Moving Beyond Plastic: National Co+op Grocers Program at Expo West Explores Packaging Alternatives

This article originally appeared in Presence Marketing’s April 2022 Industry Newsletter

 By Steven Hoffman

What are the pain points, and where have manufacturers, distributors and retailers made progress in finding sustainable alternatives to a world awash in non-biodegradable plastic packaging waste? That was the topic of conversation at a recent panel held on March 10, 2022, at Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim CA, co-hosted by National Co+op Grocers (NCG) and Presence Marketing.

The natural products channel, like most, has embraced plastic over the years for its obvious benefits: it’s durable, lightweight, versatile, cost effective and helps lengthen shelf life and ensure food safety, among other attributes.

However, much plastic packaging is designed for single use, and as such, according to data collected by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 69% of plastic packaging ends up in landfills or the ocean. The rate of recycling of PET bottles and jars was 29% in 2018. Same for HDPE containers – only 29.3% of these containers were recycled. In the U.S., plastic products generation increased by 4.3 million tons from 2010-2018, due in large part to an increase in plastic packaging production. After food, plastics are the second-most-common type of materials to be sent to a landfill, according to the EPA. The issue is of such concern that National Geographic  warned that the amount of plastic trash in our oceans is expected to nearly triple to 29 million metric tons by 2040, unless society takes drastic action.

In striving to take the lead and set a positive example, NCG identified a number of advocacy initiatives for the organization and its members, including promoting waste reduction and alternative packaging at the manufacturer and distributor level. In particular, NCG works with industry partners to research and provide the most environmentally friendly options possible in NCG programs and services, including tangible items such as branded packaging, to help reduce plastic packaging in the waste stream, according to the co-op organization’s website.

In this panel, hosted by Heidi Traore, Supplier Relationship Development Manager for NCG, and Milton Zimmerman, EVP of Presence Marketing, and moderated by Steven Hoffman of brand marketing and PR agency Compass Natural, the following industry leaders offered their insights, and highlights of their responses are below.

• Alyssa Harding, Packaging Collaborative Director, One Step Closer, and Senior Consultant, Anthesis Group

• Blair Kellison, CEO, Traditional Medicinals

• Ricardo Perdigao, CFO/COO, Sambazon

• Dave Pirazzini, Director of R&D, REBBL

Q: Where do you believe the pain points are for most brands in terms of their packaging?

- Alyssa Harding: “Companies are successfully reducing the amounts used for their product packaging, but rather than reinvesting the saved money on further R&D, many are keeping the money as profit. It is important for longer term profitability and sustainability to take your saved money and reinvest it back into research to find sustainable packaging solutions.”

- Blair Kellison: Everything in life is possible, and we need to focus our resources on sustainable packaging. However, to the extent that ultimately economics is going to be a factor in driving this movement.” 

- Ricardo Perdigao: “Reducing waste and solving the current issues in product packaging cannot be corrected with just one solution, but the combination of many solutions across the supply chain. Changing the established manufacturing system and concept is one of the biggest challenges. As business leaders, you believe in something and you go after it. Our beliefs lead us to sustainable packaging.”

- Dave Pirazzini: “Manufacturing lines are full, so it can be difficult to find manufacturers to take the time and work with you on a perfect sustainable solution. Additionally, companies have confusion on the best materials, what is most recyclable, etc. For example, Tetra packaging is a solution, but only 55% of facilities in the U.S. can recycle it.”

Q: How is your company researching and making packaging materials reductions?

- Alyssa Harding: “There are opportunities to use less materials and remove unnecessary parts of your packaging while still being effective and appealing to consumers.”

- Blair Kellison: “Traditional Medicinals has been working on a sustainable packaging overwrap for the past six years. This is still in progress. Once completed, the company will begin using compostable overwrap.”

- Dave Pirazzini: “Control what you can. REBBL reduced the amount of corrugate in its packaging with no negative effects to its product packaging or presentation.”

- Ricardo Perdigao: “If we can make things from plants, and turn them back into plants, that is a promising solution we are exploring.”

Q: What has been a success in your packaging journey?

- Alyssa Harding: “The opportunity through One Step Closer to offer sustainable packaging expertise and counsel tailored to a number of mission-based natural products companies.”

- Blair Kellison: “Recycling aside, let’s just not produce waste to begin with. Last year in 2021, Traditional Medicinals got zero waste certified.”

- Ricardo Perdigao: “First, set an objective, track progress, and work toward that objective. In its bowl products, Sambazon successfully converted its packaging to paper and plant fiber. The company is ahead of schedule on achieving ‘zero waste’, and 70% of its products are recyclable.”

- Dave Pirazzini: “REBBL changed its practice to shipping flattened empty bottles to our manufacturing plant, therefore reducing having to ship amounts of the larger, empty blown bottles. We started blowing the bottles on our own manufacturing lines; blowing bottles is when the plastic bottle shape is formed to be ready to fill.”

Q: What can retailers do to help?

- Alyssa Harding: “Cut out waste in the deli and bulk section, and reduce/eliminate single-sized plastics available in the store. Run an analysis of your store and locate your largest materials of consumption and begin your project right there. Start with your own footprint, and then move to helping the brands that are carried in your retail store.”

Blair Kellison: “If we have lost the business of our co-ops, we have lost our business model. We must work together to make progress on such a significant issue.” – Blair Kellison

- Ricardo Perdigao: “Consult with your business partners, express your objectives, and work together to succeed with sustainable packaging for your brand.”

- Dave Pirazzini: “If we are all truly mission driven and strive for sustainable packaging to better the industry, we should share our successes and help each other to succeed in this movement.”

Q: Closing comments

- Alyssa Harding: “Your company can be philanthropic, while also being profitable.”

- Blair Kellison: “We don’t just talk the talk; we want to walk the sustainable walk. To be a truly responsible business, we manage and measure our environmental impact and strive to minimize our footprint. The old adage ‘You can’t manage what you don’t measure’ is really true in our experience.”

- Ricardo Perdigao: “The most powerful marketing is your people. Hire a staff with similar values. Have your whole company telling people about the importance of sustainable packaging. Word of mouth is important.

- Dave Pirazzini: “As manufacturers, retailers and industry members, this is an important conversation in which we all must engage. I feel like I got as much out of this panel as the audience. It was great for me to learn about what other companies are doing with their sustainability initiatives.”

Resources: Learn more

• One Step Closer to Zero Waste:  https://osc2.org/zerowaste/

• National Co+op Grocers Advocacy Initiatives: https://www.ncg.coop/advocacy-activities-national-coop-grocers

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