Wholesale Packaging

Our Goal

CoRR’s goal is to distribute 100% recyclable wholesale transfer packaging through Hunt’s Point Food Distribution Center, setting the standard throughout the world.

Poultry, meats, seafood, and produce are typically shipped to restaurants and grocery stores in a corrugated box containing a wax moisture barrier that renders it un-recyclable, resulting in 1.5 million tons of waxed corrugated boxes discarded in the US each year.[1]

Benefits from Switching to Recyclable Coated Corrugated Cardboard

Located in Bronx, NY, Hunt’s Point Food Distribution Center is the largest distribution center in the world, supplying food to over 30 million people in the New York area. 100% recyclable transfer packaging distributed through Hunt’s Point would divert 30,000 tons/yr of corrugated from the landfill, reduce greenhouse gases by 103,000mtCO2e/yr, equivalent to taking 19,000 cars off the road, save businesses $3-6M/yr, and set the standard for greening transfer packaging throughout the world.[2]

Solution

There are new coatings and boxes certified as recyclable by the Fibre Box Association. With recyclable coated boxes, restaurateurs and grocers don’t have to hide wax boxes in the corrugated bale or pay money for them to be hauled away. Many retailers such as Wal-Mart and Albertsons already are doing just that and are experiencing great results in both box performance and cost savings.

Success Stories

Poultry

Modified Atmosphere Packaging

Interstate Container and Mountaire
In March 2009, founder’s Circle member, Interstate Container, and its business partner, Mountaire, announced its plans to conduct field trials on boxes used to ship poultry through wholesale channels.

Interstate and Mountaire Farms conducted multiple trials on boxes shipped through Hunt’s Point. Trials began pallet by pallet through Hunt’s Point’s harsh conditions and progressed to the truck load, and more recently a two week test shipping where Mountaire product shipped solely in the FBA-certified recyclable and compostable boxes.

With these results, Mountaire has announced its plan to not only convert its existing modified atmosphere packaging to recyclable boxes but also to convert its ice pack product to modified atmosphere packaging to allow for a full transition of its entire product line to recyclable boxes. Full conversion at Mountaire’s Lumberbridge, NC facility is expected to be completed during 2010. The switch to FBA-certified recyclable packaging is only one component of the sustainable packaging transition. The switch in packaging methods from ice pack to modified atmosphere packaging will result in significant water and energy savings. The box size was reduced, and inner plastic bag eliminated, also reducing use of corrugated and plastic. Overall water, energy, and greenhouse gas savings associated with the design and packaging of the poultry is being calculated. The package also passed the ISO 16929 protocol for plastic disintegration in a pilot scale composting facility.

This conversion will result in the transition of 6,000 tons of poultry boxes per year servicing the New York City market alone. If all of Mountaire’s boxes servicing the New York City market were recycled, greenhouses gases would be reduced by 21,000 mtCO2e per year, equivalent to removing 3,800 passenger cars off the road.

How to Get Involved

Whether you are a box maker, food manufacturer, food distributor, retailer, or recycler, you can participate in this important program by developing, requesting, and using corrugated boxes with recyclable coatings. Please contact the Coalition for Resource Recovery to learn how you can:

• Join the Coalition
• Participate in recyclable box trials

Search the Recyclable Transfer Packaging Directory for Recyclable Box Suppliers.