Our Sustainable Foundation: More Than Just Packaging

Yes-our food service packaging products are recyclable and repulpable!  All of the corrugated SOLUT! catering trays, deli platters, sheet cake pans and disposable bakeware products, (with the exception of cups) are made of corrugated paper; utilizing unique, environmentally friendly, FDA compliant surface coatings and laminations.

The corrugated industry, led specifically by the Fibre Box Association and the Corrugated Packaging Alliance (CPA), has worked diligently to develop recyclability and repulpability standards that allow for the testing and certification of alternative material combinations. In late 2009, SOLUT! retained an independent laboratory to test some of our food service packaging products. Our Kraft Naturals and Black Elegance lines of deli and catering trays, serving platters and Black Elegance disposable bakeware products were put to the test under the stringent FBA guidelines and test protocols.  We are very proud that these SOLUT! food service packaging products were proven to meet these standards and accordingly, all these products are now certified as both recyclable and repulpable.

So, not only are SOLUT! food service packaging products made of sustainable, renewable paper fiber, but they are now also certified as recyclable and repulpable. Importantly, 87% of Americans now have access to curbside or drop-off paper recycling programs, and 57.4% of all paper in the U.S. was recycled in 2008.  Furthermore, there are now 12 million more acres of forestland in the U.S. than there were 20 year ago, all growing more fiber each year that exceeds the amount harvested and lost to fire, pests, or other causes. So, help us save the planet, and please recycle your SOLUT! food service trays.

Evidence of materials that are FBA-certified for recycling is indicated by either of the following two symbols:

All SOLUT! packaging products are manufactured using primarily corrugated paper or solid paperboard materials. Let’s take a look at these factors in detail to see how they contribute to the sustainability of SOLUT! packaging.

Renewable Resources are the Basis for All SOLUT! Food Packaging Products 

Corrugated paper and solid paperboard products are made of truly renewable resources - trees.  By comparison, over 85% of the raw materials for PET plastic are made from oil and natural gas, which are both non-renewable resources.

• 49% more trees are grown than harvested every year in the United States (USDA Forest Service)
• The North America forest products industry plants 1.7 million new trees every day (Sustainable Forestry Initiative)
• 93% of all corrugated paperboard in the United States is supplied by Sustainable Forestry Initiative participants (Fiber Box Association)
• Nearly 60% of the energy used by the US Paper Industry comes from renewable biofuels, including bark and wood residues (American Forest and Paper Association- AF&PA)
• All SOLUT! Raw material is sourced from Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) certified paper mills; SFI is an independent organization responsible for the world's largest forestry certification program.

Recycled Content Used to Manufacture SOLUT! Sustainable Food Packaging

SOLUT! products contain up to 100% recycled content; and up to 95% post consumer content; and can often be modified in custom applications to satisfy customer specifications.  Please inquire regarding the specific recycled content of any particular SOLUT! product.  As an example, our  Kraft Naturals product line contains  100% recycled paper content.  For high volume applications, SOLUT! can specify 100% recycled fiber material to ensure sustainable food packaging and maximize the amount of recycled fibre content.

Recyclable and Repulpable Food Packaging from SOLUT!

The majority of SOLUT! corrugated products are certified as repulpable and recyclable by the Fiber Box Association's Voluntary Repulpability & Recyclability Standard (testing performed by Western Michigan University). As with other containers, consumers are often encouraged to rinse food waste off packaging before depositing it in a recycling bin/receptacle.

• In 2010, 87% of Americans have access to curbside or drop-off paper recycling programs (AF&PA)
• 85.1% of all corrugated paper containers, and 63.5% of all paper consumed in the US, we recovered for recycling in 2010 (AF&PA)
• In 2010, only 29% of PET (#1) plastic bottles and jars were recycled (US EPA)
• SOLUT! products have not yet been tested and certified as compostable under ASTM standards.

Less Green House Gas Emissions (CO2 carbon dioxide) Make SOLUT! Food Packaging a More Sustainable & Greener Choice

Corrugated paperboard produces 85% less carbon dioxide greenhouse gas causing emissions than PET plastic in kilograms per kilogram of material produced. (American Chemistry Council).

Trees (used to make 100% of corrugated paper and planted at a rate of 1.7 million per day in the United States), absorb carbon dioxide, thus further reducing the effects of greenhouse gas emissions.

Sustainability is the basis from which all of SOLUT!’s food packaging is manufactured – a conscientious standard that we hold ourselves accountable.  We continue to provide quality disposable bakeware and catering trays that are very durable and meet environmentally sensitive expectations of sustainable food packaging.  Give us at call at (877)609-9450 to discuss an affordable solution for your standard or custom paper packaging.