When Nature’s Path Foods decided to offer its products in large stand-up bags and folding cartons of up to 44 oz. (1.25 kg) for wholesale warehouse clubs and supercenters, the company reached out to Syntegon Technology (formerly Bosch Packaging Technology). The Vancouver-based cereal and superfood manufacturer offers organic and planet-friendly products while using more environmentally friendly packaging. By upgrading its case packing equipment, the company reports it has significantly reduced cardboard consumption and boosted production efficiency.
Although market factors and consumer trends influence company processes, they are not the only driver, according to Nikhil Mehrotra, packaging engineer at Nature’s Path. “Every decision we make must align with our triple bottom line—being socially responsible, environmentally sustainable and financially viable. In 2010, we became zero-waste certified and pledged to become completely carbon neutral by 2020. This step consequently entailed looking at the environmental impact of our packaging,” Mehrotra says. As a result, the company strives to use its packaging material as efficiently and effectively as possible.