Sustainable Packaging

At ReGrained, we believe the food industry has been in the future-trash business for too long and are committed to proving there is a better way.  

Single-use packaging has become a staple of consumer culture since they were introduced just 60 years ago. These standard “conventional” flexible films are fossil-fuel derived, landfill-bound, last forever, and harm life outside of landfills. Conventional packaging is effective at maximizing shelf-life, cheap, and easy to work with. This is what we are up against!

We acknowledge the problem but are committed to participating in the solution. This is the spirit behind our pioneering of compostable films and ultimately weathering its challenges. While our temporary switch to conventional films can feel disheartening, it is decidedly temporary and a “slow down to speed up” tactic.  

We believe that as leaders we have a responsibility to put packaging considerations on equal footing with other values-oriented ingredient qualifications such as Organic, Non-GMO, Regenerative, and Fair Trade.

In partnership with OSC2 Packaging Collaborative we have developed a new generation of high barrier compostable packaging. No matter who you are--a food brand, distributor, retailer, or customer there are ways to participate in the movement:

Food Brands: You likely use flexible films: a) test your products in the latest and greatest structure. We have every reason to believe the new high barrier layer will solve the product freshness issues, but there is only one way to find out if it works for your products. If the material performs for your products, b) make the commitment to switch and get on a path to extricate yourself from the future-trash business. 

Distributors: We noticed our packaging performance issues once our wares left our warehouse. We need to know with confidence that the new structure we are testing will perform after traveling in your trucks, sitting in your storage facilities, and generally being exposed to a variety of temperatures and conditions. Carve out some space at a marginal cost to help us put the future of compostable packaging through the supply chain ringer to confirm it works. 

Retailers: a) Be open to dialogue with brands about packaging and be patient with the bumps in the road b) Begin asking your suppliers about their efforts to reduce their contribution to the packaging problem. If more brands know that you care about the issue, they are more likely to invest in making improvements. c) Consider partnering with the sustainable packaging community to promote the adoption of these materials through cause-related merchandising and other programs. Let’s (literally) reach across the aisle and collaborate.

Consumer: Hello human! Vote with your wallet. Stay tuned into the issue and make your values heard. Advocate for the change you want to see and support the companies that take packaging risks. 

Bottom Line: If we are going to solve the packaging problem, we need to do it together. 

We are committed to open collaboration and radical transparency on this matter indefinitely. 

Please follow along at The Upcyclist with us as we document our progress.