WATSONVILLE, CA - While many of us have left Earth Day behind us, California Giant Berry Farms is making sustainability front-and-center when it comes to the packaging of its precious berries. The company has recently been conducting field tests on a prototype cardboard clamshell for fresh strawberries. California Giant has partnered up with Sambrailo Packaging and Markon Cooperative for this project.
“We are happy to partner with Markon and Sambrailo Packaging to help make a difference and find new solutions for recyclability and ultimately being sustainable,” said Tom Smith, Director of Foodservice at California Giant. “There is definitely a cost issue associated with this package but it’s exciting to see an organization focused on making a difference the first priority."
Called Ready-Cycle and introduced by Sambrailo Packaging, the new cardboard strawberry clamshell has been making waves in the industry. Working closely with Markon Cooperative, California Giant has spent several months testing the two-pound clamshell in the field for shipments to distributor partners. Following some adjustments to the clamshell to ensure fruit integrity, a recent test shipment delivered positive results, prompting California Giant to consider implementing the new container during peak berry season this year.
According to a press release, Markon Cooperative is currently introducing the first of its new line of Ready-Cycle, corrugated, fully-recyclable clamshells, in an effort to reduce the amount of packaging in its supply chain and promoting recyclability.
Ever the innovator, California Giant searches for new opportunities and solutions to curtail excess waste, but the company admits that Ready-Cycle may not be the ultimate solution to the question about how to reduce the amount of plastic heading to landfills.
“The decision will ultimately lie with the consumer and test whether or not they are willing to pay for a fully-recyclable container when buying their fresh berries in the future,” commented Smith.
Will this innovative new clamshell lead the way for more sustainable packaging options? AndNowUKnow will keep you in the loop.
