| |
|
Innovation
Solo manufactures a full line of single-use products in a range of materials and formats – including paper, plastic and foam – to meet customer and consumer demands. Upcoming innovation initiatives
will focus on developing environmentally sustainable single-use product solutions while working to minimize the environmental impact of the overall manufacturing and distribution processes.
Solo Product Innovation Initiatives include:
• Increasing the use of recycled content (post-consumer fibers and post-consumer resins) in paper and plastic single-use products and packaging.
• Increasing the use of renewable materials such as PLA and modified PLA.
• Developing compostable and biodegradable food packaging.
Efficiency
Solo is evaluating all areas of operation for improved efficiencies that will lead to energy and material reduction.
Examples of such initiatives include:
• Working to harness the heat and steam released during manufacturing to generate electricity – a process called cogeneration.
• Recycling or reusing over 99% of all raw materials (paper, plastic, corrugate and scrap metal) as well as pallets and electric batteries.
• Using a closed loop system for a vast majority of the water used in manufacturing processes.
• Installing motion-sensing lighting systems. • Reconfiguring packaging for better cube efficiencies.
Education
Solo is working to provide customers with information about the environmental footprint of various materials used in single-use packaging, in addition to helping customers understand the life cycle of all Solo products. We believe this information will empower customers to make educated choices.
Which single-use products are “best” from an environmental perspective? The answer isn’t simple. Consumers, retailers and foodservice operators rely on single-use products and must consider
a number of factors:
• The functionality and affordability of various material options
• The feasibility of recovering and preparing items for recycling
• The availability of recycling, composting and incineration facilities in their area
Sustainability is a process, and it’s important to remember that sustainability benefits can be gained through material choices and through recovery programs such as recycling and composting.
|
