April 1, 2015
GreenBlue’s Sustainable Packaging Coalition (SPC), Smithers Pira, and Packaging Digest announce as part of SUSTPACK 2015
GreenBlue’s Sustainable Packaging Coalition (SPC) and Smithers Pira, in association with Packaging Digest, announce the winners of the first ever “Trashies” awards as part of SUSTPACK 2015: Collaborating to Move Sustainability Forward, taking place this week March 31-April 2 at the JW Marriott Orlando Grande Lakes in Orlando, FL. The awards, split into four categories, recognize the people, process or service behind the latest advancements in sustainable packaging.
Presented last night at the SUSTPACK 2015 opening ceremony, the winners by category were:
“Package” – Aveda and Ecologic Brands
“Person” – Jeff Wooster, Global Sustainability Director, Dow Chemical Company
“Partnership” – The Carton Council
“Process” – Dow Packaging and Specialty Plastics
According to Nina Goodrich, executive director of GreenBlue and director of the Sustainable Packaging Coalition, “The idea for the Trashies Awards came directly from the passion of a group of SPC members who wanted to find a lighthearted way to recognize everything that goes into making packaging more sustainable: the people, processes, public awareness campaigns, and partnerships behind the package.” She also noted, “It’s a great way to celebrate all the efforts of our industry, including the package, as we work together to find new ways to keep packaging out of the trash.”
Steve Mahler of Caraustar Industries emceed the event, and Lisa Pierce of Packaging Digest gave out awards.
The winners
The winners in the “Package” category are Aveda and Ecologic Brands.
Mike Kennedy from Aveda, winner in the Package category
Aveda, a manufacturer and distributor of cosmetic products that uses plant-derived ingredients, was nominated for the 2014 launch of their Dry Remedy Moisturizing Conditioner and Moisturizing Masque in tubes that combine post-consumer recycled content with plant-derived bioplastic, eliminating almost all virgin petrochemical plastic from the package. The bioplastic portion is biopolyethylene derived from sugarcane bagasse, the fibrous stalks remaining after sugarcane is crushed for sugar production. Since the Dry Remedy launch, Aveda has incorporated these materials into all of its new tubes and bottles for new product launches. This includes products in the following franchises: Smooth InfusionTM, Beautifying, Stress-Fix and all new travel sizes.
Ecologic Brands, a designer and manufacturer of bottles made from recycled cardboard and newspaper, was awarded for their Purina Pro Plan Renew cat litter jug, developed in partnership with Nestlé Purina PetCare. This package is Ecologic’s first bottle made entirely from molded fiber, including the friction-fit cap. The jug complements Purina Pro Plan’s natural, lightweight Renew cat litter, conveying the brand’s commitment to natural materials while maintaining a consumer-friendly,
easy-to-pour design. The complete molded fiber jug is made from 93% recycled material, and after use, can be either composted or recycled.
Jeff Wooster from DOW, winner in the Person category
Jeff Wooster, the global sustainability director for Dow Chemical Company, was awarded a Trashie in the “Person” category. Jeff was recognized for his long-time commitment as a strong educator and advocate for sustainable packaging. In 2014, Jeff led the Energy Bag Pilot Program in which Dow partnered with The Flexible Packaging Association, Republic Services, Agilyx, Reynolds Consumer Products, and the City of Citrus Heights, California to drive an energy recovery project that ensured materials are used throughout their entire lifecycle. He is a sustainable packaging thought leader active on various social media platforms and has given generously of his time by serving on a number of boards and committees throughout the packaging industry.
“At Dow, we are committed to driving the use of science to promote sustainability for packaging and our entire value chain. This award shines a spotlight on our team’s great initiatives like the Energy Bag pilot program,” shares Wooster. “Being recognized for this inaugural Trashie award by SPC, Packaging Digest and Smithers Pira is a tremendous honor for me personally and not only validates the great work of our business, but motivates us to continue the industry collaboration that we believe is essential to driving improvement in our sustainability performance.”
Derric Brown from The Carton Council, winner in the Partnership category
The Carton Council, a collection of manufacturers dedicated to diverting cartons from landfills, won a Trashie in the “Partnership” category. The Carton Council is a groundbreaking collaboration of four market competitors in carton manufacturing, along with a paper product maker (Elopak, Evergreen Packaging, SIG Combibloc, and Tetra Pak, and Weyerhaeuser), who voluntarily joined together in 2009 to deliver long term solutions with a single focus: to prevent cartons from going into landfills. Together, they have committed significant financial and human resources, investing in infrastructure, education, and the creation of end markets for cartons. Their efforts to date have seen a remarkable 195% increase in access to curbside carton recycling across the U.S., going from 18% of households in 2009 to 53% in 2014.
“We are honored to receive this Trashie award. This validates the success of our comprehensive and collaborative approach to drive carton recycling in the U.S.,” said Derric Brown, vice president of sustainability for the Carton Council and director of sustainability for Evergreen Packaging. “We appreciate this award for recognizing Carton Council for the progress made to increase carton recycling in the U.S. through strong private-public collaboration.”
Ritika Kalia of Dow, winner of the Process category
Dow Packaging and Speciality Plastics’ RETAIN Polymer Modifiers won in the “Process” category. Every year, millions of pounds of barrier film scrap are generated globally. However, without a compatibilizer, pelletized barrier film scrap containing polar polymers cannot finely disperse into a polyolefin matrix of recyclable material for reuse.
The RETAIN portfolio of polymer modifiers makes it easier for film converters to recycle post-industrial barrier films into both barrier and non-barrier films without compromising performance or aesthetics. This process can help converters meet zero-landfill and post-industrial recycled content goals, and allows companies to save money by eliminating or reducing costs associated with collecting, packaging, and selling scrap film.
About Smithers Pira
Smithers Pira is the worldwide authority on packaging, paper and print industry supply chains. Established in 1930, the company provides strategic and technical consulting, testing, intelligence and events to help clients gain market insights, identify opportunities, evaluate product performance and manage compliance. For more information, visit www.smitherspira.com.
About GreenBlue and the Sustainable Packaging Coalition
GreenBlue is an environmental nonprofit dedicated to the sustainable use of materials in industry. The organization brings together key stakeholders to advance material innovation, education, and research that support continuous adoption of sustainable materials management practices in business. The Sustainable Packaging Coalition, a project of GreenBlue, is a membership group that brings together business, educational institutions, and government agencies to collectively broaden the understanding of packaging sustainability and develop meaningful improvements for packaging systems. Through strong member support, an informed and science-based approach, supply chain collaborations and continuous outreach, the SPC endeavors to build packaging systems that encourage economic prosperity and a sustainable flow of materials. For more information, visit www.greenblue.org or follow GreenBlue on Twitter @GreenBlueOrg.
Contact:
Anne Elsea
434.202.4847
GreenBlue
Danielle Marks
207.781.9637
Smithers Pira
