Kurt Zuhlke & Associates advocates for more recycling

As a leading innovator of Polyethylene Terephthalate (commonly referred to as PET) packaging for the produce industry, Kurt Zuhlke & Associates Inc. has seen business continue to flourish as consumers’ and retailers’ needs greatly changed once the pandemic began.

In fact, the Easton, PA-based company saw demand at an all-time high for many of its packaging products, especially clamshell packaging, made from recycled material, which keeps produce items out of the hands of people and safely packed away.

“This provides exceptional protection of produce while at the same time allowing consumers to see what they’re actually buying,” said Kurt Zuhlke, president of his namesake company. “That was big in the early days of COVID-19 and has maintained popularity in the years since.”

In the first few weeks of 2023, the company has seen increased orders, and all signs point to another successful year of sales. And everyone is back, with employment levels back to pre-pandemic numbers.

“Things have taken off like a rocket this year,” Zuhlke said. “I’ve got a lot of orders coming in, and I’m a little shocked. I think people are anticipating oil going back up or expenses to go up, so trying to leverage against that.”

No one size packaging is really doing better than any other, as he explained that there are different sizes for different commodities that are doing well — whether the packaging is for strawberries, blueberries, tomatoes, avocados or something else.

“We’re seeing people really start to buy more of the packaged items,” Zuhlke said, explaining that people don’t want their produce touched. “If someone can see the product clearly and the price is right, they will buy it. If you’re putting it under the barrier film with print over the top, people will get leery.”

A big proponent of PET products, Zuhlke shared that it’s vital to maintain the circle of recycling in an effort to keep materials out of landfills as much as possible. Thankfully, more customers are tuned into the environment so are seeking out better-for-the-environment packaging — something Kurt Zuhlke & Associates started decades ago.

“Our company’s motto is to ‘recycle and reuse’ and taking the product out there, once it’s been used, clean it, grind it and create new product,” Zuhlke said. “Many growers and suppliers use our products to pack according to their customers’ specifications, but many retailers today repack at the store level in order to customize their offerings. This means that all levels of the industry are important to us.”

In 2023, Zuhlke believes there will be even more recycling solutions going on.

“Now, the technology is really taking off so we don’t have to separate the different materials, it’s being done through the new machinery that’s been developed, and that’s helped out quite a bit,” he said. “We really need to get all that product back so we can reuse it for something else.”

The main secret to success, Zuhlke noted, is service, and that’s what has kept the company thriving for so long.

“You have to hit your demand times and get the product to people at a reasonable price,” he said. “If you’re not servicing your customers right, they are going to go somewhere else. I’ve had customers for over 40 years, so we must be doing something right.”

Photo: Kurt and Cynthia Zuhlke of Kurt Zuhlke & Associates.