Interstate Container to Showcase GREENCOAT® Wax-Free Packaging at International Poultry Expo 2012

Interstate Resources News homepage: http://news.interstateresources.com

GREENCOAT® wax-replacement corrugated boxes withstand shifts from cold-to-hot environmental conditions, exposure to moisture, rough handling, long storage and transportation.


Interstate Container plants in Cambridge, MD and Columbia, SC will display GREENCOAT®  wax-replacement boxes at Booth # 5069 in the world’s largest poultry and egg exhibition, International Poultry Expo 2012. The annual event will take place from January 24 – 26, 2012 at Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia.

Poultry processors and packers attending the International Poultry Expo 2012 can meet Interstate Container representatives. Booth visitors can also learn more about environmentally-friendly GREENCOAT® boxes used for the transport of fresh and frozen chicken and other poultry products.

Pete Bugas, Interstate Container Cambridge General Manager, and John Cristos, Interstate Container Columbia Site Manager, will be present at the event along with other Interstate Container representatives including:

Jeff Cormier
National Sales & Marketing Manager

Mark Buff
Business Development Manager

Scott Caldwell
New Business Development Manager

Anne Potterton
Sales Account Manager

Elyse Cristos
Account Representative

Pete Bugas, Interstate Container Cambridge General Manager, explains,

“Our innovative GREENCOAT® product line has revolutionized poultry packaging. Its strength properties in very wet conditions are what make it the one of the best wax replacement boxes in the industry. Each month over 3 million GREENCOAT® poultry packaging boxes are shipped throughout the United States to customers who can now recycle their package instead of throwing away the older style wax box. IPE 2012 is the ideal event to show the entire poultry industry that options and innovation is available to them.”

About GREENCOAT® Wax-Free Corrugated Boxes

GREENCOAT® boxes pack poultry, meat, seafood, floral and fresh fruit and vegetable produce, as well as all products that require durable moisture-resistant corrugated packaging. The compostable FBA-certified corrugated box is 100% recyclable and repulpable. GREENCOAT® boxes are easier to glue and provide the same strength as traditional waxed boxes.

Interstate Container plants account for 100% of the GREENCOAT® wax replacement boxes manufacturing process. The corrugated packaging manufacturers do not outsource to 3rd parties, which contributes to cost-effectiveness. Furthermore, by using GREENCOAT® boxes, landfill disposal fees are cut and customers benefit from disposal cost savings. Typical landfill costs (tipping fees & pull) range from $65-$125 / ton.

Jeff Cormier, Interstate Container National Sales & Marketing Manager, states,

“GREENCOAT® is an amazing product that surprises even its harshest critics. In 2011 Interstate Container conducted several large scale GREENCOAT® trials with a 100% success rate in poultry packaging, and now ship over 3 million boxes per month. GREENCOAT® wax-free boxes can get extremely wet and offer the same strength characteristics of the widely used curtain-coated boxes. 

This is important, as many poultry companies ship products across the entire United States. IPE 2012 provides us with a great opportunity to meet all of the key players in the poultry industry. We can show them that the wax-replacement box that they are looking for really does exist. We don’t believe that buyers will find better alternative to GREENCOAT®, environmentally, structurally, or financially.”

Interstate Container invested 5 years of R&D to develop GREENCOAT® boxes. The manufacturer worked together with leading poultry processor, Mountaire Farms, to successfully trial the sustainable wax-alternative packaging. Two of the largest poultry plants in the US have converted completely to GREENCOAT®. Interstate Container ships 3,200,000 GREENCOAT® wax alternative boxes/month.

About International Poultry Expo 2012

The 3-day expo is an annual event of the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association, world’s largest and most active poultry organization. International Poultry Expo 2012, the 64th edition of the event, will display supplies, equipment, technology, and services used in the production and processing of poultry and eggs and for those involved in feed manufacturing and breeding stock.

At the International Poultry Expo attendees and exhibitors coming from around the world represent all the segments in the industry, including feed milling, hatchery, live production, processing, further processing, marketing, and all support activities.

Request more information about GREENCOAT® at: greencoat@interstatecontainer.com  

GREENCOAT® is manufactured by Interstate Container Cambridge in Cambridge, Maryland, and Interstate Container Columbia in Columbia, South Carolina.

References:

http://www.internationalpoultryexposition.com/about/history.cfm
http://www.greencoat.net/About-GREENCOAT.html 

For More Information

Jeff Cormier
National Sales and Marketing Manager
Interstate Container

Tel: 410-221-1508
E-mail: Jeff.Cormier[at]InterstateContainer.com
Website: www.interstatecontainer.com

Interstate Container to Exhibit GREENCOAT® Boxes at SE Regional Fruit & Vegetable Conference 2012

Interstate Resources News homepage: http://news.interstateresources.com/ 

Interstate Container will display eco-friendly corrugated wax-replacement packaging at Southeast Regional Fruit & Vegetable Conference.

Interstate Container plants in Cambridge, MD and Columbia, SC will exhibit GREENCOAT® boxes for packing fresh produce at SE Regional Fruit & Vegetable Conference 2012, Booth # 226 & 228 in Savannah, GA.  The annual event from January 5 – 8, 2012 is the largest educational conference and trade show in the southeastern US for fresh produce growers, packers, vendors and suppliers. 

Interstate Container representatives attending the event include Jeff Cormier, National Sales & Marketing Manager, Frank Bridges, National Produce Account Manager, and Elyse Cristos, Sales Representative. 

GREENCOAT® Corrugated Boxes 

Attendees can gather information about environmentally friendly GREENCOAT® corrugated boxes. GREENCOAT® is a compostable, FBA-certified, 100% recyclable and repulpable packaging solution for transporting products that require durable moisture-resistant corrugated packaging.

The wax-free corrugated box, developed by Interstate Container Cambridge team and successfully trialed by Mountaire Farms, packs such products as fresh produce, floral products, poultry, meat, and seafood. Mountaire Farms is a Delaware-based poultry processing company.

About SE Regional Fruit & Vegetable Conference 2012

SE Regional Fruit & Vegetable Conference 2012 will gather over 2,200 producers, buyers, sellers, decision makers and industry leaders in the fresh produce sector. The event addresses food safety, production practices and increased yields, marketing strategies, and how to improve crop production and grow business. 

Attendees of the event will find new products and services on the trade show floor, as well as learn about the latest produce trends and legislative updates from Washington, DC.  

Request more information about GREENCOAT® at: greencoat@interstatecontainer.com   

GREENCOAT® is manufactured by Interstate Container Cambridge in Cambridge, Maryland, and Interstate Container Columbia in Columbia, South Carolina.

For More Information

 
Jeff Cormier
National Sales and Marketing Manager
Interstate Container
 
Tel: 888-267-7722 Ext. 2019
       443-523-4925
E-mail: Jeff.Cormier[at]InterstateContainer.com
Website: www.interstatecontainer.com

Interstate Container’s New Lexington County, SC Facility to Produce ‘Green Packaging’

Interstate Resources News homepage: http://news.interstateresources.com

The $13 million investment to open a containerboard manufacturing plant will create 60 new jobs in Lexington County, SC.


Interstate Container announces that it will establish a new manufacturing plant in Lexington County, South Carolina, with the facility expected online in September. The corrugated plant will produce eco-friendly wax-alternative corrugated boxes, which are 100% recyclable, repulpable, and compostable and which are used to ship fresh and frozen food products, such as poultry and seafood.

Interstate Container is renovating a facility previously owned by Smurfit Stone to meet its manufacturing needs. This location, with its local and state support, provides necessary market access for the corrugated packaging manufacturer to expand its customer base and market reach.


Interstate Container is a division of Interstate Resources, a national group of kraft linerboard, recycled medium, and corrugated manufacturers based in the U.S.

Interstate Container Provides Poultry Packaging Solutions

Interstate Resources News homepage: http://news.interstateresources.com

Today poultry processors are facing the dilemma of balancing increased costs with the need to maintain competitve prices and ensure social and environmental awareness. An article tackling the issue, lauds Interstate Container for its innovative, eco-friendly and cost-efficient GREENCOAT® boxes.

Thornton, Gary, 14 March 2011,' Poultry Processors Look to Technology to Solve Cost-Price Squeeze', WATTAgNet.com. To read more visit http://www.wattagnet.com/Poultry_processors_look_to_technology_to_solve_cost-price_squeeze.html

Intertate Containeris a company of Interstate Resources, a member of INDEVCO Group.

Walmart Vendors Eye GREENCOAT™ Wax Replacement Boxes

Interstate Resources News homepage: http://news.interstateresources.com

Interstate Resources showcased its GREENCOAT™ corrugated wax alternative boxes at Walmart's 5th Annual Sustainable Packaging Expo on 6 -7 April 2010 at the John Q. Hammons Convention Center in Rogers, Arkansas.


By the second day of Walmart's 5th Annual Sustainable Packaging Expo, the ice inside Interstate Container Cambridge's patent-pending GREENCOAT™ box had melted, leaving the box with 6 inches of water.

"We filled up a non-leaking lobster box with ice, water, and drinks to impress upon people that a corrugated box with our an eco-friendly coating could withstand moisture," explained Jeff Cormier, Marketing & Sales Manager at Interstate Container Cambridge.

Interstate Containers' stand focused exclusively on GREENCOAT™ containers, which are 100% recyclable, repulpable, and compostable. The company exhibited poultry, seafood, and fresh produce boxes for Walmart suppliers from around the world.

Says Cormier, "This show helps us meet people from outside our normal industry and generate ideas on where to sell next."

The FBA-certified GREENCOAT™ boxes are cost-effective with proven moist condition tolerance and grease resistance. The corrugated containers meet or exceed most current wax box performance.

Pete Bugas, National Account Manager, has worked closely with Global Green in the Coalition for Resource Recovery. "We're looking to help processors of seafood, poultry, fresh produce and other refrigerated or frozen products progress in their sustainability efforts while saving them money in disposal fees.

"Interstate Container Cambridge was invited to the expo for the second year and passed a sustainability audit prior to acceptance. More than 175 exhibitors from across the globe participated.

The purpose of Sustainable Packaging Expo is to put Walmart and Sam's Club vendors in touch with packaging suppliers and resources to make product packaging more sustainable. By 2013, Walmart's Packaging Network aims to reduce the amount of packaging in its supply chain by 5%.

Interstate Container Cambridge, located in Cambridge, Maryland, is a member of Interstate Resources Container Division and a partner in Global Green Coalition for Resource Recovery.

Interested parties can request quotes and samples for GREENCOAT™ wax alternative containers at greencoat@interstateresources.com

Interstate Container Cambridge Presents at 2010 International Poultry Expo

Interstate Resources News homepage: http://news.interstateresources.com

Interstate Container Cambridge, along with Global Green USA and Mountaire Farms, announced the complete conversion of the largest poultry plant in the US to recyclable, wax alternative boxes from its Maryland plant.

The press conference, which took place at the 2010 International Poultry Expo in Atlanta, Georgia on 27 January 2010, included presentations by:

• Pete Bugas, National Account Manager, Interstate Container Cambridge (Maryland), manufacturer of the eco-friendly wax-alternative cartons
• Jim Morgan, President & COO, Interstate Resources, Inc.
• Larry Saywell, Vice President of Sales & Marketing, Mountaire Farms
• Annie White, Director, Coalition for Resource Recovery at Global Green USA

(L-R): Pete Bugas, Annie White & Larrry Saywell

By converting to this newly achieved green packaging standard, Mountaire Farms will reduce carbon dioxide emissions, save water, and improve efficiency. The innovative recyclable boxes should impact future wholesale transfer packaging for not only poultry but also meat, produce and seafood.

During the show, Interstate Container Cambridge professionals showcased the plant's latest innovations in eco-friendly corrugated packaging.

(L-R): Mark Buff, Pete Bugas, Jim Krahn, Jeff Cormier, Scott Caldwell,
Anne Potterton, all from Interstate Container Cambridge;
& Jim Morgan, Interstate Resources, Inc.

Interstate Container Cambridge, located in Cambridge, Maryland, is a member of Interstate Resources Container Division and a partner in Global Green Coalition for Resource Recovery.

Interested parties can request quotes and samples for wax alternative poultry packaging at ICCambridge[at]InterstateResources.com

For More Information
Pete Bugas, National Account Manager
Interstate Container Cambridge
903 Woods Road Cambridge, MD 21613 903

Tel: 410-221-7777
Fax: 410-221-7766
E-mail: Pete.Bugas[at]interstatecontainer.com
Web: www.interstateresources.com

New Recyclable Poultry Packaging from Interstate Container Cambridge Packs a Climate Punch

Interstate Resources News homepage: http://news.interstateresources.com
Source: Global Green, New Recyclabe Poultry Packaging Packs a Powerful Climate Punch; Saves Money & Resources

Global Green USA, Mountaire Farms, and Interstate Container announced completion of the conversion of the largest poultry plant in the US to recyclable, wax-alternative boxes, thereby reducing costs and environmental impact, and assisting its customers in cost-effectively meeting their environmental goals.

At the International Poultry Expo, Global Green USA applauded Mountaire Farms and Interstate Container for their pioneering roles in reducing the environmental impact of wholesale transfer packaging as this innovation has the potential to influence the design of transfer packaging for all types of poultry, meat, produce and seafood delivered to grocers and restaurants throughout the world. Global Green also called on the food packaging industry to convert to this newly achievable green standard.

In March 2009, Interstate and Mountaire Farms announced its plans to conduct trials of recyclable modified atmosphere packaging through Hunt’s Point, the world’s largest food distribution center, as part of Global Green’s Coalition for Resource Recovery’s initiative to achieve 100% recyclable wholesale transfer packaging through the facility. Trials began pallet by pallet through Hunt’s Point’s harsh conditions and progressed to the truck load, and finally a two week test where Mountaire product shipped solely in the Fibre Box Association (FBA)-Certified recyclable boxes.

Upon successful completion of the pilot in September 2009, Mountaire announced its plan to not only convert its existing modified atmosphere packaging to recyclable boxes but also to convert its ice packed product to modified atmosphere packaging to allow for a full transition of its entire product line to recyclable boxes. The full conversion of Mountaire’s first facility and the largest poultry plant in the US, located in Lumber Bridge, NC, was completed in January.

According to Interstate Container’s National Account Manager, Pete Bugas,

“This is a first truly significant step towards replacing high-performance wax boxes throughout the difficult fresh food distribution channels. These boxes must withstand an extremely wet and challenging environment. Meeting the protocol criteria set forth by the FBA is a crucial step, and satisfying the rigors of the distribution channel in New York City is equally as tough. Ultimately, this fiber can now be recaptured instead of heading to a landfill where wax boxes are discarded. Interstate’s continuous environmental stewardship efforts remain a key part of our corporation’s DNA.”

The switch to FBA-certified recyclable packaging is only one component of the sustainable packaging transition. The switch in packaging methods from ice packed poultry to modified atmosphere packaging will result in significant water and energy savings. The box size was reduced, all wax was eliminated from the box, reducing the use of corrugated and petroleum products. If all of the newly designed boxes were recycled, the greenhouse gas benefit from source reduction and recycling the boxes would be 100,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually. In addition, the switch from ice-packed poultry to modified atmosphere packaging is estimated to save millions of gallons of water annually. Combined these innovations also improve efficiency, streamline operations, and provide a safer work environment.

According to Larry Saywell, Mountaire Farms’ VP of Marketing and Sales, “Mountaire Farms is an agricultural company, and we are heavily dependent upon the earth’s natural resources for the continued success of our business. This project maintains and conserves these natural resources and is consistent with our company’s ‘way of being’. We fully recognize the positive impact of this project’s success on the futures of our people, our farmers, our suppliers, our community and our business.”

It is estimated that 1.5 million tons of un-recyclable wax-coated corrugated boxes are discarded in the U.S. each year. If coated corrugated boxes were designed for recycling and recycled, a greenhouse gas savings of 5 million mtCO2e, equivalent to removing from one million passenger vehicles from the road, would be realized, and U.S. grocers and restaurateurs could save $63M annually in avoided disposal fees.

"To be competitive in today's world economy, our goal must be the sustainable use of materials," said Matt Hale, director of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery. "Producing materials that can be recovered and reused at end of life helps us achieve this goal."

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.”

Global Green USA’s sentiments were echoed in a statement provided 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.”

Global Green USA’s Coalition for Resource Recovery is an industry working dedicated to generating business value through transforming waste into assets. Founded in 1993 by activist and philanthropist Diane Meyer Simon, Global Green is the American Arm of Green Cross International (GCI), created by President Mikhail S. Gorbachev to foster a global value shift toward a sustainable and secure future by reconnecting humanity with the environment.

Interstate Container Cambridge is a member of Interstate Resources, Inc., member of INDEVCO Group.

[1] Greenhouse gas savings calculated using EPA’s WARM tool. Saving assumes 100% of the boxes generated are recycled.
[1] According to the U.S. EPA 2007 MSW Facts and Figures, 31 million tons of OCC is discarded each year. The Fibre Box Association estimates that 5% of OCC is wax coated. EPA WARM Tool and Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator were used to calculate potential greenhouse gas savings. National restaurateur and grocers savings are based on a national average tipping fee of $42.08 based on the 2006 data in BioCycle’s State of Garbage report.

Mountaire Farms Convert to Recyclable Compostable Poultry Boxes from Interstate Container

Interstate Resources News homepage: http://news.interstateresources.com/  

Original Publication: Largest U.S. poultry plant converts to recyclable, compostable boxes (September 22, 2009)http://www.greenerpackage.com/largest_us_poultry_plant_converts_recyclable_compostable_boxes#

Global Green USA’s Coalition for Resource Recovery (CORR) has announced a key milestone in its goal of achieving 100% recyclable wholesale packaging through Hunt’s Point Distribution Center, the largest food distribution center in the world. Mountaire Farms, the sixth largest poultry company, and Interstate Container, in partnership with Global Green, have commenced the conversion of Mountaire’s New York City business and its Lumberbridge, NC, facility—the largest poultry processing plant in the U.S.—to Fibre Box Association -certified recyclable and compostable boxes supplied by Interstate Container.

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.

Recyclable Corrugated Poultry Boxes from Interstate Container

In March 2009, Interstate and Mountaire announced its plans to conduct trials of recyclable modified atmosphere packaging through Hunt’s Point, the world’s largest food distribution center, as part of CORR’s initiative to achieve 100% recyclable wholesale transfer packaging through the facility.

Interstate and Mountaire 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 truckload. More recently, a two-week shipping test was conducted where Mountaire product shipped solely in the FBA-certified recyclable boxes. With these results, Mountaire has announced its plan to not only convert its existing MAP packaging to recyclable boxes, but also to convert its ice-pack product to MAP packaging to allow for a full transition of its entire product line to recyclable boxes.

Full conversion at Mountaire’s Lumberbridge facility is expected to be completed during 2010. Packaging at Mountaire’s other facilities is expected to be converted to the recyclable boxes by the end of the 2010 calendar year.

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 MAP packaging will result in significant water and energy savings. The box size was reduced, and an inner plastic bag was eliminated, also reducing the 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.

According to Pete Bugas, national account manager, Interstate Container, “This a major step to permanently remove wax boxes not only from Hunts Point, but also throughout the supply chain in the United States. This box now provides the end user with a recycling option; it also is certified compostable, which is yet another avenue to prevent boxes from being landfilled.”

According to Annie White, director of Global Green’s CORR, “Achieving 100% recyclable packaging through Hunt’s Point would divert over 30,000 tons per year of corrugated from the landfill and would reduce greenhouse gases by 103,000mtCO2e per year, equivalent to taking 19,000 cars off the road, and it would set the standard for greening transfer packaging throughout the world.”

According to Larry Saywell, vp marketing, Mountaire Farms, “Because we’re an agricultural company, we have an obligation to take care of the earth. In order to sustain our business, we need to have good soil, clean water, and clean air to grow our crops and raise our chickens. It is all part of our way of being.”

The Hunt’s Point Demonstration Project is one of several of Global Green USA’s Coalition for Resource Recovery projects dedicated to generating business value through creating a sustainable, zero waste New York City. Among one of its recent projects is its work with seven New York Starbucks stores to launch a cup-recyling program.

Interstate Container to Help Transition Mountaire Farms' Waxed Cardboard Boxes to Recyclable Boxes

Interstate Resources News homepage: http://news.interstateresources.com  

Original Publication: The Green Economy, (24 September 2009). http://www.thegreeneconomy.com/packaging-for-the-future/

Removing waxed cardboard from the waste stream is a huge issue, and is currently being solved by a coalition between Global Green, Hunt’s Point in New York City, Mountaire Farms, and Interstate Container.


Doing Good Business
The project has been such a success that Mountaire Farms is planning to transition its entire product line to recyclable boxes by the end of the 2010 calendar year.

Larry Saywell, VP Marketing, said that Mountaire Farms had reduced costs because the new boxes are smaller, resulting in smaller payloads. But he said the biggest unexpected benefit is in employee moral. This may be partly due to the fact that the recyclable boxes help create an even cleaner, dryer and safer work environment.

However, the big win for Saywell - and for the operations people - is the opportunity to contribute to the long term sustainability of both the business and the agricultural land that surrounds Mountaire’s operations.

“Because we’re an agricultural company, we have an obligation to take care of the earth. In order to sustain our business, we need to have good soil, clean water, and clean air to grow our crops and raise our chickens. It is all part of our way of being.”

Partnering for New Ideas
The project, a combined effort between Hunt’s Point, Interstate Container, Mountaire Farms (the sixth largest poultry company) and Global Green has been a year in the making. Starting with trials at Hunt’s Point, the boxes were tested under the harsh conditions of the largest food distribution center in the world, where tons of pallets loaded with crates of perishables pass through daily.

While sounding to some like a big “ho-hum”, this is a critical step in handling boxes that are coated with wax to prevent them becoming saturated with water and animal products. Waxed boxes gum up recycling machines, so can’t be co-mingled with regular cardboard.

Solutions are hard to come by, according to Jennifer McDonnell, who was Whole Foods’ Green Mission Specialist for the Northeast Region. She added that she had talked with some store owners who, faced with the problem, simply didn’t recycle any cardboard in order to avoid the additional costs and hassle of training and storage, so that staff could separate different kinds of cardboard.

As Pete Bugas, the National Account Manager for Interstate Container, added, “This a major step to permanently remove waxed boxes throughout the supply chain in the United States.”

The new packaging also transitions from ice packs to MAP (Modified Atmosphere Packaging), a process that prolongs the shelf-life of fresh or minimally processed foods by slowing the natural deterioration of produce, most commonly by removing most or all the oxygen. This means a reduction in the size of the box and the elimination of an inner plastic bag leading to overall water, energy, and greenhouse gas savings.

Annie White, Director of Global Green’s Coalition for Resource Recovery added that just achieving 100% recyclable packaging at Hunt’s Point would divert over 30,000 tons/yr of corrugated from the landfill. “That’s like taking another 19,000 cars off the road.” To put that in perspective, on any day, the Average Annual Daily Traffic (AADT) traveling through Times Square is 42,000. Removing 19,000 of those would mean about 45% less carbon and more room for chairs on Broadway and 42nd.

Global Green
The Hunt’s Point Demonstration Project is one of several of Global Green USA’s Coalition for Resource Recovery projects dedicated to generating business value through creating a sustainable, zero waste New York City. Founded in 1993 by activist and philanthropist Diane Meyer Simon, Global Green is the American Arm of Green Cross International (GCI), created by President Mikhail S. Gorbachev to foster a global value shift toward a sustainable and secure future by reconnecting humanity with the environment.

The Coalition for Resource Recovery is a project of Global Green USA, a 501(c)3 tax-exempt non-profit organization. Global Green works to create sustainable urban environments and combat global warming through a unique cross-cutting approach that merges innovative research, technical assistance, cutting-edge community based projects and targeted education and outreach.


Interstate Container is a member of Interstate Resources, Inc., member of INDEVCO Group.

For More Information

Pete Bugas
Interstate Container National Account Manager
E-mail: Pete.Bugas@interstatecontainer.com

Poultry & Seafood Producers Pack in Wax Replacement Boxes from Interstate Resources & Ship to Hunts Point

Interstate Resources News homepage: http://news.interstateresources.com

Source: Interstate News, Spring / Summer 2 0 0 9


All Interstate Containers direct poultry and seafood customers pack their products in our boxes and ship them to Hunts Point for distribution. Hunts Point, the world’s largest food distribution center, is located in New York City (NYC). Food from around the world is sent to this center and distributed throughout the entire NYC area, a long with parts of New Jersey and New England. Millions of boxes of fruit, vegetables, poultry and beef (along with almost every other type of provision you can think of) comes through the distribution center.

Global Green is a well-known leader in fostering a global value shift towards a sustainable and secure future. They have developed an organization to expedite the removal of wax boxes (which are not recyclable) from Hunts Point, and into a package that will allow for fiber recovery. This new group, The Coalition for Resource Recovery (CORR) is being spearheaded by Interstate Container Cambridge.

As a pilot project for the CORR, we are conducting trials with Mountaire Farms on our wax replacement boxes. Our goal is to use the trials to accelerate the elimination of wax boxes.Our initial trials will be under way in June 2009 and we are already receiving positive press!

Interstate Container Takes Part in Recyclable Shipping-Case Initiative

Interstate Resources News homepage: http://news.interstateresources.com/  


Source: GP Greener Package, March 2, 2009
Posted by: Anne Marie Mohan, Managing Editor

Global Green USA has announced the launch of an initiative with the Hunts Point Distribution Center in New York City, the world’s largest food DC, to substitute all of its nonrecyclable transfer packaging with recyclable packaging.

If successful, the program is expected to divert 30,000 tons per year of corrugated from landfills, reduce greenhouse gases by 103,000mtCO2e (metric ton carbon dioxide equivalent) per year, which is equal to taking 19,000 cars off the road - and save businesses $3 million-plus per year. Global Green also hopes the initiative will set the standard for “greening” transfer packaging throughout the world.

Recyclable corrugated cartons for fresh fruits & vegetables from Interstate Resources

As part of the program, Global Green’s Coalition for Resource Recovery CORR, along with participating businesses, will conduct recyclable box demonstrations at the Hunts Point DC to prove and document the performance, cost-savings, and environmental benefits of these boxes for a range of product, poultry, and seafood applications distributed throughout wholesale channels in New York City. Currently, Hunts Point uses 30,000 tons of waxed, nonrecyclable, corrugated boxes per year.

According to CORR Director Annie White, it is estimated that with the Hunts Point switch to recyclable corrugated, New York City businesses may save $3 million to $6 million per year through reduced landfill fees and the sale of corrugated initially procured through Hunts Point.

CORR notes that with scale and with the increased price of wax due to the closure of refining operations, the number of cost-competitive recyclable box options is increasing rapidly.

Interstate, Mountaire lead way with poultry packaging

The launch of the program also included an announcement by Global Green CORR Founder’s Circle member Interstate Container and its business partner, Mountaire, that they are conducting field trials on boxes used to ship poultry through wholesale channels.

In the fourth quarter of 2008, Mountaire’s export business transitioned to recyclable boxes from Interstate. Boxes destined for export are exposed to moist conditions prior to the product entering freezers, requiring even greater performance than those shipped to domestic grocers. Interstate and Mountaire are the only companies to have made this transition, relates CORR.

Converting boxes for the domestic wholesale market will complete the transition and is the greatest challenge, CORR reports. Poultry destined for restaurants and bodegas is often packed in ice or shipped in close proximity to product that is ice-packed, and this moist environment creates the most trying conditions for poultry transfer packaging.

“Demonstrating that recyclable packaging meets the rigorous performance criteria of wholesale distribution channels is an important first step in the recyclable box transition,” says White. “Our next step is to coordinate trials for all packaging applications and food types, including meat, poultry, seafood, and produce to demonstrate these boxes can work in a range of applications.”

Initiative is the latest step in greening process CORR notes that its Hunts Point initiative is just the most recent step in the process to eliminate wax boxes.

In 2005 and 2006, grocers such as Albertsons and Walmart worked with their supply chains to eliminate wax-coated poultry boxes. These grocers quickly realized a cost savings due to the switch because they could now sell the old corrugated cardboard (OCC) rather than paying to have it hauled away with trash.


Initiatives have also been supported by the development of the Fibre Box Association’s voluntary protocol and standard, which certifies that boxes with alternative coatings as recyclable within the existing OCC recycling stream. Since these early trials and the development of the recyclability certification, CORR relates, there has been a steady progression to test products under more trying conditions, such as those tested by Interstate and Mountaire.

The Hunt's Point Demonstration Project is but one of several of Global Green USA's Coalition for Resource Recovery dedicated to generating business value through creating a sustainable, zero waste New York City.

Coalition members include: Action Carting, Chemol, Interstate Container, Plasma Waste Recycling, Pratt Industries, Spectra-Kote, Starbucks Coffee Company, and Tomra. Meeting sponsors include: Coalition members and Ciba, Green Bay Packaging, Mountaire, Packaging Products Corporation, Salsberg Group, and Temple Inland. Additional funding has been provided by the Turner Foundation.