greenyes@earthsystems.org Archives: [GRRN] Some good news..

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I have been contacting manufacturers about their packaging. This =
process is often frustrating as many companies ignore me and the rest =
require weeks and weeks to answer questions. It reminds me why I didn't =
like working for a large company.

I started this project as a result of finding a large number of plastic =
items in my trash. I am fortunate that my recycling center accepts =
labeled plastics #1 through #7. The only reason which I could come up =
with that I should have these plastic containers in the trash is that =
they lacked a label. It wasn't a large step to realize that I was going =
to have to ask for companies to provide this information to consumers. =20

It is interesting to find companies that are willing and able to tell =
you the type of plastic they are using, but ignore requests for that =
information to be placed on the package. I imagine that in some cases =
it might call for a great deal of effort to comply. I wonder why they =
don't bother to say that....

Well, enough background information. I just received a nice package of =
information from Tom's of Maine. I wrote to them thanking them for =
making their toothpaste tubes from recyclable material and for using =
post-consumer paper in their toothpaste boxes. I explained that I was =
not able to recycle the cap from the toothpaste tube as it was not =
labeled as to which type of plastic it contained. I asked them to label =
the cap.

To quote from the letter I received from Patti Murphy, Consumer Dialog =
Team Leader:

"The cap and plastic outsert (threaded part on the neck of the tube) on =
our tubes are made from PP#5 plastic. I think that your suggestion that =
we label it is a good one, and I will pass it along to our product =
supply team. We are sometimes limited in what we can do because of the =
size of our company, but we'll keep trying."

She also included a very detailed sheet breaking down their products and =
explaining the content of each. As an example:

Toothpaste
Tubes: Recyclable aluminum
Cap: Polypropylene #5
Box: Recycled/Recyclable paperboard --95% post consumer

It is worth writing again 95% POST CONSUMER paperboard. Good job Tom's! =
I would like to see all companies use such a high post consumer =
content.

Their mission encourages them To be distinctive in products and policies =
which honor and sustain our natural world. "Researching packaging to =
improve its recyclability is something that we do on a continual basis."

After hearing so much about companies that really don't seem to care and =
break promises (Cola anyone?) I felt that everyone could use a bit of =
good news and a reminder that there are good guys out there.

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I have been contacting manufacturers about their=20 packaging. This process is often frustrating as many companies = ignore me=20 and the rest require weeks and weeks to answer questions. It = reminds me=20 why I didn't like working for a large company.

I started this project as a result of finding a = large number=20 of plastic items in my trash. I am fortunate that my recycling = center=20 accepts labeled plastics #1 through #7. The only reason which I = could come=20 up with that I should have these plastic containers in the trash is that = they=20 lacked a label. It wasn't a large step to realize that I was going = to have=20 to ask for companies to provide this information to consumers. =20

It is interesting to find companies that are willing = and able=20 to tell you the type of plastic they are using, but ignore requests for = that=20 information to be placed on the package. I imagine that in some = cases it=20 might call for a great deal of effort to comply. I wonder why they = don't=20 bother to say that....

Well, enough background information. I just = received a=20 nice package of information from Tom's of Maine. I wrote to them = thanking=20 them for making their toothpaste tubes from recyclable material and for = using=20 post-consumer paper in their toothpaste boxes. I explained that I = was not=20 able to recycle the cap from the toothpaste tube as it was not labeled = as to=20 which type of plastic it contained. I asked them to label the=20 cap.

"The cap and plastic outsert (threaded part on the = neck of the=20 tube) on our tubes are made from PP#5 plastic. I think that your=20 suggestion that we label it is a good one, and I will pass it along to = our=20 product supply team. We are sometimes limited in what we can do = because of=20 the size of our company, but we'll keep trying."

She also included a very detailed sheet breaking = down their=20 products and explaining the content of each. As an = example:

It is worth writing again 95% POST CONSUMER = paperboard. =20 Good job Tom's! I would like to see all companies use such a high = post=20 consumer content.

Their mission encourages them To be distinctive = in=20 products and policies which honor and sustain our natural = world. =20 "Researching packaging to improve its recyclability is something that we = do on a=20 continual basis."

After hearing so much about companies that really = don't seem=20 to care and break promises (Cola anyone?) I felt that everyone could use = a bit=20 of good news and a reminder that there are good guys out = there.