Dogwood Alliance - Packaging Campaign

Packaging Campaign

Paper is the most commonly used packaging material, making up 34% of the total packaging industry, with plastic packaging second at 30%. Most paper packaging ultimately serves as a tool for branding a product, not for the product’s safety or economic protection. Once the product is opened and the packaging thrown away, the waste accounts for a large portion of landfill waste. Many industries, including fast food, beauty, and music use extra packaging to create a brand for their product. Dogwood Alliance continues to work with companies to change their practices and protect Southern forests.

There are four different paper packaging types:

• Container Board: Accounts for the largest share of packaging produced, and include the most recycled content. Examples include: brown corrugated boxes and linerboard (flat face insides of corrugated boxes).
• Paper Board: or Solid Bleached Sulfite (SBS) is of particular concern because it is made almost exclusively from virgin tree fiber, accounts for 35 percent of the paperboard market. Examples include folding boxes, food containers, cosmetic boxes, etc.
• Kraft packaging paper: used for sacks and bags
• Specialty paper: labels, molded pulp containers (egg cartons), food wrapping paper, etc.

Through continued pressure upon the market place, Dogwood Alliances strives to achieve these goals through their Paper Packaging Campaign: · To eliminate paper packaging products originating from endangered forests; · To eliminate packaging products from suppliers that are contributing to the conversion of natural forests into plantations; · To work with packaging suppliers to improve forest management practices through increased use of fiber from more sustainably managed sources in paper and packaging products; · Maximize recovery of packaging waste generated; · Reduce overall packaging; and · Maximize use of 100% recycled boxboard, a readily available alternative.