Today’s consumer requires packaging that can be reduced, re-used or recycled and this includes the packaging materials in which goods are shipped. Clifford Packaging is always looking for ways to help their customers make informed decisions about the packaging products they purchase.
Corrugated cardboard – a packaging solution for our time
Bio-based and Renewable
Corrugated packaging paper is made almost entirely from natural resources with any new fibres used, the wood is harvested from sustainably managed forests.
Easy to Recycle
We’re continuously increasing our use of recycled fibres, which now make up 88% of the raw material for new corrugated packaging.
Prevents food waste
Production processes that kill microbes give corrugated packaging unique hygiene levels that prevent the cross-contamination and spoilage of fresh produce.
Adding value after use
Today’s market for recycled paper as a secondary raw material provides value to every stakeholder across the supply chain.
Eco-design built in
Corrugated packaging can be easily shaped for cost efficient logistics, storage handling and recycling – saving time, energy and money while preserving the environment.
The real Circular Economy champion
Recyclable, based on renewable sources and bio-degradable, corrugated packaging is circular by nature.
Recyclable cardboard
In the UK 12.5 million tonnes of paper is consumed per year, of which cartonboard contributes 743,000 tonnes and corrugated cardboard 2.4 million tonnes. This equates to 12.2 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent a year, so anything that can be done to reduce this is a step in the right direction.
Source: http://www.fefco.org
Consumers want environmentally friendly packaging
Brands are under increasing pressure from their customers to use environmentally friendly packaging. Consumers are now looking at the type of materials a brand uses, and will favour those that use friendly materials such as cardboard over unrecyclable materials. This is particularly true in certain specific sectors, such as food, drink and E-commerce.
Corrugated fibreboard is environmentally friendly as the paper is sourced from recycled fibres or managed forests, with the capability of being 100% recyclable. All standard grades of paper used in the manufacture of corrugated products now contain recycled fibres. Our manufacturing sites are BRC accredited. On average for every tree harvested for paper production five more trees are planted in its place.
Clifford Packaging lead with environmental initiatives
Clifford Packaging are committed to supporting environmental initiatives such as those proposed by WRAP (Waste & Resources Action programme); many of Clifford’s cartons now use D flute material instead of B flute, which results in packaging that is 25% thinner but just as strong. This means that more cartons can be shipped in each truck-load, resulting in further savings in fuel and emissions.
Let’s get eco-friendly
The trend of using sustainable packaging is gaining momentum, and it will see a consistent rise in the future as well. More and more companies are using packaging materials that are eco-friendly throughout their entire life cycle, including in their functionality, marketing, and after their use has been fulfilled. Sustainable packaging also helps in reducing the costs involved with packaging design.
What retailers are doing to help
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- Introduced in 2005, the Courtauld Commitment is a voluntary agreement between WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme) and various grocery retailers, suppliers and leading brands who have signed up with the intention of reducing food and packaging waste.
- As a result, 670,000 tonnes of food waste and 520,000 tonnes of packaging were avoided between 2005 and 2009.
- The second stage, launched in March 2012 focused on using sustainable resources
- Here are some examples of changes made by various supermarkets:
- Toilet roll diameter reduced by 12mm, cutting the number of delivery lorries required by the equivalent of 140,000 kg of CO2.
- Tray-less bags for chickens has reduced packaging by 68%, which means 540 fewer vehicles on the road.
- Tomato puree tubes no longer come in cartons, reducing packaging by 45%
- Lightening wine bottles by 30%, reducing glass usage by 560t a year
- Replacing glass peanut butter jars with plastic, cutting packaging by 83%
- Reducing the cardboard on pizza base mix, saving 87% of packaging
