Replacing difficult to recycle materials is critical for today’s food brands, but switching materials can be challenging. From meeting FDA requirements to getting equipment to run materials smoothly to adequately protecting products—making material changes can get complicated. Leveraging the resources and conversion experience of a global company, Sonoco can help brands easily convert from polystyrene (PS) to polyethylene terephthalate (PET) in the right size packaging.
Easily convert to PET.
Changing materials can be daunting. Sonoco makes this process seamless. As a leading global packaging supplier in the food market, our knowledgeable teams have proven experience successfully converting packaging materials to sustainable options that perform better throughout operation lines and on the shelf.
From new product launch commercialization to mature brand lines, our global team can increase shelf appeal and brand awareness at a lower cost. Additionally, our collaboration with our Sonoco teams provides customers with complete solutions that include custom lidding materials to match your thermoformed food trays.
Exceed sustainability goals and experience five key benefits.
Our dedicated corporate sustainability teams are ready to help you navigate the unknowns surrounding new material implementation, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) projections and recycling mandates. At Sonoco, we help brands apply for and obtain relevant on-pack recycling logos, track carbon emissions and more. By switching from PS to PET, Sonoco helps brands meet their sustainability goals with this more recyclable material and experience these added sustainability benefits:
Get ahead of material bans.
By 2025, Walmart®, Target® and other major big box retailers are committing to eliminating all polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and PS packaging. With upcoming retailer and legislative material bans and producer responsibility organization (PRO) pressure, Sonoco can help brands stay ahead of the competition by switching materials beforehand.
Reduce EPR fees.
By switching from PS to PET, a brand owner may reduce their EPR fees by as much as 30% or more according to an internal analysis of EPR fees in other North American countries. As other regions and producer responsibility organizations (PROs) increase EPR fees, Sonoco’s global footprint helps brands decrease fees by converting to more recyclable materials like PET.
Increase recyclability.
With no infrastructure in place for recycling, consumers cannot recycle PS. Unlock the world of recyclability by transitioning your food packaging project to PET. Experienced managing end of life waste, Sonoco’s sustainability team can help brands transition to materials with better recyclability options and even assist with How2Recycle® certifications.
Meet brand and retailer sustainability commitments.
Reach brand and retailer sustainability commitments with ease. With a record of pursuing our own ambitious sustainability commitments, Sonoco helps brands identify sustainable materials with PFAS-free alternatives. With a shared commitment of good corporate citizenship, we have the resources to guide brands toward their ambitious sustainability goals.
Reduce carbon emissions.
By switching from PS to PET materials, brands can reduce their greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs)—furthering their scope 1, 2 and 3 emission goals. With experience converting materials, we can help brands transition to PET materials using their existing packaging machinery and run a lifecycle analysis that tracks scope emissions thanks to our in-house sustainability team.
Interested in converting to PET? Let’s connect!
Seamlessly convert from PS to PET with the resources, knowledge and capacity of Sonoco’s global company. With material conversion experience, operational know-how and an in-house sustainability team, we’re ready to help you decrease costs and get noticed on store shelves. Get started today by contacting our team or visiting our webpage!