Naturipe and International Paper have teamed up to rollout a new display-ready strawberry package that is fully recyclable.  This package ran successfully during the 2009 season,  and the results are impressive. "The new strawberry carton performed well  through our operation and properly protected the product as we shipped cartons across the country and to our customers. We were very pleased with the redesigned and re-engineered cartons" said Robert Verloop, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Naturipe.

Naturipe is the first strawberry shipper to adopt the enhanced wax-free One Touch® design from International Paper.   The key benefit is the complete elimination of wax in the corrugated package making it 100% recyclable. Mr. Verloop stated,  "The removal of wax from our carton is consistent with our goals to provide our customers with a top quality product that respects the environment.  In collaboration with International Paper we ‘looked outside the box’ and literally ‘looked AT the box’, and we found another innovative, earth friendly approach to packaging." In addition to its recyclability.the  fiber used to make the carton is certified to carry the SFI Fiber Sourcing Label.   Not only is the box now fully recyclable but thousands of pounds of wax have been eliminated from the system reducing raw material consumption.   This reduction has benefits throughout the supply chain and allows retailers to sell this corrugated as clean OCC creating a revenue stream from what would typically be a landfill cost.

In late 2008, International Paper completed the acquisition of Weyerhaeuser’s packaging assets.   The acquisition  allowed International Paper to focus more resources on the needs of produce customers and develop new and innovative products.  From this work, an enhanced One Touch display-ready package was developed which has improved performance and increased setup efficiency.  This was combined with the ClimaGuard® wax replacement technology to provide a package that is 100% recyclable and repulpable.  “We are seeing real interest in our ClimaSeries® Wax Alternative product line as customers look at ways of improving sustainability.   We were glad to partner with Naturipe on this new One Touch design and anticipate  it becoming quickly accepted in other commodities” said Pat Pochiro- Marketing Manager for International Paper.

Both International Paper (Booth# 3424)and Naturipe will be exhibiting at this year’s PMA in Anaheim.  Samples and information regarding the new One Touch design as well as the ClimaSeries wax alternative technologies will be available.