This Month in Packaging... [March 2022]

Welcome to the March 2022 edition of Rocket Industrial’s ‘This Month in Packaging’ blog series, a monthly wrap-up of packaging related content that catches our eye.

From microplastics found in human blood to Coors ditching plastic can rings, here are five things that caught our attention this month.

Colgate Rolls Out a Recyclable Toothpaste Tube

WHO: Colgate-Palmolive

WHAT: Colgate’s mono-material recyclable toothpaste tube features a prominent “Recycle Me!” message to encourage consumers to recycle the newly designed tube. This tube is made from HDPE and has removed the aluminum layer, the key to making the container recyclable.

WHY IT MATTERS: As a global toothpaste leader, Colgate strives to be a leader in waste reduction, specifically to make toothpaste tubes part of the circular economy. This new recyclable container has an estimated 25% smaller carbon footprint and a 40% lower water footprint.

Microplastics Found in Human Blood

WHO: Dutch National Organisation for Health Research and Development

WHAT: In a Dutch study that analyzed 22 healthy adults, 17 had plastic particles in their blood, the first evidence of plastic polymers making it into the bloodstream.

WHY IT MATTERS: Microplastics have seemed to be found everywhere, including in the Mariana Trench, in our food and drinking water, and now have been found in human blood. It is currently unclear what this means for human health, but research continues to determine the implications.

New Dispensing System for McDonald’s

WHO: McDonald’s

WHAT: Previously using rigid containers for condiment and sauce dispensing, the new flexible pouches combined with the dispensing device create pressure-based dispensing. This eliminates the need for bulky back-of-house storage, inefficient shipping, and operational changes.

WHY IT MATTERS: McDonald’s aims to provide customers with a consistent experience, regardless of restaurant location, and this new dispensing system does just that. Additionally, the new system provides an 85% reduction in package weight, which results in an overall decrease in greenhouse gas emissions.

Coors Ditches Plastic Can Rings

WHO: Molson Coors

WHAT: The brand will be eliminating plastic rings from its packaging globally by switching to fully recyclable and sustainably sourced cardboard-wrap carriers later this year. An $85 million investment to upgrade the packaging machinery will be needed for this changeover.

WHY IT MATTERS: Removing the plastic ring will save 1.7 million pounds of plastic waste annually, contributing to their sustainability goal for 2025 to have all their packaging 100% reusable, recyclable, or compostable.

Cardboard Cup Contest

WHO: Rocket Industrial

WHAT: On March 27th Granite Peak Ski Resort in Wausau held their second annual Cardboard Cup sledding contest. Participants designed sleds using only cardboard, duct tape, and zip ties.

WHY IT MATTERS: Although Rocket Industrial’s sled, the USS Rocket, did not receive a trophy this year, we still had a fun time racing against the other 32 contestants.

Submit to the Monthly Packaging Wrap-Up

Do you have a packaging example, industry news article, or idea that your peers should see? Share it with us here! Our blog team will pick a few suggestions to mention in our This Month in Packaging blog series at the end of each month. If your suggestion is used, we will send you a Rocket hat!