Green Packaging

Angel Aguilar
English 101.0796 Composition 1 Food, Politics, and You
Research Paper: Green Packaging
Green packaging has come a long way due to the efforts to improve the environment. The environment has been a hot topic among activists, lobbyists, and politicians. Many food corporations are now coming forward with new innovations to help improve our environmental conditions. There has been much added pressure from all industries especially the food industry to start the new wave of “green packaging”. Great concerns that deal with CO2 emissions and other wastes. Food and beverage packaging is one of the most significant of the green packaging identity. As you will see there are many corporations who are trying to capture consumers with the so called “green initiative”.
The Dole Corporation which produce products such as Dole 100% Juice and the Vegetables, felts a move toward sustainable packaging was warranted by efforts to improve the quality of life in the long term. “Years of continuous research at Dole provide our Company with a competitive advantage in these areas. Most of these programs do not only contribute to better protect the environment but the also contribute to decrease our production cost” (Packing Digest). Though we see major concerns among food corporations, Dole has taken a full commitment to accessing its practices and develops new goals in important areas such as the environment. Dole has recently announced in established recycling programs among communities in the United States and the world. With its packaging as being 100% percent recyclable, Dole has established programs in countries such as Ecuador, Costa Rica and Honduras which approximately recycles approximately 2,900 tons yearly. Though, Dole Corporation does not widely use its product as a stepping stone for green packaging, its beginning phase of its marketing with the green initiative Dole has clearly emphasized on saving production cost and waste management as a whole. With the recent emergence of a new product from Dole which is made from 70% from recyclable material Dole is now starting to market its product of “green”. Dole Food Corporation is using this product to launch its marketing in green promotions with a 50% of solar energy used to produce this recyclable material from its production line, Dole is now in full swing with marketing and green packaging. These products include Sassy Baby Spinach, Baby Garden Blend, Arugula with Spinach, Baby Spinach and Baby Spinach with Tender Roots have hit the local convince stores with the prime initiative of grabbing new consumers who care for the environment and more. The “clamshell” logo is clearly seen on its packaging as a sign of recyclable material used in its packaging.
With new innovation there are always questions regarding the integrity of its product. Questions have risen with how safe is the material against the food product. Dole has clearly stated that its packaging is safe for the consumer and the environment. There are many skeptics who think otherwise. A study from the Food Science and Technology states “fruits and vegetables are living organisms which continue to respire and transpire after harvesting” (Peterson, Karina), so why then pack these products. According to numerous tests by the FDA, Dole products have gone through vigorous testing and ensure that its product is safe for the consumer and the environment.
Frito Lay Corporation has recently introduced its new green initiative product of Sun Chips. Frito Lay introduced a snack bag earlier this year which will biodegrade in approximately 14 weeks. Frito Lay Corporation has put together a comprehensive research plan and conducted numerous studies in several environments: including laboratories, industrial compost and home compost. Wood End laboratories and Frito Lay have teamed up to conduct its testing in the Sun Chip combustible bag. The Sun Chip combustible bag will fully decompose under aerobic conditions of 130 degrees Fahrenheit or over, and the bag will break down quickly in 12 - 14 weeks.



However, there is much criticism regarding this new product. Many Americans do not compost on there own and the test results provide by Frito Lay are under controlled conditions. There are many cities in the United States that do not have programs to collect biodegradable materials. That is the big question among the skeptics and the composition operation. There were many similar questions asked with the country first started the recycling program 25 or 30 years ago. In order for this operation to work, programs must be implemented by these corporation who are using these biodegradable materials in there packaging. In order for compost program to work education must be implemented into the cities where this product is being sold.
Coca Cola has introduced a new design to its beverage packaging. The Coca Cola Corporation has long history of design packages with the environment in mind. “About 85 percent of our global beverage volume is delivered in primary packaging made from polyethylene teraphthalate (PET) plastic, aluminum and steel.”(Coca Cola) The introduction of their new bottle in 2000 of Ultra Glass contour bottle was designed to reduce weight and cost. Though we see the improvement in the bottle, Coca Cola’s main objective is to reduce costs and CO2 emissions. The Ultra Bottle Glass design has eliminated a total of 52,000 tons of glass. The production of the bottle is currently being made by turning sugar and molasses into a component in the PET bottle. Coca Cola’s ultimate goal is to use nonfood, plant based waste, such as wood chips or wheat stalks to produce the PET bottle. The PET containers are 100% recyclable. As we see the emphasis of the total green packaging, Coca Cola wants to meet with local economic, social and environmental needs
Many questions have risen due to the production of the PET recyclable bottle. Is the PET bottle safe for refills? According to the PET Safety Press Release in September 2007, “PET is an inert plastic and does not leach harmful materials into its contents.” (NAPCOR) The PET container has passed numerous FDA guidelines to ensure its safety as a food and beverage container suitable for storage and use. A concern for bacteria to harbor in open bottles has raised some eyebrows with the public. According to the FDA guidelines, all drinking containers whether PET bottles or not should be washed in hot, soapy water, then dried completely before being reused. Though we see major concerns with PET bottle Coca Cola has taken major steps in its green packaging initiative with the reduction of materials used for its product to recycling its own materials for future use.
There is nearly at total of 35 billion dollars in the United States market for food and beverage packaging, which is more than enough for ample opportunity for the growth of green packaging in the United States and the rest of the world. Despite the economy’s downgrade as a whole, many consumers are still attracted to products with green and sustainable packaging.
The general consumers are more and more interested in knowing that the environmental performance and commitment is being noticed by such large food corporations. For example, Coca Cola was named most admired U.S. Companies, with the environmental imitative playing a gigantic role. Hopefully, with proper marketing and advertisement many other corporations can capture consumers to move their product along with the primary objective in saving the environment.