Recycling Milk Jugs and Marijuana
DENVER—September 30, 2014—In response to the estimated 287,279 pounds of legal marijuana that will be sold in Colorado this year and the millions of containers used to package it, Higher Standard Packaging of Denver has announced the introduction of the first eco-friendly containers composed of FDA-approved, recycled milk jug plastic and manufactured specifically for the marijuana industry.
R2 Containers are created from recycled milk jugs consisting of 100 percent high-density polyethylene (HDPE-2). Manufactured in the U.S. and BPA free, this resin meets stringent purity standards through a patented cleaning process that eliminates all contaminants without exposing the resin to any chemical treatments or processes. The FDA has approved the recycled resin for food contact.
The resin meets strict sustainability standards and according to EPA data, it accounts for far less environmental impact than virgin resin used in other containers. Production of recycled resin uses 90 percent less energy and emits 78 percent less greenhouse gases than virgin resin.
Higher Standard Packaging announced that Terrapin Care Station, with two dispensaries in Boulder and two dispensaries opening in Aurora, will be the first cannabis company in the nation to package marijuana using R2 Containers.
Christine Kirk, packaging manager for Terrapin Care Station, inspired the search for more environmentally-friendly packaging last January as she watched thousands of plastic bottles leave the dispensaries.
Terrapin Care Station places recycling receptacles in its dispensaries to help minimize the environmental impact of its containers, but Kirk stated, “Collecting used bottles just isn’t enough to address the environmental implications of creating and using virgin plastic resin to manufacture all of the containers needed to package marijuana and marijuana-infused products. Our industry needs an eco-friendly container that can be recycled and won’t affect the recycling stream adversely.”
Chris Woods, owner of Terrapin Care Station dispensaries said, “This new solution makes us feel better about fostering an environmentally-friendly approach to child-proof marijuana packaging while maintaining the freshness of our high quality products for consumers.” Tara Riseley, Terrapin’s brand manager added she is “excited to round out Terrapin’s sustainability efforts.”
