The article is sponsored by Sustana Fiber.
As Vice President of Operations at Sustana Fiber, I’ve spent a lot of time helping brands determine and improve the recyclability of their products. As an employee, I always think about two questions: where can we use recycled fibers to gain more materials and how can we build a sustainable supply chain together?
According to GreenBiz’s Business Guide to Carbon Accounting, published in July, “Organizations that proactively prioritize sustainable solutions not only foster positive sentiment among stakeholders in the short term, but also set themselves up for long-term success by mitigating risk, capitalizing on new opportunities, and gain competitive advantage.”
Organizations across all industries prioritize sustainable solutions through partnerships. For example, Sustana Fiber works regularly with its partners to foster positive sentiment among stakeholders and prepare them for long-term success by helping them integrate recycled fiber as part of a comprehensive solution for their products and packaging. For example, we’ve worked with global companies like Starbucks and organizations like the Carton Council, Foodservice Packaging Institute and CELAB to recover items and bring them back into the circular economy.
Sustainability has evolved as a top focus. Ensuring the functionality of products along with the ability to recycle and incorporate recycled content into the products themselves is a top priority for brands. For example, Sustana Fiber recently partnered with Sonoco and Kellogg’s to demonstrate the recyclability of paper containers.
Changing regulations and growing consumer pressure
Several factors are driving the packaging supply chain’s need for more sustainable business practices, including Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws, which place brand owners under significant financial and physical responsibility for the post-consumer stage of products. Since 2000, the Product Stewardship Institute has helped enact 129 EPR laws in 16 product categories in 33 states.
Another factor is the growing trend of purpose-driven consumerism. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, consumers have become more aware of their environmental impact. As a result, they look for brands that support their core values, including environmental concerns. With consumers and regulators demanding transparency in supply chain decisions, demonstrating recyclability is a first step in the right direction.
“Partnerships are critical in this space,” said Michael Pratt, senior sustainability specialist at leading packaging company Sonoco. “The work we do with Sustana Fiber is a key element later in the supply chain and proves that the material can be recycled after collection.”
Proof of recyclability
Once brands recognize the need for greener solutions, Sustana Fiber helps them understand how best to move forward on their sustainability journey. For example, Sustana Fiber, in partnership with Sonoco and Kellogg’s, has proven that paper containers can be processed in the paper stream and made into reusable materials in factories across the country.
But what made Sustana Fiber the ideal partner?
“Sustana Fiber is recognized for its willingness and ability to look beyond traditional raw materials to find the next innovation and drive circularity for the fiber industry more broadly,” said Scott Byrne, Director of Global Sustainability Services at Sonoco.
While Sonoco previously confirmed that steel-bottomed paper containers — like those made for food brand Kellogg — can be recycled in the steel material stream, the company wanted to go further to increase recyclability in the paper stream. There has already been a proven track record of producing 100% recycled paperboard with up to 85% post-consumer fiber from mixed paper bales at all of Sonoco’s US paper mills. To expand this effort to outside mills, Sonoco turned to Sustana Fiber.
The experiment confirmed that the fibrous components separate from non-fibrous parts during the pulping process. As a result, the remaining fibers can be recycled back into food packaging products to create a circular economy. The “end of life” of paper containers is no longer in the landfill as it would have been in the past.
Encountering an evolving recycling system
Brands and manufacturers are consistently rethinking packaging designs and choices, creating value and longevity in partnerships. However, meeting the needs of partners and helping them achieve their sustainability goals takes time, effort and commitment.
“No company is big enough to impact the entire recycling system,” Byrne said.
By investing in technology and improved processes, Sustana Fiber can recycle many fiber-based products on the market. For example, prior to the pandemic, the company’s primary fiber source was sorted office paper. However, as the volume of incoming sorted office paper decreased as workplaces closed in-person, Sustana Fiber used “gable top” containers such as paper cartons for milk, orange juice and egg whites to supplement the fiber-based feedstock.
The study involving Sustana Fiber, Sonoco and Kellogg’s continues to move forward with the next step, education.
“We’re working to take these insights and educate cities and communities so they understand what this material can do and where it can go,” Byrne said.
A changing landscape requires changing business practices
As more producer responsibility laws come to the fore and consumer demand for sustainable business practices increases, stakeholders within the supply chain must work together to provide sustainable packaging and promote the circular economy.
Sustana Fiber has a history of innovation and successful partnerships, providing sustainable solutions across industries. Collaborations that advance sustainability, like Sustana Fiber and Sonoco, bringing fiber products full circle, are just the first of many steps companies must take to meet their sustainability goals. The right partner can change everything.
Comments are closed.