Recently, the company has determined that recycling of its containers was the least significant piece of the total impact that their packages had on the environment. The company's VP of natural resources says that her research uncovered the fact that more than 95 percent of the environmental cost of a package is in its production, including the energy used and toxins created in the manufacturing process. In response, Stonyfield switched from #2 plastic cups to a less commonly recycled #5 thermoform plastic cup. While not easily recyclable, the #5 cups reduce the amount of materials used in its end packaging by 17 percent. The switch to the new cup prevents the manufacture and disposal of more than 100 tons of plastic every year, according the company. And for consumers who don't want to toss the yogurt cups in the trash, they can send them back to Stonyfield. Through a partnership with Recycline, Inc., the cups are recycled into toothbrushes and razors.
Source: GreenBiz
