Taking a “brown” turn: when an eco-responsible packaging choice becomes profitable
August 9, 2021
About Serres Toundra
Serres Toundra is the largest producer of cucumbers in Quebec and offers a superior quality vegetable through environmentally friendly production. Located in a continental climate (Quebec, Canada), Serres Toundra operates in highly technological facilities.
Serres Toundra challenge: Finding a recyclable tray that meets its performance criteria
At Serres Toundra, the desire to limit its environmental impact is manifested by, among other things:
- The recovery of rainwater and snowmelt. No drinking water from cities or from the water table is used.
- The reuse of hot water from a nearby plant to heat greenhouses.
- The use of a recovery system eliminating fertilizer discharges.
Serres Toundra selection criteria:
In 2019, following its values in sustainable development, the Serres Toundra team began looking for a packaging product to replace its polystyrene trays. The goal? To find a solution that would meet a series of criteria combining performance and respect for the environment.
Recyclable
Compatible with its packaging equipment
Rigid and moisture resistant
Produced and delivered by a reliable supplier
Attractive
The team first turned to a tray made of molded pulp, known for its eco-friendly nature. However, the packaging proved to be ineffective at withstanding the moisture of the cucumbers. Only three days after its arrival at the point of sale, the container had lost its rigidity, leaving the consumer perplexed by the look of the packaging.
Serres Toundra had no choice but to consider another solution.
The solution:
Cascades’ cardboard tray
That’s when Cascades came on the scene with its 100% recycled, recyclable and compostable cardboard tray.
Unlike the previous packaging, the Cascades cardboard tray retains moisture perfectly, preserving its rigidity and the integrity of the cucumber for more than 2 weeks, at the point of sale. Another good news is that this solution generates significant savings in the long run thanks to the elimination of losses during the assembly process.
Éric Dubé
CEO, Serres Toundra
“After a week of testing with the Cascades tray, we knew we had found our solution. It’s hard to say that cardboard packaging alone explains our sales growth, but I’m sure it allows us to stand out from our competitors and be favored by retailers.”
A winning partnership
The collaborative spirit and agile practices of the two companies made it possible to adjust the producer’s assembly line in less than four days, while minimizing the financial impact of this innovative transition.
“The Cascades team deploys its best specialists to optimize operations and reduce the impact of securing a new packaging solution. That’s our way of doing things,” says Jérôme Porlier, V-P Operations at Cascades.
Brown is the new black
Serres Toundra environmental concerns are shared by consumers more than ever. A survey of U.S. consumers confirms that 55% of them are extremely or very concerned about the environmental impact of product packaging.1
It’s not surprising that Serres Toundra customers appreciate that the packaging is made of 100% recycled fibres and is recyclable/compostable. In fact, consumer surveys conducted by Cascades show that cardboard is perceived as more environmentally responsible than any other food packaging material.
1. Sustainability in packaging: Inside the minds of US consumers, McKinsey & Company, October 21, 2020
Cascades sustainability experts analyzed the packaging choices of Serres Toundra.
In 2020, the Cascades cardboard tray allowed Serres Toundra to:
Reduce its GHGs by 33%2
Preserve 2,000 trees3
If you want to understand the environmental impact of your packaging, contact a Cascades expert in sustainable development:
2. Based on the Life Cycle Assessment of the Cascades product (Ageco Group)
3. Based on calculations from the Environmental Protection Agency
La fraîcheur des poissons et fruits de mer se préserve durant le transport grâce à un isolant étanche et innovant.
La solution idéale de remplacement écoresponsable aux emballages non recyclables.