Sustainability
Sustainable. Compostable. Recyclable. Environmentally Friendly. Have you heard any of this terminology lately? If you haven’t, you must have been hiding under a rock. We are asked about it all the time. The good news is that for the past couple decades we have been working to develop various different types of environmentally friendly packaging in both plastic and paper options. If packaging is what you need and sustainability is important to you, we can help you find a beautiful solution. Read below to learn more.
Recycling options and processes are continuing to improve and grow. ClearBags is giving more attention than ever to the type of plastic and paper materials we offer. There is a strong demand for improved plastic packaging that will provide good shelf life, product protection, and can be locally recycled. High barrier plastics that are effectively recycled have been unavailable until recently. More and more recycling options are becoming available through curb-side, community, and in-store recycling locations. ClearBags is proud to be a leader in providing strong barrier options in recyclable materials that are easy to dispose of appropriately and completely safe to the recycling process.
Please click here to see our list of products that can be recycled
Compostable packaging is made using plant-based materials that are capable of breaking down in a commercial compost environment. These materials break down into natural elements, causing no harm to the environment. Most compostable products take about 90 days to break down in the proper setting. ClearBags has been successfully selling certified compostable plastic packaging made from PLA (polylactic acid) materials for over 10 years. We carry compostable packaging in the forms of flap seal bags, gusset bags, stand up pouches, glassine products, mailers, and more. ClearBags compostable packaging is ASTM D 6400 and DIN EN 13432 certified.
Please click here to see our list of products that are 100% Compostable
Post-consumer recycled materials refer to products that were once a previous item and have been recycled and turned into a reusable form. Recycled content comes from Post Industrial or Post Consumer Waste. ClearBags is proud to offer products that are made from Post Consumer Waste, like our envelopes, cards, backing board, and boxes. The percentage of PCR in product packaging varies from 10-100%. The percentage of packaging using this recycling process is growing as more consumers are looking for recyclable packaging options.
Please click here to see our list of products that are made from PCR
Home Compostable
We know that commercial composting facilities are not yet readily available everywhere, so we have developed a line of Home Compostable packaging solutions as well. Our home compostable products are made from NatureFlex™ cellulose material and are certified home compostable by the Biodegradable Products Institute. They are ASTM 6400 and EN 13432 certified and food safe. We carry cello gusset bags, flat poly bags, flat bottom gusset bags, and we continue to add more.
Please click here to see our products that are 100% Home Compostable
ClearBags - Reducing Our Carbon Footprint
Energy Use
- LED lights used to reduce energy consumption
Transportation
- Utilize rail to ship containers across the United States
- Reduces amount of trucks driving in peak-hour traffic
Smart Packaging
- Use boxes that fit package best with minimum amount of dunnage space
- No shipping cases used for In Store pick-ups
Facility Management
- Insulated and reflective warehouse roof to reduce amount of energy used to cool warehouse
- Single shift to keep costs of heating/cooling down
Waste Management
- 80% of waste that leaves building is recycled
Heat Mapping
- Utilize heat mapping of warehouse to save on excess movement
- Reduces gas emissions of equipment, like forklift
ClearBags is a member of the Sustainable Packaging Coalition (SPC). SPC is the leading voice on sustainable packaging. By being a member of SPC, our products are being tested to make sure they comply with all of the rules and regulations required to be considered sustainable.
Learn more about the Sustainable Packaging Coalition here.
