Fresh-Lock® Green Spool Program Offers Benefits Beyond Circular Manufacturing

9/13/2019

Sustainable manufacturing is a key focus in the packaging industry and the Green Spool Program supports the efforts of brands and packagers.

APPLETON, Wis.Presto Specialty Products, an industry leader in innovation for reclosable packaging and creator of Fresh-Lock® closures, is rebooting its sustainable packaging initiative: the Green Spool Program, which provides options for spool reusability and single-use recyclability. With heightened focus on sustainability in the packaging industry, this program helps reduce plastic waste in the environment and creates more circularity by allowing manufacturers to reuse or recycle zipper spools.

“As the packaging industry progresses, it’s important to focus on sustainable solutions and bring awareness to opportunities that promote circularity,” said Brad Hansen, president of Presto Specialty Products, a business unit of Reynolds Consumer Products. “The goal of this program is simple: to reduce the environmental impact of packaging manufacturing.”

The first of its kind in the industry, the Green Spool Program offers options for spool reusability and single-use recyclability. Unlike conventional recycling approaches, which create a cost burden, this program comes with either no additional cost or potential cost reductions.

The spool reuse option allows manufacturers to break down and ship spools back to the Fresh-Lock® closures team. It is then cleaned and reassembled for reuse. A $1 credit towards future purchases is provided for every spool that is returned.

“The cost to ship the spool back is paid in full by Presto Specialty Products business so no expenses are ever incurred on the manufacturer’s end,” Hansen said. “We want green practices to be convenient in the packaging industry.”

If manufacturers are unable to reuse the spools, the single-use spool recycling option is also available. The spools are disassembled, sent back, and recycled into new, single-use spools. This way, even if the manufacturer can’t take advantage of reusing spools, they can still practice sustainability and circular manufacturing by helping keep plastic waste from entering landfills.