Chicago-based TC Transcontinental Packaging said it was named the winner for Innovations in Sustainability in this year’s Flexographic Technical Association Sustainability Excellence Award competition for its Integritite post-consumer recycled (PCR) collation shrink film.

The award winner is a sustainable film that includes 33% of PCR plastic. It is close to par with virgin plastic resin performance, is pre-approved by the How2Recycle for in-store drop-off, and looks great on the shelf, said TC Transcontinental Packaging. The PCR-containing film also has lower impact on the environment compared to a virgin Integritite shrink film.

Through a life cycle assessment using the Compass Comparative Packaging Assessment software developed by Trayak LLC and endorsed by the Sustainable Packaging Coalition (SPC), the analysis shows that the Integritite 33% PCR collation shrink film uses less fossil fuel, lowers greenhouse gas emissions and uses less water, TC Transcontinental Packaging said.

“It is very exciting and gratifying to receive such an award and to be recognized by our industry peers in developing sustainable packaging solutions,” said Rebecca Casey, senior vice president, marketing and strategy at TC Transcontinental Packaging. “This award is a tribute to our collaborative approach between our cross functional teams, The Coca-Cola Company, and the co-packer. This partnership drove collaborative innovation. We created value for recycled plastic waste, we pushed the bar further in sustainability, and we maintained our circular economy objectives as a top priority.”

This sustainable packaging was first commercialized in Fall 2020 in collaboration with AHA Sparkling Water, a brand of The Coca-Cola Co., and can be found on select Sam’s and BJ's Club Store shelves in Ohio, Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, Indiana, South Carolina, North Carolina, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Mississippi and Delaware. As signatories of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s New Plastics Economy Global Commitment, TC Transcontinental said it shares the vision that plastic never becomes waste.