We’re used to taking reusable shopping bags to the supermarket and an increasing number of us get our take-away coffee in a reusable mug, so how about using a reusable carton to buy our fresh eggs from the supermarket?
One US egg retailer is hoping its customers are ready to do just that, having developed the world’s first reusable egg carton to go to market.
Pete & Gerry’s Organic Eggs have launched a pilot trial for the new packaging – made of recycled, durable, BPA-free plastic – at two branches of the Hanover Co-op Food Stores, in New Hampshire and Vermont.
The polypropylene cartons, which currently retail at $2.99, can be washed at home and reused repeatedly, with customers able to refill their tray from the company’s display of loose eggs – available at a discounted rate compared to boxed eggs, so that the reusable carton pays for itself over time.
Pete & Gerry’s have already shown that you don’t need to be a corporate giant to come up with big ideas in the sustainable packaging industry.
In 2012, the brand worked with Canadian research company Quantis to carry out a complete environmental life-cycle assessment of a range of egg cartons, which found their recycled PET packaging to be the most environmentally friendly.
But now the company has gone one step further, in the hope that their customers will join them on their journey to become even more sustainable.
“While we are confident in the sustainability of our current carton – which is made from 100% recycled plastic and has less environmental impact than the Styrofoam or molded pulp cartons used by conventional egg brands – we continue to challenge ourselves to find even better ways to improve our environmental stewardship,” said Pete & Gerry’s CEO Jesse Laflamme.
“Reusable cartons are a logical next step in our ongoing commitment to sustainability, moving consumer behavior from recycling to reuse. We plan to expand this program in 2020 to reach even more consumers and amplify the program’s impact with major retailers clamoring for this type of sustainable innovation.”
According to Pete & Gerry’s, the average US consumer eats 279 eggs per year, or the equivalent of 23 dozen-size egg cartons.
Replacing the cartons used by just one person with a reusable version would save more than 1,800 cartons from entering the recycling and waste stream across the course of their lifetime.
Projecting this to the US population of 330 million people, you could replace more than 594 billion cartons over a lifetime – enough to circle the globe over 4,000 times – which highlights the impact that a more sustainable choice of packaging could make in just a single industry.
Pete & Gerry’s have some way to go to change the industry as a whole but, after a positive response to the trial to date – both in store and via public messages of support – they are determined to lead the way.
“Our consumers expect Pete and Gerry’s to be on the leading edge of sustainability,” added Laflamme.
“Like many other consumer packaged goods companies, we recognize that reuse is even better than recycling, and we’re proud to be at the forefront of this growing movement to help reduce the impact of packaging on the planet.
“This is a pilot program, but we are emboldened by the initial results and committed to new ways of thinking about how we deliver on our promise to be a responsible force for good.”
Images courtesy of Pete & Gerry’s Organic Eggs.
