Naturipe Farms removes 24 metric tons of plastic from packaging

As part of its continued commitment to sustainable packaging, Naturipe Farms is adding the How2Recycle label to its packaging. This label educates consumers on proper recycling practices and where to go if they need to find information specific to their municipality. With this addition to their packaging, as well as their numerous other sustainable packaging initiatives, Naturipe Farms is steadfast in its commitment to educating and influencing consumers to engage in workable environmentally friendly practices, encouraging handlers and customers to recycle clamshells and supporting manufacturers who buy into sustainable programs.

Implementing more sustainable packaging, as well as focusing on sustainable business practices at large, is not new to Naturipe Farms as they have been innovating on this front for years. They were first adopters of heat seal technology for both fresh and value-added product lines, which reduces plastic by 33 percent. On a single foodservice pack change, the new product removed almost 550 pounds of plastic per week from the waste stream. Last year, Naturipe increased its Heat Seal Program by 400 percent, resulting in 24 metric tons of plastic removed from its packaging. The company is now looking to remove 48 metric tons of plastic from its packaging in 2020, doubling last year’s goal.

“Naturipe Farms and our family of farmers have made it a priority to reduce the environmental footprint in all areas of the business particularly in packaging reduction and recyclability,” said Janis McIntosh, director of marketing innovation and sustainability. “Since I joined Naturipe I’ve made it my priority to focus my efforts on reducing our environmental footprint not just as a company but as an industry.”

“These initiatives are progressing steps toward our goal of increasing sustainability from our farms to your tables,” said CarrieAnn Arias, vice presidnet of marketing at Naturipe Farms. “We are also committed to educating and encouraging consumers to do their part by recycling clamshells.”