Sonoco releases results from a recent trial with Sustana in collaboration with Kellogg’s.
HARTSVILLE, S.C., May 12, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Sonoco (NYSE: SON), a leading global sustainable packaging company, today announced favorable results from a recent trial with Sustana in collaboration with Kellogg’s, providing new opportunities to recycle paper containers.
“Part of having packaging that’s a sustainability success involves making sure its materials are made and sourced responsibly. Sonoco’s paper containers are made with 100% recycled fiber paperboard, of which 90% is post-consumer recycled content,” states Michael Pratt, Senior Sustainability Specialist of Sonoco.
Through three third-party sortation trials, Sonoco confirmed that paper containers with steel bottoms can be recycled in the steel stream. The next step was to further increase the recyclability of paper containers in the paper stream. There was already proven success in producing 100% recycled paperboard with up to 85% post-consumer fiber from bales of mixed paper at all Sonoco U.S. paper mills, but it was still unknown if paper containers could be recycled further.
By partnering with Sustana, the leading manufacturer of sustainably produced premium recycled fiber and paper, Sonoco validated the idea that paper containers could be processed in the paper stream and made into reusable materials.
This Sustana trial confirmed that through the pulping process, the fiber components separate from non-fiber components. The remaining fiber can be made into usable paperboard for new products, thus creating a circular economy journey. ‘’Partnering with sustainability-conscious companies like Sonoco and shifting to a circular economy, brands can provide consumers with sustainable recycled paper products that meet their growing preference for environmentally friendly packaging’’, stated Renée Yardley, Sustana’s senior VP of Sales and Marketing.
Not only does this finding allow Sonoco to accept its paper products back for recycling, it gives the opportunity to close the loop within the sustainability economy, especially through the food packaging industry.
“It’s no easy task, but we believe closing the loop is always worth our time, talent, and resources,” says Scott Byrne, Associate Director of Global Sustainability of Sonoco. By validating that paper containers can be processed in the paper stream, there’s hope to see an increase in recycled fiber. Ultimately, through strategic collaboration, it’s more possible than ever to reduce the impact of hard to recycle items.
Click here to watch the video of how collaboration leads to circularity.
