Recyclable Poultry Packaging Cuts Greenhouse Gases, Water Use

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Global Green USA, Santa Monica, Calif., together with Mountaire Farms, Millsboro, Del., and Interstate Container (Interstate Resources, Arlington, Va.), this week reported that they have completed a conversion of the largest poultry plant in the U.S. to recyclable, wax-alternative corrugated boxes, thereby reducing costs and environmental impact, and assisting its customers.

An estimated 1.5 million tons of un-recyclable, wax-coated corrugated boxes are discarded in the U.S. each year, according to Global Green, which adds that if coated corrugated boxes were designed for recycling and recycled, a greenhouse gas savings of 5 million mtCO2e, equivalent to removing one million passenger vehicles from the road, would be realized, and U.S. grocers and restaurateurs could save $63 million annually in avoided disposal fees (savings calculated using EPA's WARM tool, assuming 100% of boxes generated are recycled).

According to Annie White, director of Global Green USA's Coalition for Resource Recovery, "converting to transfer packaging certified as recyclable by the Fibre Box Association is a readily achievable step that industry and businesses can take to improve their environmental performance, enhance their service to customers, and improve their bottom line. Through dedication and perseverance, Interstate Container and Mountaire developed a cost-effective, high-performing offering that enhances service to its customers. Global Green calls on others in the poultry, meat, produce, and seafood industries, to develop solutions for all food and packaging types, rapidly accelerating their use."

These sentiments were echoed by Chris Moyer, manager of the National Restaurant Association's Conserve program, "The delivery of poultry, seafood, and produce in recyclable boxes helps divert potentially reusable materials from landfills. High performing, cost-competitive recyclable boxes also provide another way restaurateurs can improve their bottom line and meet environmental goals, which is what we advocate through our Conserve initiative. We encourage the use of packaging made of recycled materials and similar innovations that assist restaurants in greening their operations."

The full conversion of Mountaire's first facility and the largest poultry plant in the U.S.., located in Lumber Bridge, N.C., was completed in January.

Global Green is the American Arm of Green Cross International, which was created by former Russian President Mikhail Gorbachev to foster a global value shift toward a sustainable and secure future by reconnecting humanity with the environment.