An iconic American consumer products company

One of this large consumer product company’s brands, a market leader in granola, was the logical standard bearer to help achieve the company’s ambitious sustainability goals by 2025. The brand’s target consumers — millennials and Gen Z — are keenly eco-aware with recyclability driving their purchase decisions. The push for recycle-ready packaging was on, and DT&A went to work connecting vendors, nourishing collaboration and orchestrating a solution.

Challenges

The granola brand’s existing mixed-materials package was not recyclable. A mono-material was needed and DT&A knew where to go: Berry, a global manufacturer of packaging products and longtime partner. Their recyclable film was the starting point, followed by identifying and engaging the suppliers who could overcome the challenges:

  • Printability to protect brand equity
  • Window clarity for product visibility
  • Stiffness for shelf-stand
  • Structure for open-ability and zipper re-close
  • Compatibility with packaging equipment

grocery shopper

Results

2019 Technology Excellence Award

From clean sheet to its appearance on retail shelves in 18 months, the new packaging spring-boarded the consumer product company’s efforts to reach 2025 sustainability goals and created a potential template for other brands to use. What’s more, the new packaging claimed the Pack Expo Technology Excellence Award.

  • Recyclable mono-material barrier film

    9-layer extrusion allows precise material management

  • Choice polymers to drive stiffness/stance on shelf

    Compatible for in store drop-off recycle stream

In support of the circular economy

  • This consumer products company is measuring its sustainability efforts against the goals of The Ellen MacArthur Foundation, whose work with business, government and academia envisions a circular economy based on the principles of designing out waste and pollution, keeping products and materials in use, and regenerating natural systems.
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