Plastic
We use rPET plastic in our packaging. PET stands for polyethylene terephthalate, a plastic resin and a form of polyester. Polyethylene terephthalate is a polymer that is formed by combining two monomers: modified ethylene glycol and purified terephthalic acid.
Our rPET contains a minimum of 50% post-consumer waste. It is recyclable with plastic water/Soft Drink bottles and other plastics and collected routinely by the local council refuse collection services. Our packaging is designed so that once purchased, the customer can remove the product safely without the need for scissors and knives and can separate the different materials within the pack for disposal.
Compared to many other plastics, PET has a significantly better eco-balance.
The recyclability of PET means that packaging waste is reduced and the volume of waste incineration decreases.
The raw materials consumption in production is lower than with many other plastics. Recycling PET leads to a 60% energy savings – compared to the energy requirements for producing new plastics.
PET is the type of plastic labeled with the #1 code on or near the bottom of bottles and containers and is commonly used to package soft drinks, water, juice, peanut butter, salad dressings and oil, cosmetics and household cleaners.
PET is a popular package for food and non-food products. Manufacturers use PET plastic to package products because of its strength, thermo-stability and transparency. Customers choose PET because it is inexpensive, lightweight, resealable, shatter-resistant and recyclable.
Recycled polyethylene terephthalate (RPET) can be used to make many new products, including fibre for polyester carpet; fabric for T-shirts, underwear, athletic shoes, luggage, upholstery and sweaters; fiber fill for sleeping bags and winter coats; industrial strapping, sheet and film; automotive parts, such as luggage racks, headliners, fuse boxes, bumpers, grills and door panels; and new PET containers for both food and non-food products.
Corrugated Components
We use Corrugated paper products for our trays, the layered paper material we use is the most recycled material on the planet. We ensure that the corrugated portions of our packages are both recyclable and biodegradable. Due to the Landfill difficulties in the UK recycling is the best form of protecting the environment and our packaging reflects this trend.
The corrugated materials we use in trays and displays are 100% recyclable, The thin printed layer we use is a virgin paper and we purchase this exclusively from suppliers that participate in the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) UK.
This program assures that certified foresters manage their forestry resources in a sustainable fashion.
Corrugated board is made from a combination of virgin or recycled fibres, making it a highly environmentally efficient material with an unbeatable record for recycling and recovery. There are, in corrugated material terms, two forms of environmental solutions; namely sustainable and recyclable.
Sustainable materials are virgin fibre based and are controlled by a variety of forest management schemes under Chain of Custody accreditation. One of the most widely known organisations within chain of custody is FSC.
FSC – (The Forest Stewardship Council) is an international organisation promoting responsible forest management. It operates a scheme that traces and verifies timber and wood products originating from FSC certified forests. It also works closely with the Governments within the certified regions and has the support of other environmental organisations. As public concern about the state of the world’s forests and timber resources increases, being FSC certified shows that Sheet-feeding complies with the highest social and environmental standards on the market. For information on FSC visit www.fsc-uk.org.
Approximately 80% of the corrugated packaging used in the UK is recycled. The recycling loop is very efficient. The fibres used in corrugated packaging can be collected, recycled, re-used and back on the shelf in store within 14 days of disposal. The re-use of the fibres in corrugated packaging through the process of recycling minimizes waste disposal to landfill and reduces the need for virgin wood pulp. For further information on the excellent recycling credentials of corrugated packaging, visit www.recycledpaper.org.uk.
Printed Cards
We use vegetable oil-based or water-based inks. These inks are fully biodegradable, and do not interfere with recycling processes. Our liners (the printed paper layer) are covered with an aqueous (water-based) coating, which is both biodegradable and recyclable, as opposed to most ink in packaging that stains the cardboard rendering it non-recyclable.
These are low in volatile organic compounds (VOC’s). They’re non-toxic and they produce fewer emissions.