and Pepsi finding innovative ways to reduce plastic waste - from plant-based bottles to recycled bottle T-shirts - the path toward a greener future is looking brighter.

As a leader in sustainable packaging solutions, the Heritage Pioneer team is always happy to share new ways in which companies big and small are helping to reduce plastic waste. Contact Heritage Pioneer to learn more about our sustainable packaging solutions.

Italian Furniture Made From Recycled Paper

Picture of three furniture chairs against a wall. In Naples, Italy, there was so much trash flowing into the streets that the city was gaining international attention over its garbage disposal issues in 2008. Now, a recycling company called Sabox Green is doing its part to help reduce waste by creating cardboard furniture made from recycled paper.

Founded in 2004 by Aldo Savarese, Sabox Green products include recycled boxes, as well as tables, chairs, bar counters and chandeliers made from 100% recycled cardboard materials. In addition, the company uses nontoxic glues and water-based inks to create the furniture, and all materials are FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified.

With help from designer Generoso Parmegiani, the cardboard furniture comes in sleek designs, bold colors and various shapes. The furniture requires assembly after delivery, yet once put together, the pieces are strong, durable and comfortable. A cardboard chair from Sabox Green can support up to 600 pounds, though it might weigh no more than 4.

Sabox Green has donated many chairs to the Venice International Film Festival and other art events across Italy. Main clients include local schools, food businesses and regional government agencies. Last year, the company boosted its profits by 58 percent.

People, companies and organizations worldwide are taking action toward a greener environment. At Heritage Pioneer, we are committed to providing sustainable packaging products, materials and solutions, as well as sharing the latest news in the sustainable packaging industry. Contact us today to learn more about our sustainable packaging products and services.

REI’s Sustainable Packaging Efforts and Goals

Picture of the outside of an REI store. Outdoor equipment company REI is working to revamp its packaging - not with new graphic designs or logos, but rather by reducing the amount of material used for a lower environmental impact. REI's goal? To reduce overall REI-brand packaging 25% by the year 2013.

Reduced Packaging

The company is already well on its way to achieving that goal. For example:

REI has replaced the use of all-plastic PVC clamshell packaging with easier-to-open, paper-based solutions that reduce plastic materials and overall packaging weight.
Bikes are now shipped from the factory to REI stores and warehouses four to a box, instead of one per box.
REI apparel will soon sport hangtags made from 100% Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified paper.
Other packaging changes include getting rid of plastic laminates, using lighter stocks of paperboard, and redesigning shipping cartons for greater efficiency and reuse.

Other Initiatives

In addition to reducing its environmental impact by cutting down on packaging waste, REI continually strives to be a socially and environmentally responsible business through green building practices, energy efficiency, recycling programs and more.

As a leader in sustainable packaging solutions, Heritage Pioneer applauds the companies, organizations and individuals working toward a greener future. Contact us today for more information on our packaging services, and check back often for blog posts on the latest sustainable packaging news.

Recycled Packaging and Remote Control Cars

Picture of a young boy with a remote control car. The team at Heritage Pioneer is always excited to hear about ways in which people across the globe are using recycled packaging to create new products. In Jamaica, 22-year-old Davina Robinson uses plastic packaging ranging from old sardine tins to CD casings, two-liter soda bottles to cereal and ice cream packaging, and much more, to design and make miniature battery-operated vehicles.

A house painter and mason worker by day, Robinson creates the vehicles in his spare time. The only items he actually buys for his miniature cars are remote controls and batteries - all other materials and accessories consist of what others might consider "garbage," and would likely end up in a landfill. The recycle packaging is used to create every detail, including a pick-up truck with a removable tonneau cover, and a sports car with a radio that can be hooked up to a component to play music.

By upcycling plastic packaging into working battery-operated vehicles, Robinson is doing his part to reduce waste while creating detailed products that he eventually hopes to manufacture as souvenirs and children's toys.

Heritage Pioneer provides a wide range of sustainable packaging solutions that help businesses and consumers reduce their carbon footprint and save money. Contact us for more information, and check our blog often for the latest in sustainable packaging and environmental news.

Windex Mini Pouches Help Reduce Plastic Packaging

Picture of a Windex bottle. While traditional Windex® plastic trigger bottles are already made with 50% post-consumer recycled content, there is a way to reduce the bottles' environmental impact even further: with Windex Mini concentrated refill pouches.

The refill pouch eliminates the need for a new plastic bottle once the first one runs out; instead, the bottle can be reused by adding the contents of the pouch, combined with tap water, to the bottle. Not only does the plastic packaging alternative help reduce plastic waste and production, but the mini pouches also help cut costs and energy associated with shipments and transportation. The pouches require 90% less plastic than standard 26 fluid ounce trigger bottles. Even if just 20% of the 21 million bottles of Windex purchased each year were refilled with the concentrate, then 350,000 pounds of plastic could be saved.

SC Johnson introduced the mini pouches in the summer of 2011, and as of now, they are only available for purchase online. This is due to consumers' reluctance to use concentrates - often choosing the convenience of simply buying pre-filled plastic trigger bottles over the impact of lighter, greener packaging.

At Heritage Pioneer, we are committed to raising environmental awareness among businesses and consumers by providing the latest in sustainable packaging news and issues. Contact us today for more information on our sustainable packaging solutions.