Sustainability
Sustainable Cartons
At Dollard Packaging, we are committed to helping you get sustainable packaging for your product. Whether you are just starting out on the process of getting sustainable packaging or you are already working on this, we can help you with every aspect of this process.
Below we have answers to the most frequently asked questions about sustainable packaging in a short video or you can read a longer version in the text below.
FAQs about Sustainable Cartons and Sleeves
1) What does it mean to have Sustainable Packaging?
2) What makes a carton sustainable?
3) What does the FSC® label – Forest Stewardship Council® – mean?
4) How can you tell if the board that Dollard Packaging uses is sustainable?
5) Are these sustainable boards suitable for Food and other Packaging?
6) Dollard Packaging are members of Repak – what does this actually mean?
7) Can Dollard Packaging help me create the structure/prototype for my carton or sleeve?
8) Will my carton still be sustainable if a window material has been applied?
9) What type of ink do Dollard Packaging use?
10) Will Dollard Packaging still be able to source sustainable boards after Brexit?
11) Is Dollard Packaging an Irish company?
12) Explanation of Biodegradable and Compostable Terms/Standards
13) Blogs on Sustainability
14) Progressing your sustainable carton packaging project.
Sustainable packaging means that the cartons and sleeves that you use for your packaging can be either composted or recycled or both at the end of their life cycle. This means that the end user can put your packaging in the recycling bin or the composting bin.
A carton is sustainable if the material that it contains is from a renewable resource and the cartons can be recycled or composted. For example, boards (i.e. the materials) we use at Dollard Packaging are from FSC® certified board suppliers.
If your carton has a window area and you require a film over that window, we can use a film material that is made from plant-based materials and contains no plastic.
The Forest Stewardship Council® is an international nongovernmental organization that promotes environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial, and economically viable management of the world’s forests. To learn more, visit www.fsc.org
“Simply put: by choosing products with FSC® labels, you are helping to take care of the world’s forests.”(FSC)
Dollard Packaging are FSC®-certified.
All of our board materials are FSC® Mix certified. This is verfied using the FSC Chain of custody system which ensures all entities in the supplier chain are audited independently to ensure there is a link back to the original certified source of the material. The FSC® Mix label on a product means that this product is made of FSC®-certified and other controlled material.
Yes, all the board we use for food packaging is selected specially to suit the type of food that the cartons or sleeves will contain. For example, if your food product is going into a freezer, we will use a sustainable freezer-grade board, if your food product contains moisture or grease, we will use a board that has a moisture barrier. Whatever your product, we will help you find the correct board and carton structure for your product.
This means that Dollard Packaging are in full compliance with EU packaging regulations.
Yes, we can help you choose the correct structure for your carton. The structure of your carton is extremely important in ensuring that your carton is fit for purpose throughout its lifecycle as well as ensuring that the correct carton structure minimises waste. Important Note: It is very important that you begin the project by consulting your carton manufacturer before you consult your graphic designer. This may seem counterintuitive, however, the most important initial issue regarding packaging is the structure of the carton or sleeve, not the artwork creation. The structure and the proposed material must be tested and approved before you approach a graphic designer looking for artwork creation.
You can read more about carton structure here.
Yes, we have a sustainable window patch material that is made from plant-based materials and therefore it is sustainable. You can read more about the eco-film for window cartons here.
We use a variety of ink types. Where appropriate, we use low migration inks. These inks are suitable for use on the non-contact side of direct food contact board.
Yes. None of our suppliers of sustainable boards are UK-based so we don’t use the UK as a land bridge in our supply chain.
We are a wholly-owned Irish company based in Dublin, Ireland.
Terms / Standards for industrial biodegradability and compostability
The EN 13432 and ASTM D 6400 are the European and American industry standards for industrial biodegradability and compostability respectively. It is necessary to pass 4 tests to meet accreditations requirements.
1) Heavy metal content – The heavy metal content of the particular material should be within a pre-defined level. The level is explained in the standards.
2) Disintegration – The material should disintegrate into pieces <2mm within 3 months period when it is placed in the correct composting environment.
3) Biodegradation – The material must biodegrade within 6 months to at least 90% (when compared to a reference cellulose sample.)
4) Plant eco-toxicity – The resulting compost produced from Part 3 above is used to grow a selection of plants for testing purposes.
These plants are monitored during their own biodegrading process to ensure that any products produced are not harmful to the environment.
If you would like to read more sustainability, check out our blogs on sustainability here.
Contact us today to talk about your sustainable cartons and sleeves 01 847 0044 or sales@dollard-packaging.ie to make progress today.
