Recycled packaging peanuts from California

A California law passed in 2008 requires that the recycled material content in polystyrene loose fill packaging, better known as foam packing peanuts, increase to 100% by 2017. To take these steps, packing peanuts are required to be 80% recycled by 2014, and starting on January 1, 2012, packing peanuts must contain at least 60% post-consumer recycled material.

Foam packing peanuts have gained the reputation of being bad for the environment, and for good reason – the oil-based plastic packaging materials are difficult to recycle (not all recycling centers accept them for reuse), they are difficult to break down and pile up in landfills, and their lightweight structure makes it easy to become airborne and end up in the oceans. Environmentalists in California say that the foam packing peanuts have a negative impact on the coastline, causing harm to marine life and water quality.

Recycled packing peanuts are made from recycled polystyrene material. In addition to recycled materials, there are also starch-based packing peanuts that are biodegradable and nontoxic.

Heritage Pioneer provides a wide range of sustainable packaging solutions. Contact us for more information, and check our blog for the latest in sustainable packaging and environmental news.

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2. La Casita Encantanda Is a House Made from Recycled Packaging

There is a school in the Philippines made from recycled plastic bottles. There is a house in Argentina made entirely of recycled plastic bottles. And there is also a house in El Salvador constructed from recycled plastic bottles and caps. It is called “La Casita Encantada,” or “The Enchanted Cottage,” and is the home of 78-year-old Maria Ponce and her 102-year-old companion, Prudencio Amaya.

The house is located near El Transito, El Salvador. Ponce did not have enough money to buy a house. In 2005, she was inspired by a dream she had to build a home out of plastic bottles. The home took three months to build. Ponce and Amaya survive on money made from their corn crop, as well as donations from tourists who visit the cottage.

La Casita Encantada is a great example of how sustainable practices can not only help create a healthier, safer environment, but how they also provide affordable solutions for people in need.

At Heritage Pioneer, we are committed to providing sustainable packaging solutions for businesses. Follow our blog for regular updates and news regarding eco-friendly packaging and efforts worldwide, or contact us today for information on our products and services.

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Starting on January 1, 2012, mobile technology giant Sprint’s updated environmental scorecard requires phones to be UL Environment certified. UL Environment is a subsidiary of Underwriters Laboratories, a third-party testing and certifying organization trusted worldwide. In addition to providing guidelines for energy management, health impacts and performance regarding mobile phone products, the standard for certification will provide new criteria for packaging that will encourage sustainable packaging solutions.

For example, certified phone packaging will be designed to reduce packaging volume, size and material waste, as well as minimize the use of oil-based components such as glues, inks and plastics. This can be achieved by increasing the use of recycled fiber and post-consumer waste in packaging. In addition, the new packaging standards include the elimination of plastic laminate and switching to vegetable-based inks and water-based adhesives.

By improving its product packaging, Sprint is working toward reducing its carbon footprint while significantly cutting costs.

Heritage Pioneer provides sustainable packaging solutions that help businesses and consumers reduce waste and save money. Contact us for more information

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Phoenix Packaging offers automated pallet packaging equipment.

Pallets, or skids, are structural foundations made of wood, plastic or paper and designed to make handling and storing large shipping containers more efficient. Loads are placed on pallets, and are often stabilized using stretch wrap or shrink wrap.

Types of Pallets

• Wood pallets are the most common types of pallets. Softwood pallets are the least expensive and can be thrown out after each use, while hardwood pallets come at a higher cost and usually require a deposit. Hardwood pallets are often returned to the sender. While wood pallets are strong and durable, they are also known to harbor insects and bacteria that can be hazardous to workers and products (especially food products).
• Plastic pallets are a cleaner, lighter alternative to wood pallets, and are made of either HDPE or recycled PET. They are more resistant to weathering, rot and chemicals, and can be easily sanitized for international shipping. However, they are also more expensive than wood pallets, and the plastic materials used raise concern over their environmental impact.
• Paper pallets are made out of corrugated cardboard, and are lighter, safer and more sanitary than traditional wood pallets. They are also cheaper than plastic pallets, and because they are often sourced from recycled post-consumer corrugated materials, they provide a more eco-friendly option.
• Metal pallets include steel and aluminum pallets, and are ideal for loads that require extreme protection, such as hazardous waste or pharmaceuticals.

Automated Pallet Packaging Equipment

Pallets often require stretch wrap or shrink wrap in order to stabilize the loads for more efficient handling. Automated pallet wrappers improve accuracy, increase production, reduce waste and cut costs. At Pioneer, our wide range of automated packaging equipment includes Arpac stretch wrappers and Arpac pallet stretch hooding systems.

For more information on Pioneer’s packaging solutions, equipment, products and services, contact us today! Follow @pioneerpkg on Twitter for packaging news and updates.

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Proper labeling on packaged goods is crucial to keeping products safe during the shipping and handling process, indicating specific handling requirements that prevent damage. On the retail shelf, labels provide information about the products; in the case of food products, this can include nutritional information and “sell-by” dates.

The latter, however, has actually been scrapped by the U.K. agency DEFRA (the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs) to reduce food waste. DEFRA’s updated guidelines are meant to avoid confusion for consumers, with food packaging only displaying “use-by” or “best-before” dates. Use-by dates should indicate how long a product is safe to eat, while best-before refers to the quality of the product.

Sell-by dates are used to help stores stock their shelves, and don’t actually indicate a product has gone bad. In fact, food products can last for days or even weeks after their sell-by dates. Nonetheless, the dates still confuse shoppers, and they’ll often throw out food before it’s gone bad simply because of the sell-by date on the package. Getting rid of sell-by dates can help avoid this confusion altogether.

Labels have a huge impact on packaging, and should not be overlooked. At Pioneer Packaging, we are committed to keeping you up-to-date on packaging news, in addition to offering a wide range of packaging solutions and services. Contact us today to learn more.

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Packaging materials and designs must not only protect products from damage during the shipping and handling process, but they must also protect them on the retail shelf. Tamper evidence and tamper resistance in packaging helps protect products from being damaged by customers – keeping people from ripping or tearing the package before it is purchased to increase safety and prevent theft.

What Is the Difference?

Tamper-evident: Packaging that is tamper-evident involve materials, seals and other design features that help indicate tampering has occurred. For example, letters have been protected with tamper evidence for centuries, from wax seals during ancient times to today’s modern envelopes. In food packaging, safety buttons on lids and plastic seals can help customers identify whether the package has been tampered with.

Tamper-resistant: Packaging that is temper-resistant include extra layers of packaging and often use materials that require tools to break through. Packages that cannot be resealed after opening are also considered tamper-resistant. Clamshells, for example, often use strong plastic materials that cannot be opened without the use of a tool.

The Problem with Tamper Resistance

While hard-to-open packaging keeps products safe and intact, they can also be frustrating for customers after the product has already been purchased. Clamshells have a bad reputation for being too hard to open, with consumers injuring themselves trying to open them. The frustration that comes along with this type of packaging is commonly referred to as “wrap rage.” To decrease wrap rage, alternative packaging that are easy to open and still provide tamper evidence include blister packs and corrugated boxes.

Pioneer provides a large selection of packaging solutions. For more information on Pioneer’s packaging solutions, equipment, products and services, contact us today! Follow @pioneerpkg on Twitter for packaging news and updates.

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Ideally, items are packaged into the perfect sized box every time, eliminating the extra space in the packaging that often leaves contents prone to damage. However, that’s not always the case. Many items require additional cushioning in order to be fully protected during the shipping and handling process. Void fill packaging works just as the name suggests – filling the void within packaging to provide items with the support needed to prevent damage.

Inflatable air bag cushioning is a type of void fill packaging, and works as an alternative to traditional polystyrene loose fill packaging (better known as foam packing peanuts). While packing peanuts are light and protective, they can also have a negative impact on the environment. Foam packing peanuts are not easily recyclable, and they are made of oil-based plastic materials that are costly to produce and difficult to break down once disposed.

Inflatable air bag cushioning is an even lighter option than foam packing peanuts, helping to reduce the amount of energy and fuel consumption required to transport, as well as reducing freight costs. They also use less plastic material than packing peanuts, as the majority of the cushioning comes from air.

For information on Pioneer’s packaging solutions, contact us today. Follow @pioneerpkg on Twitter for packaging news and updates.

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Mark & Spencer is a major retailer in the United Kingdom, and in January, it became the first to offer food products in new packaging designed to extend the life of fruit.

The new packaging includes a small strip at the bottom of strawberry containers. The strip contains a patented mix of minerals that absorb ethylene, the hormone that causes fruit to ripen and grow mold. Adding the strip to fruit packaging does not affect the package’s recyclability, and customers will not be charged extra for this innovative packaging.

Sustainable packaging has become a hot topic in recent years, as consumers and businesses work to reduce their carbon footprint and reduce packaging waste. However, food waste has also become an issue – many consumers get confused over sell-by dates and expiration labels on food products, throwing out food prematurely out of fear of getting sick. In addition, there are foods that go to waste simply because people cannot consume them in time before they go bad. This is especially true of fruits and vegetables, which can only keep for so long even when refrigerated.

Pioneer is committed to providing effective packaging solutions, as well as keeping customers updated on the latest in packaging news. For more information on Pioneer’s packaging solutions, equipment, products and services, contact us today! Follow @pioneerpkg on Twitter for packaging news and updates.

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Plain Cigarette Packaging

In November 2011, the Australian Parliament approved plain packaging laws for tobacco products. The new law requires all tobacco products sold in Australia to be in plain packaging – with no logos, branding or promotional copy anywhere on the package. Instead, the only color on the package will be a murky greenish-brown, along with government health warnings and disturbing images of the consequences of smoking. The green color was chosen for its unappealing appearance, and the graphic packaging is meant to deter people from smoking in the first place.

Since the law was introduced, three tobacco giants – Philip Morris International, British American Tobacco and Imperial Tobacco – are taking legal action against the plain packaging. Efforts by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to require similar packaging for tobacco products, including graphic images and warnings such as “Smoking can kill you,” were recently halted due to potential constitutional challenges.

So what does this issue say about the power of packaging? The graphics, images, colors and messages that your packaging displays have a significant effect over customers, and can be a deciding factor in whether or not they decide to make the final purchase.

At Pioneer Packaging, we are committed to keeping our customers up-to-date on the latest in packaging news, as well as providing packaging solutions with a positive, meaningful impact. Contact Pioneer for more information, and follow @pioneerpkg on Twitter for more news and updates.

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Paperboard packaging materials from Pioneer Packaging.

Paper-based packaging is an affordable and responsible alternative to petroleum-based plastic materials, which, with the rising cost of oil, are not only costly but also have a negative impact on the environment. A wide range of products can be shipped, stored and sold in paper packages such as containers, cartons and bags. Paper packaging can be reused and recycled to help reduce waste. Below, learn about three different types of paper-based packaging options: paperboard, corrugated cardboard and paper bags.

Paperboard Packaging

Paperboard is the type of packaging often used for boxes and containers on the retail shelf. Products packaged in paperboard range from frozen food to pharmaceuticals, cosmetics to dairy products. Paperboard is lightweight, yet durable, with the ability to effectively protect products while reducing shipping and fuel costs. Each paperboard grade is designed to meet specific product needs. Paperboard grades include solid bleached sulfate, coated unbleached Kraft paperboard and uncoated paperboard. Coated paperboard materials offer a smooth, strong surface that allow for clear, bold graphics.

Corrugated Cardboard Packaging

Corrugated cardboard, often known simply as cardboard, is most easily recognized for its fluted design: an arched layer of paper between two smooth sheets. Different flute sizes and thicknesses are available for various packaging needs. Corrugated is strong and versatile, and often made from recycled paper materials such as old corrugated containers and newspapers. Cardboard boxes can be easily reused by consumers and businesses for moving and storage, and their simple folding design makes them easy to store.

Paper Bag Packaging

Paper bags are used at grocery and retail stores to help customers carry their purchases, and are often offered as an alternative to plastic bags. While plastic bags can be flimsy, tear easily and can usually only be reused once, if at all, paper bags are much stronger and more sustainable. Paper bags can often hold more items than plastic bags, and can be reused multiple times. Paper bags can also be easily recycled to help reduce wasted materials and energy.

For more information on Pioneer’s packaging solutions, including corrugated shipping containers, contact us today. Follow @pioneerpkg on Twitter for packaging news and updates.

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