Doing Its Part for the Environment

Beyond solar and CTI’s recycling efforts in plastic, paper, and aluminum, the contract packager offers value-added contract packaging services that allow its customers to bring either a concept or a food product, for which the company will then develop a packaging solution, offering guidance from inception to completion. Services include sourcing of materials and linings,  graphic design, and regulatory aspects such as child resistant packaging.

CTI sources and manages the design of the packaging and procurement of materials, manages inventory, and organizes processes and reporting. The program management service extends to brands and CPGs who already have set graphic design, packaging design, and suppliers. Thompson said CTI prefers working that way as it is an additional motivator to avoid waste.

“It helps us be more responsible as well [on the sustainability front], because if we bought it, we're going to try not to be wasteful with those materials,” he said.

Customer service first

Along with each project or service CTI provides, one to three employees are assigned per customer to ensure the contract packager stays aware of its customer’s needs.

“We don’t want to let anything go to voicemail, or emails and things of that nature,” says Thompson.  “We strive to make it personal. You can't always interpret everything from a text, instant message, or a quick email.”

That approach comes with an added benefit, he says. When several team members are involved on customer calls, the group can provide each other with feedback to determine the main concerns of the customer.

Brand Owner Insight: A Tough Couple of Years

CTI is developing a 100% disposable, water soluble packaging solution with one of its customers, an emerging packaging material company. The packaging has a very minimal barrier, which means many things need to be considered, such as the kind of product that could go inside the packaging—food, cleaning products, on-the-go products, or vitamins—and on which machines the packaging could run on successfully.

CTI is helping the company research machine compatibility and potential uses of the water soluble packaging as well considering the properties of the packaging as it will be entering the waste stream.

“Is this something that you could take and use under water, with water, without water, etc.? How will it work on the machinery? What if they have to change the DNA of the product? These are things to consider and test,” says Thompson. “With a focus on the future, we are working towards more compostable packages for our pouching machines as well as water soluble solutions that will benefit future generations.”

Compostable packaging for the future

CTI showcases its new compostable packets at PACK EXPO International.End-of-life of packaging is a growing concern among customers and manufacturers alike and compostable is an up-and-coming solution in the United States.

Many companies have been trying to develop compostable products, but progress into the market has been slow.

“We have current customer who has a new product to bring to market and we have started the testing phase. We are very excited to show it to all customers and ask them, ‘Instead of X, have you thought of using a compostable material and marketing it to call out that their consumers can put this in their compost bin after they’re done,’” says Thompson.

CTI launched its new compostable offering in October at the PACK EXPO International show 2022 at the McCormick Place convention center in Chicago. The packets are available in two different samples—one that is biodegradable and the other compostable. The oxygen and moisture barriers in the packages are highly efficient so products don’t risk becoming stale or changing texture. Uses range from bottle replacement to travel and sample packs. All three samples are ASTM 6400 certified.

Compostable materials do cost more than regular packaging, Thompson says, but CTI seeks innovation that can be used to decrease the price. Consumers are also proving more willing to invest in sustainable practices for future generations.

As the packaging is white, it may not be preferable for some graphic branding, but Thompson compared its current state to the early versions of the electric car. When first invented, it was unpopular and the idea was cast aside until Tesla and others came out with their own version which skyrocketed the electric car to popularity.

“While composting your used packaging materials may not be top of mind now, it may become the next large step in reducing environmental waste,” says Thompson.