Packaging solution providers NextLife and CardPak are partnering to deliver more sustainable paperboard packaging choices to retailers. Under the partnership, CardPak will become the first carded packaging converter to promote NextLife Packaging Group's 100-percent post-consumer recycled (PCR) PET blisters for club and warehouse retail packaging.
NextLife Packaging Group provides a range of sustainable packaging solutions to consumer product companies, retail brands and retailers through a select network of manufacturing partners. The network provides branded packaging, resins and materials containing up to 100-percent PCR content for both food and non-food applications, together with life cycle assessments and marketing support.
"Our clients have been very satisfied with using NextLife's 100-percent PCR PET for blisters and clamshells with no change in performance, quality and consistency when used in conjunction with our cards or ClubPak products," said Tony Petrelli, president of CardPak, in a statement.
Sustainable packaging is gaining momentum in the retail industry thanks to big players like Wal-Mart and Whole Foods. Leading the way is Wal-Mart, which first rolled out a packaging scorecard that rates suppliers on their sustainability in 2008.
Whole Foods Market recently joined the movement and rolled out new responsible packaging guidelines to all of its more than 2,100 body care and supplement suppliers companywide. All new body care and supplement suppliers must meet the packaging guidelines before their products can be sold in one of the company’s more than 300 locations in the U.S., Canada and the U.K.
In 2010, 27 percent of products at major US retailers are estimated to have sustainable packaging. By 2015, this figure is projected to reach 37 percent, according to the latest issue of EL Insights.
The global market for sustainable packaging is projected to reach $142.42 billion by 2015, according to a recent report from Global Industry Analysts (GIA). Growth drivers include increased awareness about environmental hazards related to disposal and recycling of packaging wastes, government initiatives to minimize greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and stringent regulations.
