A trio of companies are joining together, they say, to improve on a rigid plastic container.
Consolidated Container Co. is working with resin maker Braskem to produce a 100-ounce laundry detergent bottle for Seventh Generation, a company known for its environmentally friendly products.
CCC, which calls itself one of the nation's largest rigid plastic packaging makers, is producing the new bottle with post-consumer resin and Braskem's “I'm Green” polyethylene brand made from sugar cane.
“Our 100 [ounce] laundry packaging was made from 80 percent post-consumer resins and 20 percent conventional petroleum-based plastic. We needed to do something about that,” Derrick Lawrence, director of packaging development at Seventh Generation, in a statement.
Seventh Generation called the packaging change “a big step” toward the company's 2020 vision that all of its packaging will be made from recycled or bio-based materials.
“We often work side by side with clients to help them develop packaging solutions for their business, taking packaging all the way from concept to shelf,” said CCC CEO Sean Fallmann in a statement.
“Our green PE is the perfect solution for Seventh Generation. It has the same technical properties and recyclability as conventional PE; the only difference is the raw material used,” said Joe Jankowski, commercial manager for I'm green polyethylene in North America, in a statement.
Braskem also said it is working with the Netherlands-based company EEQO and label giant Avery Dennison to use “I'm Green” to make bio-based polyethylene labels.
EEQO, which makes natural cleaning and maintenance products, is using the self-adhesive labels on its packaging. EEQO brands include Rhinoc, Rhinoc Sport and Seesoo.