As one of the leading sustainable cannabis container suppliers and firm advocates of local sourcing, Sana Packaging is well-versed in the economic benefits that a circular economy can bring. Here are five ways local sourcing can help your bottom line.
When you emphasize the principles of a circular economy and locally source your products and cannabis packaging materials, you can avoid some of the warehousing and storage costs associated with a global supply chain. Local sourcing means fewer steps between your products, facilities, and customers. Fewer stops mean fewer times you will have to pay warehousing fees to store your products, which means less overhead for your business.
Shipping and transportation are the most expensive parts of a globalized company’s supply chain. As freight costs rise, so do transportation costs. Additionally, shipping packaging materials overseas produces massive greenhouse gas emissions, costing the environment. Though you may be able to save a few bucks by purchasing foreign-made cannabis packaging materials, the money you save there is negated by the monetary and environmental costs of freight.
Local sourcing eliminates the need to ship products long distances, lowering the economic and environmental costs of transporting your products. Granted, local cannabis container shipping still consumes fuel, but the amount needed to transport products from state to state is exponentially lower than that required to transport products between continents. Additionally, if your company purchases carbon credits, the price to offset local shipping is far lower than international shipping.
Local sourcing also lowers your company’s social cost. By working with local and regional suppliers, you will bolster the businesses in your community instead of running them out of business by working with a global supplier.
When the local community benefits, your company will too. You will be putting money into your local community by choosing regional suppliers for your cannabis products. Your community members can then spend that money at your business, and so on. In this way, circular economies benefit both consumers and cannabis companies.
Monetary costs aren’t the only thing you must think about when assembling your supply chain; you also need to consider the environmental cost of your choices. Simply put, economic globalization is bad for the environment. Shipping emissions and unethical business practices that put profits over all else sacrifice sustainability.
By choosing to work with local and regional suppliers, as opposed to global ones, you can do your part to minimize your cannabis business’s environmental impact. Your shipping will produce fewer emissions, and you can more easily ensure that you work with ethical, sustainable partners that share your eco-friendly mission.
Global supply chains are more prone to harmful, damaging externalities that disrupt their businesses, costing them a portion of their profit. Factors like political instability, natural disasters, and even bureaucratic delays can have a massive impact on global supply chains. These disruptions can be difficult and costly to sort out, and even when the solution comes down to waiting it out, cannabis companies relying on products from faraway countries will be sidelined and unable to pull in their typical profit.
However, cannabis businesses opting for regional packaging supply chains are naturally more protected from these externalities. Though problems certainly can still occur, the fact that products have to travel a shorter distance in circular economies means there is less possibility for things to go wrong — and when they do, it is easier and cheaper to find solutions. Companies opting for regional sourcing can maintain a more consistent business model and, therefore, more consistent profits.
As cannabis companies, we have an extra responsibility to be aware of our business models' social and environmental impacts. Whether you carry high-tech vapes or organically grown flower, you need packaging for your products.
If you want to maximize your profit and the good you can do for your community while minimizing your environmental impact, Sana Packaging is the place to source cannabis packaging. We use sustainable materials in all of our cost-effective cannabis packages and work with local and regional suppliers as part of our goal for a truly sustainable economy.
To learn more about our products or request a sample, contact Sana Packaging today.
]]>Today, we’re sharing three reasons communication is essential — and how local sourcing makes it easy.
Connections help us to grow our businesses and further our missions. Communication, especially with local and regional companies, enables making those connections.
The most impactful companies have a cause driving them. For Sana Packaging, our core mission is sustainability. We are passionate about reducing waste and providing eco-friendly packaging solutions for the cannabis industry. At Sana Packaging, we want to positively impact the world by helping the cannabis industry become more environmentally responsible.
We work to exemplify the ideal of sustainability in all of our products and almost exclusively use recycled, reclaimed, and biodegradable materials. We have already made a difference by providing cannabis companies with sustainable packaging options; as of early 2024, we have recycled over 750,000 pounds of reclaimed ocean-bound plastic.
Our mission isn’t possible in isolation, though. By communicating our goals and forming partnerships with companies such as Hemp Press, Treehugger Containers, and Hero Packaging, we have made a larger impact as a collective than we ever would have individually. Working with like-minded companies is especially important for cannabis companies; our connections and communication help to strengthen the burgeoning cannabis industry as a whole.
Partnering with local companies makes communication more straightforward and makes it easier for your business to adjust to unforeseen circumstances.
In our globalized world, events in far-away countries can have a massive impact on our supply chain and ability to source the products we need. When you source products from distant places, you open your supply chain up to the potentially devastating effects of externalities like political instability and natural disasters.
Though sourcing locally won’t protect your company’s supply chain from all possibilities, it will inherently minimize the risk as products must travel shorter distances to get to you. Even when disruptions threaten the local supply network, the ease of communication between domestic and local suppliers will make it easy for your company to respond, pivot, and continue operating. It’s easier to contact your supplier when they are another regional company in the next state than to contact the relevant business representative in a massive company with offices in a different country.
For example, because Sana Packaging works with local and domestic suppliers, we conducted business with relatively few delays throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic. While the global health crisis greatly impacted companies that source their materials from other countries, businesses with a well-established local supply chain faced far fewer barriers to operation. Because of this, we were able to continue supplying our clients with the eco-friendly cannabis packaging materials they needed so they could continue serving customers.
Finally, the ease of communication that comes with local sourcing helps solidify customer relationships.
Communicating easily with your business partners and suppliers allows you to do business efficiently and effectively. This, in turn, streamlines your operation and enables your clients to do business with you easily, too.
Emphasizing the importance of communication in business will also help you provide stellar customer service to retain existing customers and attract new ones. Your shipments will be less prone to issues since you work more closely with your suppliers and shippers, and the materials travel a shorter distance to get to the customers. When problems arise, you can deal with them and make them right more effectively because your customers can contact your company easily.
Sana Packaging prioritizes communication with our clients and customers as part of our mission to create a genuinely circular cannabis economy and a robust local supply chain. We pride ourselves on our customer service, which is evident in every part of our business; even creating fully customized sustainable cannabis packaging is an easy and efficient process.
If excellent service, an integral brand mission, and positive communication are essential to your business, you need to work with a local supplier who shares your ideas. Sana Packaging provides cannabis companies nationwide with sustainable, eco-friendly packaging materials through our local and domestic partners.
To join our collective of cannabis companies who care about circularity, communication, and sustainability, contact Sana Packaging today.
]]>It's an exciting day at Sana Packaging! We're launching an innovative new product and celebrating an impactful milestone: reclaiming 750,000 pounds of ocean-bound plastic.
]]>Our latest sustainable innovation, the Sana Ocean Pre-Roll Multipack 90mm, has a child-resistant clamshell closure, fits five 85mm (0.5g to 1g) pre-rolls, boasts ample room for product branding and labeling, and is made from reclaimed ocean-bound plastic.
The Sana Ocean Pre-Roll Multipack 90mm is available in black or white, is sold in cases of 500 units, and pairs well with:
- Organic Hemp Paper Pre-Rolled Cones 84mm
- Hemp Wrap Pre-Rolled Blunt Cones
- Customizable Stone Paper Tamper Bands
All of Sana Packaging's reclaimed ocean-bound plastic cannabis packaging products are child-resistance certified, food-grade certified, FDA-compliant, made in the USA, and recyclable. We also offer custom printing and labeling services.
We launched our first ocean-bound plastic cannabis packaging product in 2019, marking the beginning of a sustainability journey that has grown into a comprehensive product catalog. We now celebrate a monumental achievement: reclaiming over 750,000 pounds of ocean-bound plastic.
We attribute our success to the support of its customers, who have played and continue to play a pivotal role in driving positive change within the cannabis industry.
“We couldn’t have achieved this milestone without the support of our customers. We look forward to watching this number continue to grow on our journey toward reclaiming one million pounds of ocean-bound plastic.”
- Ron Basak-Smith, Co-Founder & CEO
Along with the Sana Ocean Pre-Roll Multipack 90mm, we have several other new products we're excited to share with our customers.
We're excited to offer our customers fully customizable flexible packaging for cannabis flower, edibles, and more. Our custom stand-up pouches are child-resistant certified, odor-resistant, moisture-resistant, and made from 43% post-consumer recycled (PCR) material.
Standard sizes include 1g, 1/8oz, 1/4oz, 1/2oz, and 1oz. Custom sizes are available upon request. Our flexible pouches are made in the USA using sustainable printing processes.
We're excited to offer our customers glass pre-roll multipack jars. These 84mm glass jars provide the ideal storage environment for preserving cannabis and can fit five 80mm (0.5g to 1g) pre-rolls.
These pre-roll multipack jars are available in white or matte black, work with all child-resistant 38mm closures, and pair well with the Sana Ocean Screw-Top Lid 38-400.
Join us on our journey to reclaiming one million pounds of ocean-bound plastic and contact Sana Packaging today!
]]>We believe that circular economies, local sourcing, and domestic manufacturing are the keys to ensuring resilience in the face of supply chain disruptions in an increasingly globalized world.
]]>At Sana Packaging, we believe that circular economies, local sourcing, and domestic manufacturing are the keys to ensuring resilience in the face of supply chain disruptions in an increasingly globalized world.
Because our world is more connected than ever, many companies have turned to global suppliers for marginally cheaper materials and manufacturing. However, the disadvantages of global sourcing and supply chains far outweigh the benefits.
First and foremost, global supply chains are more vulnerable to disruptions. Whether these disruptions come from international crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, or more mundane sources, such as bureaucratic holdups in foreign shipping lanes, global supply chains have more variables in play.
Therefore, relying on international producers and manufacturers to supply your day-to-day business operations puts your company at greater risk of supply chain disruption.
When global supply chains inevitably get disrupted, it is also challenging to get back on track. Long lead times for international cannabis packages mean that even a slight delay somewhere in the supply chain can cause massive issues further down the line.
Because of the extended shipping times, it’s almost impossible to maintain flexibility. Even if your company switches to a different product, you will still have to wait weeks — or even months — for it to arrive stateside.
As a company dedicated to supplying sustainable cannabis containers, this issue is critical at Sana Packaging. Overseas shipping is a massive source of greenhouse gas emissions, and obtaining cannabis packages from other countries contributes to this problem.
Further, it’s difficult to ensure and maintain sustainable, ethical business practices with partner companies on the other side of the world; differences in standards and delayed communication can create cannabis packages that produce massive emissions, harming the environment.
Sourcing cannabis packaging from local and domestic suppliers, however, is one of the best ways to ensure your cannabis company’s continued resilience in the face of potential supply chain disruptions.
Local sourcing minimizes business disruptions and, therefore, supports regular operations. Regular operations, in turn, help the community; they allow employees to retain their jobs in difficult times. In truly circular economies, this benefit increases even more.
Companies can continue supporting employees, and employees who can continue working will be able to support the community and the company itself. In this regard, cannabis companies emphasizing circular economies and local sourcing are more resilient simply because they are less likely to have operational halts.
Sourcing materials and manufacturing services from local businesses or companies in your region of the country allows for shorter lead times and more reliable deliveries. When working with local suppliers, your company will be able to get what you need when you need it without worrying about delays in international shipping.
These short lead times also allow for more flexibility and, therefore, enable your company to respond to delays with resiliency; your company can quickly pivot to another product or local supplier if necessary and will only have to wait days, not weeks or months, for the products to arrive.
Communicating with local suppliers is significantly more straightforward than with cross-planet business partners. Again, local supply chains are naturally protected from many potential disruptions. However, if and when disturbances do occur, the ease of communication between your cannabis company and your partners will enable you to quickly and easily sort things out and get your distribution back on track.
Sana Packaging is proud to work exclusively with local and domestic suppliers for our sustainable cannabis packaging materials. By working with us, you will be able to become a part of our local supply chain, strengthening the circular economy that is central to our mission. To learn more, request samples, and partner with us and other like-minded cannabis packaging suppliers, contact Sana Packaging today.
]]>Climate change, political instability, and the COVID-19 pandemic have all impacted global supply chains, disrupting the logistics of companies in every industry.
]]>Sana Packaging is a staunch supporter of local sourcing for our sustainable cannabis packaging materials. Here are six reasons why we believe that building a regional supply chain, rather than a global one, can help to create a more sustainable, ethical world — and help your business thrive, too.
First and foremost, the shorter and more localized your supply chain is, the less likely it is to be disturbed by supply chain disruptions. Working with manufacturers and distributors close to home frees your companies from worries about changes in international shipping regulations or political situations.
Even if your local supply chain is disrupted, you can resume normal operations much more quickly than a company that works with global suppliers and has to wait weeks — or even months — between shipments.
Though local sourcing is an excellent way to protect your company against supply chain disruptions, working with multiple local suppliers will provide even greater insurance. Partnering with various suppliers can also help to build a network of sustainable companies and positively impact the entire industry.
Sana Packaging has local and domestic partners to serve clients nationwide, whether you run a cannabis company based in New York or California. Partnering with multiple like-minded brands helps us to provide a wider variety of sustainable cannabis packaging options, serve clients across the country, and ensure that you get the products you need promptly, no matter what.
Communication is a cornerstone of business, but global supply chains can make this difficult. Local supply chains simplify communication, allowing your company to inquire about shipments, negotiate deals, and simply get to know the people you are working with — all of which can help your business grow and thrive.
In the case of potential supply chain disruptions, clear and convenient communication allows businesses to work together to update each other on the situation and devise a plan to get things moving again. Therefore, companies that leverage a local network of suppliers will be better prepared in case of logistical disruptions.
Working with local suppliers will also help you ensure transparency, ethicality, and sustainability at every supply chain step. Global supply chains are prone to a lack of transparency and the ethical and environmental transgressions accompanying an absence of oversight. Ensuring that local supply chains align with your company’s values is much easier.
Sana Packaging is deeply passionate about ethical and sustainable business practices, and it is essential to our mission that all of our own suppliers share the same values. By partnering with us, you can be sure that all the materials are ethically and sustainably sourced in our eco-friendly cannabis packaging supplies.
For most companies, shipping and logistics processes release more emissions than any other part of the business. These emissions can be drastically decreased simply by partnering with local suppliers.
Your company will use less fuel when products and materials travel a shorter distance to reach your facilities. Using less fuel decreases transportation costs, saving you money. It also reduces emissions, helping to lower your company’s carbon footprint.
Sustainability and ethical business practices are more critical now than ever. We are all responsible for helping minimize the harm we are doing to our planet, and choosing to work with local suppliers is an excellent way to embrace ethical, eco-friendly business practices.
More and more consumers are becoming aware of how important ethics and sustainability are, too. Customers are increasingly concerned with the sustainability of the brands they support, and consumers are more likely to purchase from companies they see as ethical. Choosing to embrace sustainable and ethical business practices can help your business gain more customers, make more money, and significantly positively impact the world and your local community.
Sana Packaging is a leading source of eco-friendly and ethically sourced cannabis packaging materials. We work with local and domestic suppliers to provide you with all the supplies you need to package your cannabis goods, and we do all we can to support local, circular economies.
We would love for your cannabis company to join our network of environmentally-conscious cannabis companies. Contact Sana Packaging today to request samples and learn more about how we can help you package your cannabis products with minimal environmental impact.
]]>As a novel industry focused on making positive changes in the community, the cannabis sector is uniquely well-suited to make eco-friendly changes to reduce its carbon footprint. Using eco-friendly packaging materials, like those available from Sana Packaging, is one of the most effective methods.
Sustainability is an essential part of carbon footprint reduction, and using recycled materials wherever possible is an excellent way to embrace sustainability.
Scientists estimate that more than 10 million tons of plastic are dumped into the oceans yearly, polluting our environment, harming animals, and profoundly affecting human health. Manufacturers who choose to use recycled plastics as a packaging material are also choosing not to contribute further single-use plastic pollution to our waterways and natural spaces.
Recycled materials, such as glass and reclaimed ocean-bound plastic, produce far less emissions than newly manufactured materials. The exact number varies depending on the precise recycling process, but typically, creating recycled packaging produces about 30% less emissions than manufacturing packaging from new materials.
Sana Packaging is incredibly passionate about the importance of recycled and reclaimed materials for cannabis packaging. We carry a line of cannabis packages made from 100% reclaimed and recycled ocean-bound plastic; to date, Sana Packaging has saved more than half a million pounds of plastic from the world’s waterways. We also partner with Tree Hugger Containers to provide high-content recycled glass containers.
Whether your company is choosing to use recycled materials to adhere to post-consumer recycled cannabis packaging regulations in your state or because your brand is as passionate about the environment as we are, Sana Packaging can provide you with all the recycled plastic cannabis packaging you need.
Choosing to avoid conventional packaging materials such as virgin petroleum-based plastics can also help your company to reduce its carbon footprint.
Plant-based bioplastics, like hemp plastic, are an excellent alternative to traditional packaging materials. Hemp plastic is stronger than petroleum-based plastics, lightweight, and can be biodegradable. It has a distinctive look that can make your company’s cannabis products stand out on dispensary shelves, and it can help minimize your carbon footprint by reducing waste.
Because hemp plastic is so sturdy, it is excellent for reuse; consumers can reuse hemp plastic joint tubes repeatedly. Sana Packaging has even designed many of our hemp plastic products with reuse in mind; our hemp container is resealable and sturdy enough for everyday use, and the lid doubles as a mini rolling tray.
If your company wants to switch to hemp-based plastic packaging, Sana Packaging can help. With multiple sizes of preroll tubes, a flower container, and other hemp accessories like rolling papers and hemp paperboard boxes through our partnership with Hemp Press, we can supply your cannabusiness with everything you need to reduce your carbon footprint using hemp.
No matter what packaging materials you choose, working with local distributors is an excellent way to reduce your carbon footprint even further.
Transportation and supply chain operations are significant drivers of carbon emissions for most companies, contributing a considerable percentage of the organization’s overall carbon footprint. Choosing to work with local suppliers can help to cut down on the distance that your packages have to travel to get to you, reducing your emissions and, therefore, your overall carbon footprint. Sana Packaging works with local and domestic suppliers to minimize our transportation emissions and get your orders to you quickly.
Locally sourcing your cannabis packaging materials can have a positive impact on more than just your company’s carbon footprint.
Obtaining your cannabis packaging supplies from local manufacturers and distributors is an excellent way to contribute to the community in which you operate. Since federal regulations have largely divided the United States cannabis industry across state lines, sourcing your packages locally will strengthen your local economy and community.
Working with local eco-friendly cannabis packaging suppliers can help you make a noticeable difference in your community, too. Investing in local businesses and supporting sustainability initiatives in your backyard will allow your cannabis company to make a real difference in the world around you and could encourage other members of your cannabis community to do the same.
Sana Packaging is your one-stop shop for reducing your carbon footprint through sustainable packaging options. We offer various sustainable cannabis packages, full customization, eco-friendly printing and labeling, and low-emission shipping. To request samples of our products or set up a consultation, contact Sana Packaging today.
]]>Like all states with adult-use or medical cannabis markets, New York regulates cannabis packaging. The state has set itself apart with some forward-thinking requirements.
New York is currently one of the only states to require that all cannabis products sold in state-licensed dispensaries be packaged with at least 25% post-consumer recycled (PCR) materials. By emphasizing eco-friendly packaging materials, the Empire State is securing the sustainability of its burgeoning cannabis industry.
As most states do, New York also has cannabis packaging regulations meant to ensure the safety of consumers.
New York cannabis packaging must be:
- Child-resistant
- Clearly labeled with effects, warnings, and other product information
- Tamper-evident
- Resealable
- Airtight
Additionally, New York carefully regulates cannabis packaging to ensure it does not appeal to minors under 21.
Though all New York cannabis companies must adhere to the regulations above, there is more that NY cannabrands can do to set their products apart, appeal to customers and ensure their product’s safety and quality.
Not all recycled packaging materials are equal. Choosing exceptionally high-quality materials for cannabis packaging ensures compliance, protects the integrity of the product, and encourages reuse, strengthening the circular economy for plastics and glass.
Sana Packaging’s products are thick, sturdy, and made from 100% recycled and reclaimed materials.
Your cannabis company doesn’t have to sacrifice aesthetics to create eco-friendly, compliant cannabis packaging for products sold in New York State.
Sana Packaging offers full customization on all of our eco-friendly cannabis packages, allowing you to comply with regulations, minimize your impact on the environment, and stand out on dispensary shelves — all at the same time.
In addition to using at least 25% PCR in your cannabis packaging, your company can further sustainability by supporting eco-friendly initiatives. You can do both by working with Sana Packaging since we make our recycled plastic products with reclaimed ocean-bound plastic. Sana Packaging lets your cannabis company comply with NY regulations and help keep our waterways clean at the same time.
Choosing eco-friendly and sustainable packaging materials is the best practice for cannabis companies in New York for several reasons.
First and foremost, cannabis companies in New York must use sustainable packaging materials to comply with regulations. To be stocked on dispensary shelves, sold to customers, and to operate as a business in the New York cannabis industry, cannabis companies must use at least 25% PCR materials to package their products.
Choosing sustainable materials can help cannabrands create and maintain a positive brand image. More consumers than ever are concerned with the sustainability of companies they support and the environmental impact of the products they buy. Cannabis companies can cater to these eco-friendly consumers by using eco-friendly packaging materials.
In a state requiring at least 25% PCR material in all cannabis packaging, cannabis brands must do more to stand out. Consider opting for space-saving packaging to cut shipping costs, or use 100% recycled materials to do your part to reduce single-use plastic waste.
Ultimately, we all have a responsibility to take care of the planet we live on. Companies in the cannabis industry, especially, need to take action to reduce their environmental impact. Choosing sustainable packaging and labeling options, like those from Sana Packaging, will allow your company to pursue sustainability as you help to grow the New York cannabis industry.
Sana Packaging is the best source for sustainable cannabis labeling and packaging solutions in New York. With a wide range of products, simple customization services, and an unmatched depth of knowledge on sustainability in the cannabis industry, we can help your cannabis company embrace eco-friendly packaging and positively impact the world.
Contact us today to source the packaging materials you need to comply with NY cannabis regulations.
]]>ESG stands for environmental, social, and corporate governance. It refers to a set of ideals that outline ethicality in business.
It is essential for cannabis companies, specifically, to embrace the ideals of ESG. As members of a burgeoning industry, cannabusinesses have the opportunity to help shape industry-wide norms and practices. Cannabis cultivation and distribution can significantly affect the environment, so it’s essential to work to minimize these harms. Additionally, the cannabis industry is, by nature, deeply rooted in social causes — and environmentalism is a social cause, too.
Care for the environment is one of the cornerstones of ESG. How, exactly, does ESG support eco-friendly business practices?
Though ESG can refer to a general set of values, it can also refer to a concrete, quantifiable set of guidelines and an accompanying score.
Many organizations provide ESG audits, each with a slightly different scoring system and criteria. Generally speaking, however, the requirements are relatively similar.
To address the environmental component of an ESG score, auditing companies look at factors relating to a company’s overall sustainability and environmental consciousness, such as:
- Does the company use eco-friendly materials?
- Does it adhere to sustainable manufacturing processes?
- How does it distribute its goods?
- Does it participate in any carbon offset programs or other sustainability-focused initiatives?
There are many things that cannabis companies can do to address the environmental dimension of ESG guidelines.
For cannabis companies that create packaged goods, switching to sustainable cannabis packaging solutions is one of the first things to consider. Reclaimed plastic, recycled glass, or plant-based bioplastic are excellent options for sustainable packaging materials.
Whether based in a state like New York that requires cannabis packaging to be made partially of post-consumer waste or setting a sustainable example as an individual company, Sana Packaging has eco-friendly cannabis packaging solutions to fit your unique needs.
Choosing local or regional suppliers can also significantly impact your company’s sustainability. Working with local suppliers will reduce the fuel needed to transport materials to your company’s warehouses or manufacturing facilities, lowering your overall carbon footprint.
At Sana Packaging, we work with local and domestic suppliers to reduce emissions and ensure you receive your packaging materials on time.
No matter what type of cannabis company you run, sustainable practices are essential to ensure the environment's health. Small changes can add up to make significant differences, and you don’t have to sacrifice aesthetics or effectiveness to switch to more sustainable practices.
Sana Packaging offers complete customization of all our products, and we use eco-friendly printing and labeling practices whenever possible. This way, you can promote your company, highlight your products, and respect the environment simultaneously.
Changing your business practices isn’t the only way to increase your environmental score on your next ESG report. Your company can also make a difference by supporting organizations and initiatives that promote the health of our planet.
Sana Packaging supports initiatives to remove and keep single-use plastic out of the ocean; as of early 2023, we had successfully repurposed over half a million pounds of ocean-bound plastic into our reclaimed plastic cannabis packaging.
You can also help to strengthen the sustainability of the cannabis industry as a whole by choosing to work with other like-minded companies. By partnering with other cannabusinesses passionate about the environment, you will strengthen your ESG scores and help make the cannabis industry a more sustainable, ethical field.
At Sana Packaging, we have partnered with Tree Hugger Containers, Hero Packaging, and Hemp Press to source high-quality sustainable packaging materials. We also love that we can supply so many incredible cannabis companies who are just as passionate about the environment as we are.
If your cannabis business manufactures or distributes consumable products, you must prioritize packaging that is kind to the environment. Sana Packaging is your one-stop shop for fully customizable, eco-friendly cannabis packaging materials.
Contact us today to join the coalition of cannabis companies concerned about our planet's future and learn more about how we can help support your ESG goals.
]]>The importance of sustainability and eco-friendly practices holds especially true in newer sectors of the cannabis industry, such as in New England and the Northeast United States. This blog will discuss the Connecticut cannabis industry and how Sana Packaging can help cannabis companies in CT ensure their businesses are as environmentally friendly as possible.
Yes, cannabis is legal in Connecticut for medical and adult use. The bill legalizing adult use, S.B. 1201, was signed into law and took effect in 2021. Residents and visitors of the Constitution State now have access to high-quality, regulated cannabis products from state-licensed dispensaries.
Cannabis products sold in Connecticut are subject to rules and regulations governing quality, sale, and packaging. In CT, cannabis packages must:
- Be opaque.
- Be child-resistant.
- Use plain packaging; edible labels must be in black and white, and other types of products may only use a single color.
- Display the cannabinoid content, serving size, and use instructions.
- Include the universal symbol for cannabis and multiple state-specific warning statements.
- Contain a complete list of ingredients.
- List safety and quality information, such as expiration date, testing information, and batch identification.
Though Connecticut does not currently require cannabis manufacturers to use sustainable materials or eco-friendly packaging materials, it is a good idea for manufacturers and retailers to adopt protocols to ensure the sustainability of their companies.
Some states in the Northeastern U.S., such as New York, require cannabis companies to use recycled materials in their packaging. Other states may adopt similar regulations in the future. More consumers are concerned with the sustainability of the companies they support, so upholding eco-friendly practices can be an excellent way for cannabis companies to set themselves apart and capture more customers. Additionally, cannabis companies are responsible for ensuring the health of the planet that produces the plant the industry is based upon.
For ethically minded cannabusinesses in CT, Sana Packaging offers sustainable packaging solutions.
In Connecticut, all cannabis products must be packaged in opaque containers. Using opaque materials ensures the product's longevity by protecting it from light exposure and minimizes the risk of accidental ingestion. Sana Packaging offers many opaque cannabis packages made from sustainable materials.
Sana Packaging’s ocean line is fully opaque and made from 100% reclaimed ocean-bound plastic. We currently offer small preroll tubes, two varieties of large preroll tubes, and a four-ounce jar made of reclaimed ocean-bound plastic. We also offer a complete line of packages made from hemp-based plastic. Our small hemp tubes, large hemp tubes, and 3.5-gram containers are all made from uniquely eye-catching and naturally opaque plant-based plastic.
All cannabis packages in Connecticut must also be child-resistant. Lids must be resealable and difficult for a child to open, and individual doses of edibles must be wrapped separately.
Sana Packaging offers many different child-resistant cannabis packaging solutions, all fully customizable and made from environmentally friendly materials. Our joint tubes are all resealable and come equipped with child-resistant lids. Sana jars are compatible with all child-resistant 53-400 closures, including our Ocean Screw-Top Lids.
Connecticut cannabis packaging must be relatively plain and display disclaimers, universal symbols and information about the product inside. It can be difficult to find and create eye-catching, compliant labels and even more challenging to produce them using eco-friendly practices, which is why Sana Packaging offers a solution.
Sana Packaging offers complete customization of all our products so your cannabrand can comply with CT regulations while standing out to dispensary customers and minimizing your environmental impact. We have tested all of our materials to ensure quality and longevity, and we will work with you to perfect your designs.
Sana Packaging works with domestic and local partners to minimize shipping emissions and get you the packaging and labeling materials you need on time, every time. We offer label printing and application, direct printing, hemp paperboard and outer packaging, and add-ons like tamper-evident seals to help your products comply with all regulations, appeal to eco-minded customers, and stand out on dispensary shelves.
For cannabrands that want to positively impact the world around them while capturing consumer interest, Sana Packaging is your one-stop shop. We offer sustainable, compliant packaging for all types of cannabis products, and we care about the environment just as much as you do.
Contact us today to make a difference in the cannabis community and the world.
]]>As a sustainable packaging brand that designs and develops cannabis packaging for a circular economy using plant-based, reclaimed, and recycled materials, we at Sana Packaging greatly value the role of sustainability in the cannabis industry. Here, we’ve compiled a list of the best conferences for sustainable cannabis companies to attend in 2023, broken down by geographic region. Maybe we’ll see you on the show floor or at a booth!
The cannabis industry in the northeast is thriving. From New York and New Jersey’s brand-new cannabis markets to Massachusetts and Maine’s more established industries, there’s much to get excited about — and plenty of opportunity — at northeastern conferences.
Focused exclusively on the New York cannabis market, NECANN expects this installment of their northeast-based conference series to sell out — so both attendees and exhibitors need to register early to take part in this exciting event. With nearly 20 expert presenters and dozens of exhibitors, this event is a can’t-miss for anyone interested in the New York hemp and cannabis industry. Sustainable cannabis companies, especially, need to have this event on their radar since New York has passed a mandate that all packaging must be made partially from recycled materials.
NECANN New York will be held on September 29-30, 2023, at the Albany Capital Center in Albany, New York.
Honorable Mentions: NECANN Atlantic City — September 8-9, 2023
Several midwestern states have growing cannabis industries. There are some inspiring conferences happening in America’s Heartland.
Hosted in St. Louis, Missouri, this conference presents an incredible opportunity for sustainable hemp and cannabis companies. Missouri has recently passed laws legalizing cannabis on a broader scale, so it’s an excellent time for cannabusinesses to invest in the Midwest. At the conference, nearly 30 presenters will deliver talks, lessons, and live demonstrations on everything from cannabis cultivation to managing a cannabis business. Since more than 40 exhibitors and counting will join the lineup, this B2B show is a great way to connect with other professionals and explore new partnerships.
Lucky Leaf Expo will be held in St. Louis on October 6-7, 2023, at the St. Charles Convention Center.
Next on our calendar is MJ Unpacked. This B2B conference connects innovative hemp, cannabis, and ancillary companies with investors and potential clients. With a massive roster of brands, retailers, and investors in attendance every year, this event provides an incredible opportunity for cannabis companies poised for expansion. Sustainability is a hot topic in the cannabis industry, so this event is an excellent opportunity for cannabis companies focused on sustainability.
MJ Unpacked will be held on October 10-12, 2023, at the Motorcity Casino Hotel in Detroit, Michigan.
Honorable Mention: CannaCon Detroit — October 6-7, 2023
Rounding out our roster of sustainable cannabis conferences in the United States are a couple of events in the trade show super-center of the United States: Las Vegas.
This conference’s claim to fame is that they are the only conference in Las Vegas permitted to have product samples on the tradeshow floor. Beyond that, this event will also see experienced speakers, after-party events, hundreds of cannabis suppliers, thousands of buyers, and more.
Green Label Expo will be held on October 31- November 1, 2023, in Las Vegas and is hosted by Nuwu Dispensary.
We probably don’t even need to introduce this one. The 12th annual MJBizCon event will be as exciting and action-packed as every event in years past. This conference brings together cannabis professionals from all corners of the industry to network, learn from each other, and connect with potential clients.
Sana Packaging will be in attendance, too! Visit us at [location].
MJBizCon will be held from November 28 through December 1 at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Nevada.
Honorable Mention: Lucky Leaf Expo New Mexico — September 22-23, 2023
Cannabis conferences are great ways to connect with the industry — and are also tons of fun. Stop by to say hello if you’re also attending MJBizCon this year, or contact us virtually here.
]]>Like all states, New Jersey has specific requirements about the information on cannabis labels and what the labels can look like.
First and foremost, labels on cannabis products intended for sale in New Jersey must display the universal symbol for cannabis. This symbol, a graphic representation of a seven-pointed cannabis leaf inside a triangle, can be seen on regulated cannabis packages across most states.
The state of New Jersey has also set forth additional specifications on the size, placement, and exact appearance of this symbol on cannabis packaging.
Cannabis labels in New Jersey are also strictly prohibited from using imaging or rhetoric that might appeal to children or those under the legal age for cannabis consumption in the state.
Cannabis companies can apply some common-sense guidelines to comply with this regulation. Cannabis packages in NJ should not mimic the designs of established candy or snack brands, should not feature vivid styles or cartoon characters, and should not encourage irresponsible consumption.
In New Jersey, child-resistant cannabis packaging must also include various consumer health and safety information. Information that may need to be included on cannabis packages in NJ includes:
- Net weight
- Production and expiration dates
- Ingredients (including manufacturing ingredients)
- Cultivar name
- Storage instructions
- Growing method (for cannabis flower packages)
- Serving size
- Number of servings
- Cannabinoid content
- Poison control hotline information
- A clear disclaimer that the product contains cannabis
The exact information required will depend on the product type; flower has different labeling requirements than edibles. In any case, this information must all be clearly and prominently displayed on the cannabis CRP.
Sana Packaging can fully customize all our products, ensuring your cannabis company complies with New Jersey cannabis labeling legislation. Our printing and labeling services are efficient, eco-friendly, and easy to use; additionally, we use local and domestic partners to cut down on shipping emissions and ensure you get your cannabis labels when needed.
Beyond the labels, the containers of the cannabis products sold in New Jersey are subject to additional rules and regulations.
To be legally sold in New Jersey, child-resistant cannabis packaging must be tamper-proof and, therefore, tamper-evident. Features such as lid wraps, overwraps, and tearaway closures on resealable products can all help to keep the customer safe by ensuring that the product has not been tampered with or adulterated at any point between its departure from the manufacturing facility and its arrival at a dispensary or consumer’s home.
Most of Sana Packaging’s products can be upgraded with tamper-proof and tamper-evident seals.
Packages for cannabis sold in New Jersey must also be opaque. Opaque materials protect the product from light, which can degrade its quality. It also keeps the product obscured from view, reducing the chances that curious children will accidentally ingest it.
Sana Packaging offers many opaque cannabis CRP container options, from our recycled, reclaimed ocean-bound line to our plant-based hemp plastic line.
Cannabis packages that contain more than one serving of product must be resealable to be legally sold in New Jersey, keeping the product inside fresh and in optimal condition for longer. It also keeps the product safer; open cannabis products are more likely to be accidentally consumed by children or pets and can be more easily contaminated.
Sana Packaging’s preroll tubes, flower containers, and concentrate jars are all securely resealable to keep your cannabis product and consumers safe.
Though it’s not yet an official state requirement in New Jersey, many states require recycled or sustainable packaging in their regulated cannabis markets. New York, a neighbor to NJ, has been influential in pushing for this change; it’s not unlikely that the burgeoning cannabis industry in New Jersey will follow suit and require or encourage cannabis manufacturers and retailers to choose eco-friendly and sustainable CRP materials.
All of Sana Packaging’s products are sustainable. We care deeply about the planet and strive to revolutionize the cannabis packaging industry with eco-friendly materials such as reclaimed and recycled ocean-bound plastic, high-content recycled glass, and plant-based plastics. You can join us in making a difference by switching to sustainable packaging for your cannabis business.
Sana Packaging is the leading source of compliant and eco-friendly cannabis CRP. We are excited to serve clients in the New Jersey area. We are honored to help the blossoming cannabis industry in the state grow and thrive with our high-quality, customizable, and eco-friendly cannabis packaging.
Contact us today to start making your New Jersey cannabis company more sustainable while adhering to state regulations.
]]>Thankfully, New York has already established regulations to ensure the state’s burgeoning cannabis industry embraces eco-friendly practices as it grows. Sana Packaging is here to supply NY cannabis producers with the packaging they need to comply with every aspect of New York’s cannabis packing regulations.
Lawmakers in New York State recently ruled that all cannabis packaging must be made from at least 25% post-consumer recycled (PCR) materials. This move ensures cannabis producers working in the state are mindful of the effects the cannabis industry can have on the environment. Luckily, opting for recycled plastic packaging will still allow easy access and easy recycling for NY cannabis consumers.
Like many other states, New York also has safety requirements regarding cannabis packaging. In New York state, adult-use cannabis must be packaged in child-resistant containers. The labels on these products must not be appealing to children and must clearly disclose the cannabinoid content and dosage information.
In short, cannabis packaging in New York State must be child-resistant, clearly labeled, and made from at least 25% PCR plastic. Sana Packaging has numerous packaging solutions that fulfill all of these requirements.
Pre-rolls are among the most popular types of cannabis products, so naturally, Sana Packaging offers several options for sustainable pre-roll tubes.
Our 78mm Ocean Tubes are made from 100% reclaimed ocean-bound plastic. They are perfect for small and mini prerolls, 0.5g vape cartridges, and some 1g cartridges. They are reusable, #2 recyclable, and come equipped with a child-resistant lid. We offer complete customization for these USA-made joint tubes through our printing and labeling services.
Sana Packaging 116mm Ocean Tubes can easily accommodate full-size prerolls and king-size prerolls, cones, blunts, and larger vape pens and vape cartridges. They are also made from 100% reclaimed ocean-bound plastic and are reusable and #5 recyclable. Our large joint tubes include a child-resistant lid and can be fully customized, as well.
We also carry 100% recycled ocean-bound plastic pre-roll tubes made from PET plastic. PET plastic is #1 recyclable and one of the most widely-used plastics worldwide. Accordingly, most consumers can access recycling services for this item. The pre-roll tubes feature an improved design, are fully customizable with our printing and labeling services, and can fit up to a king-size preroll or 10cm vape pen.
Sana Packaging also carries a 4oz jar made from 100% reclaimed ocean-bound plastic for flower, edibles, and topicals. Like the rest of our Ocean line, these jars are food-grade certified, so they are perfect for edibles, topicals, or up to 7g of flower. Sana Ocean Jars are #2 recyclable, reusable, and fully compatible with all child-resistant 53-400 lids.
To complete our Ocean Jar offerings, Sana Packaging also carries child-resistant 53-400 screw-top lids made from the same recycled, food-grade, #2 recyclable plastic as our jars. The lids and jars are fully customizable with our labeling and customization services.
If your company prefers glass, our lids pair well with 2oz and 4oz high-content recycled glass jars by partner company Tree Hugger Containers.
Sana Packaging is your most comprehensive source of cannabis packages that comply with both sustainability and safety regulations in New York State. Our full complement of 100% recycled and child-resistant jars, lids, and pre-roll tubes are all fully customizable via our packaging and labeling services.
Contact us today to get started with compliant packaging and labeling for your cannabis company so you can partake in New York’s cannabis industry’s bright future.
]]>Recently, however, it has begun making a comeback. Sana Packaging is doing its part to use this incredible plant to create a more sustainable future, offering fully customizable hemp packaging as part of our central product line and partnering with like-minded companies. Read on to discover how your company can make a difference by choosing hemp packaging for your products.
Generally speaking, hemp packaging is any type of packaging material made out of hemp. It can be further subdivided into several categories, though.
Hemp paper is multipurpose material manufactured in thin sheets from the pulp of cannabis plants explicitly cultivated for their fibrous qualities.
Hemp pulp can be processed into anything from thick, sturdy paperboard to thin, smooth-burning hemp rolling papers. Though it can be dyed or printed on, natural hemp paper has a beautiful golden-brown color and a subtly textured appearance.
Hemp plastic is made in part from the fiber of hemp plant's stalk. Sana Packaging uses a 100% petroleum-free, 100% plant-based hemp plastic biocomposite for all our hemp containers. Hemp plastic can be customized and naturally has a chocolate-brown color and unique texture, making it stand out on shelves.
There are more benefits to hemp-derived packaging than we can list here, but there are a few main advantages to using these materials.
Hemp packaging has a lower overall environmental footprint than many other types of packaging. Hemp requires little water, grows quickly, and does not contribute to deforestation.
Additionally, hemp-based plastics do not contribute to the massive amount of petroleum-based plastic waste already polluting landfills and waterways across the globe.
Hemp packaging is inherently free of many of the toxic additives and compounds used to manufacture petroleum-based plastics. Avoiding toxic and potentially harmful ingredients is especially important when packaging consumable goods, such as cannabis and psychedelic products.
Finally, eco-friendly packaging is a great way to highlight your brand’s values. Hemp packaging has a unique look that will stand out on shelves in dispensaries and smoke shops, especially when customized with your brand’s label. It’s important to keep your brand messaging consistent, and using sustainable packaging is a great way to emphasize that your company cares about the environment.
Hemp packaging solutions are available for virtually any type of product.
Sana’s hemp container is designed to hold cannabis flower but can package many other products, such as edibles, concentrates, and vape cartridges. The fully customizable and child-resistant lid adheres to cannabis packaging requirements (and doubles as a rolling tray), and the nested design allows for more efficient, eco-friendly transport and storage.
Sana’s hemp tubes are a unique, eco-friendly way to package and store pre-rolls, blunts, and vape cartridges. Our hemp tubes come in two sizes: 78mm hemp tubes are ideal for mini prerolls and smaller vape cartridges, and 110mm hemp tubes are perfect for king-sized prerolls, blunts, and larger vape cartridges. Both sizes feature child-resistant closures and can be customized with your brand’s logo or label.
Sana Packaging has partnered with Hemp Press, a company as passionate about hemp and sustainability as we are, to supply your company with high-quality hemp paperboard boxes, inserts, and more. Fully customized hemp paperboard packaging can put the finishing touch on your cannabis or psychedelic product packaging.
Your company can also choose to use hemp wraps and hemp rolling papers when packaging your flower products. We partner with Custom Cones USA to supply top-quality hemp rolling papers, cones, and blunt wraps to your cannabis business. These hemp wraps and rolling papers are available in several different sizes and varieties.
Sana Packaging offers full customization services for all our products and works with local producers to ensure shipping is fast, efficient, and has the lowest possible footprint. We provide you with label templates to ensure you have the sustainable packaging materials you need when you need them.
Contact Sana today to learn more, request a free sample, and join us as we make the cannabis industry more sustainable through hemp packaging.
]]>Ensuring your product’s packaging is eco-friendly is just as important as ensuring the product is sustainable. Many eco-friendly packaging options are available for all types of cannabis products.
Sometimes plastic is unavoidable, but there are a few ways that cannabis companies can mitigate the impact of their plastic packaging.
Choose #1 or #2 recyclable PET plastics whenever possible. These plastics have the most robust recycling programs, making them most likely to be successfully recycled.
Plant-based plastics, like hemp bioplastic, are also viable and more sustainable than virgin petroleum-based plastics. Bioplastics can be used to make plant-based packaging materials that don’t contribute to the glut of single-use petroleum-based plastic plaguing the earth. Sana Packaging makes plant-based hemp plastic pre-roll tubes, vape tubes, and boxes for cannabis products.
Recycled and reclaimed plastics are also more sustainable than virgin plastics. Sana Packaging uses 100% reclaimed ocean-bound plastic in many products, from pre-roll tubes to flower jars, and has reclaimed over half a million pounds of ocean-bound plastic since 2019.
Glass is an excellent eco friendly choice for many different types of cannabis products. In fact, most glass is already composed of 15% to 30% recycled content.
If your company is primarily concerned with reducing waste, glass containers are a great option because glass is easer to recycle than plastic due to our robust glass recycling system.
Glass made with more recycled content has an even lower footprint. Sana Packaging works with TreeHugger Containers and Hero Packaging to source glass containers made of up to 75% recycled materials.
Clean paperboard packaging is often the finishing touch for cannabis and other packaged products. Carefully choosing materials for paper and paperboard packaging can also help sustainability efforts.
Recycled paper, paperboard, or cardboard can help reduce the virgin material required to meet your company’s packaging needs. Recycled paper uses less water and energy and does not contribute to deforestation. However, paper cannot be infinitely recycled, so this application has limits.
Hemp paper is another excellent option for paperboard packaging. Hemp paper, even virgin hemp paper, does not contribute to deforestation. Additionally, hemp paper is much more renewable than traditional paper, as hemp grows much more quickly than trees.
We work with Hemp Press to provide customers with hemp paperboard packaging made from 75% post-consumer recycled paper and 25% hemp.
Embracing sustainability and eco-friendly packaging doesn’t have to mean sacrificing branding or aesthetics.
Sana Packaging offers custom labeling on all of our products. We work with Leapin’ Lizard Labels to produce beautiful, eye-catching labels with minimal possible environmental impact. Soy-based and water-based printing technologies paired with sustainable packaging options will make your products stand out without having a massive effect on the environment.
It’s also essential to ensure that your shipping, distribution, and general business practices are sustainable. Here are four environmentally-friendly practices that your company can adopt.
If you ship your products, one of the most significant things you can do is opt for eco-friendly or carbon-offset delivery options. These shipping methods either release less pollution into the atmosphere or engage in initiatives to offset their footprint.
Sana Packaging automatically includes carbon offsets on all of our products and shipments; when you order from Sana Packaging, you won’t have to worry about the carbon footprint of your chosen delivery method. You can also choose to use carbon offset, carbon-neutral, or green transportation methods when shipping your own finished products.
You can also reduce your company’s carbon footprint by choosing local goods and services. Cutting your products' transportation time and distance by keeping things local can help to make your business more environmentally friendly.
Sana Packaging works with multiple local and domestic producers. This ensures a fast and reliable turnaround time and reduces shipping expenses and environmental impacts.
While sustainability is the ultimate goal, it’s essential to also comply with the regulations surrounding cannabis in your area.
To ensure your company's continued operation and your customers' safety, it’s important to prioritize cannabis packaging regulations and requirements. For example, you should never opt for an eco friendly pre-roll tube over one with a secure, child-resistant closure and tamper-evident packaging.
Luckily, with Sana Packaging, you don’t have to try to balance regulatory requirements and sustainability. Our products are child-resistant, resealable, and can be made tamper-evident. When you work with Sana Packaging, you can offer sustainable, eco-friendly packaging that complies with cannabis packaging requirements.
Finally, you can increase your sustainability by working with companies that emphasize the environment. Create a network of responsible cannabis growers, manufacturers, packagers, and distributors for a supply chain that is as sustainable as possible.
Partnering with like-minded companies will make it easier to stick to your sustainability mission and allow you to become an industry leader in eco-friendly practices.
Sana Packaging is the best source of sustainable, effective, and fully customized cannabis packaging products. With various product types and limitless customization options, Sana Packaging provides everything you need to begin reducing your cannabis company’s carbon footprint.
Contact us today to learn more about our products, request a sample, and join the coalition of cannabis companies working towards a more sustainable future.
]]>Just like everything else, cannabis vape packaging goes through trends. In 2023, we see a few key trends emerge.
Consumers are increasingly looking for products made from sustainable materials that are recyclable or compostable. This leads to a growing demand for cannabis vape cartridges made from recycled or sustainably sourced materials.
Consumers want to know precisely what they are buying, and they want to be able to trust that the products they are consuming are safe and of high quality. Cannabis consumers want vape cartridges clearly labeled with information about the product's ingredients, potency, and testing results.
Of course, aesthetics remain important in cannabis vape packaging. Consumers want visually appealing products that reflect their style, resulting in a rise in cannabis vape cartridges designed with various colors, textures, and designs.
Cannabis vape cartridges are disposable, prefilled cartridges typically compatible with 510-threaded batteries. They are usually small cylinders, less than an inch in diameter and a couple of inches long. These cartridges, or “carts,” are designed to be thrown away once empty, though the batteries are designed to be recharged and reused. 510-threaded batteries are typically no-frills, with minimal functions, setting options, and an emphasis on convenience and ease of use.
Cannabis vape cartridges are packaged in tubes, foil bags, or small paperboard boxes. More often than not, these packages are made of new materials, including virgin plastics. Though parts of plastic tubes and paperboard boxes are usually recyclable, the vast amount of trash from cannabis vape cartridges will end up in landfills or the environment.
Cannabis vape packaging is typically brightly colored and eye-catching, with creative branding designed to stand out from similar products on dispensary and smoke shop shelves. These packages usually feature strong branding and information about the company, cultivar, and cannabinoid content of the cartridge.
Cartridge packaging must adhere to several laws and regulations as well. Depending on where it is being sold, cannabis vape cartridges may need to be childproof or child-resistant, securely sealable, and tamper-evident. Most states also require vape cartridge packages to feature a QR code that leads to lab test information on the company’s website.
Consumers are more concerned than ever about purchasing sustainable products from eco-friendly companies, and it’s time for cannabis vape packaging to catch up. We predict that the future of cannabis vape cartridge packing will move in a sustainable direction, shifting toward eco-friendly packaging materials that don’t sacrifice aesthetics or design.
There are many promising solutions for the future of cannabis vape packaging. The two most prominent are plant-based plastic tubes and reclaimed ocean-bound plastic tubes.
Some plant-based plastic tubes are made at partially out of hemp. Hemp is a fast-growing, relatively sustainable crop that can create durable and lightweight bioplastics.
Hemp plastic also has a distinctive, natural look. This can be a great feature for companies that want to emphasize their environmental responsibility. The lightly textured, natural-colored tubes stand out compared to standard white and clear plastic packaging, and when you add custom logos and labels to hemp tubes, your product pops on the shelf.
Cannabis vape cartridge packaging made from reclaimed ocean-bound plastic is another great option for more sustainable cannabis vape cartridge packaging. Reclaimed ocean-bound plastic refers to plastic waste in danger of being washed into the ocean. It is collected, recycled, and turned into products that help to keep plastic out of our oceans and waterways.
Sana Packaging is one of the premier sources of sustainable and eco-friendly cannabis packaging solutions. We offer many fully customizable products, including plant-based and reclaimed tubes for cannabis vape cartridges.
Sana Packaging uses 100% plant-based and chemical-free hemp plastic made from hemp and corn. We offer several different products from our plant-based hemp plastic, but the most popular for packaging cannabis vape cartridges is our 78mm Hemp Tube.
Sana Packaging also offers reclaimed ocean-bound plastic packaging for vape cartridges and more. Our most popular size for vape cartridges is our 78mm Ocean Tube. Additionally, the Hemp Tube and Ocean Tube can both double as pre-roll tubes, giving your company increased flexibility and functionality when assessing cannabis packing solutions.
Contact us today to learn more about our products, request a sample, or discuss customization options. We would be honored to help you reduce your cannabis company’s footprint and simultaneously stand out from the sea of competing products.
]]>Usually, pre roll marijuana packages are small plastic tubes. They can range from just big enough for a mini joint to large enough for a pre rolled king-size cone or even a blunt. They typically have resealable flip-top caps, screw-off lids, or sometimes corks.
Pre roll joint packages are tamper-evident and child-resistant to adhere to general packaging requirements. Many pre roll tubes are resealable and airtight, too.
Pre roll tubes can also be used to store vape cartridges and some disposable vapes, depending on their size and shape.
First and foremost, pre roll joint packaging ensures the overall quality of the cannabis product. High-quality pre roll tubes keep the joint or blunt inside perfectly fresh and unblemished until it is bought and smoked. The airtight, smell-proof seal and tamper-evident marijuana packaging help to protect the quality and integrity of the pre roll itself
Pre roll packages also help keep consumers safe. Child-resistant packaging helps to ensure cannabis products won’t fall into the wrong hands. Pre roll tubes printed with health and safety information also give vital consumer information.
Finally, pre roll joint packaging allows brand leaders to make products stand out. Eye-catching custom labels, innovative design, and unique cannabis packaging materials will set your pre rolls ahead of the competition.
Cannabis companies have access to more options for eco-friendly, child-resistant pre roll packaging than ever.
Pre roll tubes made from plant-based hemp plastic offer an eco-friendly alternative to traditional plastic tubes. Hemp tubes from Sana Packaging are 100% petroleum-free and chemical-free and help to keep conventional plastics out of landfills.
Plant-based hemp plastic pre roll tubes are available in several sizes to fit a wide range of products.
- 110mm hemp pre roll tubes perfectly fit a king-sized pre roll, 109mm cone, or 1g blunt. They will also fit a smaller pre roll with room to spare.
- 78mm hemp pre roll tubes are perfect for mini pre rolls, 84mm cones, and 0.5g blunts.
Pre roll tubes made from reclaimed ocean-bound plastic are also excellent options for cannabis companies looking for additional sustainable cannabis packaging options. Ocean-bound plastic pre roll tubes reroute plastic waste that would have likely ended up in the ocean and recycle it into new products instead.
Ocean-bound pre roll tubes also come in a variety of sizes and forms.
- 110mm PET ocean-bound pre roll tubes fit king-size pre rolls, conventional pre rolls, 109mm cones, and 1g blunts. Sana Packaging manufactures these pre roll tubes with a reclaimed #1 plastic, the most widely recycled type of plastic.
- 78mm ocean-bound pre roll tubes are perfect for mini pre rolls, 84mm cones, .5g blunts and vape carts. These tubes are made using reclaimed #2 plastics, which is the second most widely recycled type of plastic.
- 116mm ocean-bound pre roll tubes fit king-size pre rolls, 109mm cones, and 1g blunts. Sana Packaging makes these tubes with reclaimed #5 plastic in an effort to bolster the secondary market for this material.
Choosing the right sustainable packaging option for your pre rolls is essential. You must consider a few things to ensure you source the right cannabis packaging option for your cannabusiness.
First, you will need to consider the products that you are selling. Is your company known for generously sized blunts and pre rolls? Or do you emphasize convenience and offer smaller pre rolls? If you also manufacture cannabis cartridges or small disposable vapes, you can even use the same tubes for multiple product lines. Sana Packaging offers various containers for different-sized joints.
You will also need to consider your unique packaging and customization needs. What materials do you want to use in your manufacturing and packaging processes? What extra features do you need for your pre roll tubes? What state laws must you follow? Sana Packaging carries smell-proof products with many different options so you can find the perfect eco-friendly, child-resistant packaging solution for your cannabis business.
Finally, think about what you want the pre roll package to look like. Sana Packaging offers several customization options and works with domestic American producers to ensure fast turnarounds and consistent quality. We can help your pre rolls stand out with branding, colorful custom labeling, and eco-friendly packaging.
The COVID-19 pandemic changed everything, including how customers interact with dispensary products before they buy. Consumers still want to see the product before they buy it, but increased safety regulations have changed how they can do so.
One of the latest trends in cannabis packaging is a shift toward clear, eco-friendly containers so customers can safely see products, like flower and concentrates, without breaking the seal.
Manufacturers, producers, and other cannabis companies can take advantage of this trend in marijuana packaging by offering clear containers that put their products on display. Items like eco-friendly clear cannabis jars allow customers to see and interact with the product safely before purchasing.
When browsing the shelves at a dispensary or any other store, it’s no secret that package design and branding catch consumer attention before anything else. It’s essential to ensure your package design aligns with your brand’s identity and catches the eye of your ideal customers.
Whether your brand leans toward bright and colorful or sleek and minimal, ensuring your product stands out in a sea of competing logos, brands, and designs has never been more critical. Guarantee that your product stands out by using unique, innovative, custom-labeled packaging.
Sana Packaging offers custom labeling on all of our products. Our designers and packaging experts will work with you to ensure the finished product matches your vision. By working with a trusted network of domestic American partners, we can provide high-quality products and a quick turnaround time for custom cannabis packages that are as reliable as they are unique.
Another huge part of brand image is a company’s values, ethics, and the causes they choose to support. Consumers are increasingly interested in purchasing eco-friendly products from eco-friendly companies, so the final trend we will discuss is sustainable packaging and practices.
Sustainability is more than just a trend, though. Cannabis companies must be aware of their product's environmental impact since growing, harvesting, processing, and packaging can all affect the environment. A significant way cannabis companies can make their products more sustainable and gain the attention of eco-minded consumers is by opting to use sustainable packaging wherever possible.
Sana Packaging is one of the leading providers of sustainable and eco-friendly marijuana packaging. We offer everything from preroll tubes made from recyclable reclaimed ocean-bound plastic to flower containers made from plant-based hemp bioplastic. Using packages like these will help your company reduce its footprint and show consumers that you value the environment and the planet's health.
Staying mindful of what customers and consumers are looking for is one of the most impactful things cannabis companies can do to stay relevant in an increasingly competitive industry. Your brand should highlight visibility, unique branding, and sustainable materials in its packaging strategy.
Sana Packaging can help your company keep up with trends in the cannabis packaging industry. Whether you are searching for transparent containers, customizable labels, or sustainable materials, we can help. Contact us today to learn more and start creating the perfect packaging that will reel in your customers.
]]>An emphasis on sustainability is especially vital for companies that produce packaged goods, like the cannabis industry. We are all responsible for minimizing our contribution to the 300 million tons of single-use plastics produced yearly.
]]>However, emphasizing sustainability doesn’t have to mean sacrificing branding or design. Read on to discover how to create custom cannabis packaging from sustainable materials with the help of a company like Sana Packaging.
Cannabis products must be packaged carefully, with tamper-evident seals, childproof mechanisms, and airtight packaging to ensure the safety and quality of the product. Sustainable cannabis packaging adheres to all of these standards while utilizing eco-friendly materials. Sustainable packaging materials can be as eye-catching and effective as traditional materials.
Sustainable packaging solutions exist for every type of cannabis product, from flower to extract and even specialty edibles. Sustainable marijuana packaging options include:
1. Sustainable cannabis flower and concentrate jars made from recycled plastic or glass that come in various sizes.
2. Sustainable pre-roll tubes made from recycled plastic, reclaimed plastic, or hemp bioplastic that are great substitutes for traditional pre-roll tubes.
3. Recycled tubes and hemp paper boxes that make excellent sustainable vape cartridge packaging.
4. Sustainable cones, wraps, and papers that are typically made from hemp and do not contain harsh additives.
5. Sustainable boxes for edibles that can be made from plant-based bioplastics.
It’s no secret that humans make and use a lot of plastic. Most of that plastic is single-use; items like plastic bottles, plastic bags, and plastic packages have taken over the shelves at grocery stores and dispensaries alike.
The big problem with plastic packaging comes at the end of its lifecycle, as only about 8.7% of plastic in the United States gets recycled. Unrecycled plastic ends up in landfills or as litter in the natural environments and waterways that make this planet beautiful. Over the years, more than 8 million metric tons or 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic have made their way into the ocean, creating massive problems for the ecosystem and the planet.
These problems will be challenging to fix, but change is possible. Manufacturers can make a difference using sustainable materials, such as reclaimed ocean-bound plastics and hemp bioplastics. Consumers can make a difference by choosing products that use sustainable materials and processes and responsibly disposing of the waste they do create.
Switching to eco-friendly packaging materials is easier than it sounds, and companies like Sana Packaging can help simplify the process. Typically, designing and printing custom, sustainable cannabis packaging only takes a few steps.
1. First, you’ll pick the product you want to package and the solution that fits your needs. Are you selling prerolls or flower? Do you need cones for your prerolls or lids for your flower jars? Sana offers packaging solutions for all types of cannabis products.
2. Next, you’ll send over the design you have in mind for the packaging. Sana provides templates and cutting dies to ensure reliable turnaround and consistent quality.
3. Sana’s in-house designers will review the artwork, create a mockup of your chosen packages, and send it back for approval.
4. We will then move on to the final stages of customization, where you can make tweaks to ensure the packages and the labels are exactly what you are hoping for.
5. Finally, Sana will manufacture and customize your packages using eco-friendly materials and processes before shipping them to you for the next steps in manufacturing and distribution.
Sustainability doesn’t have to be all about making sacrifices. You can still create eye-catching, effective packaging using sustainable materials and processes with the help of a company like Sana. Browse our product line and contact us today to learn how we can help your cannabis company embrace sustainability and responsibility with beautiful, custom product packaging.
]]>Sustainability is a continually evolving idea. Sustainability is also one the hottest marketing trends of the last five to ten years. The concept of sustainability can be difficult to decipher because our definition of sustainability is a moving target.
]]>The concept of sustainability can be difficult to decipher because our definition of sustainability is a moving target. Sustainability usually involves tradeoffs because it’s difficult to produce something with no impact on the environment.
The marketing of sustainability and sustainable business practices are also often misleading, i.e. greenwashing.
More often than not the ideas, terms, and definitions related to sustainability are misunderstood or misused. Even when understood and used correctly, these ideas, terms, and definitions change over time.
Sustainability is a fluid concept because sustainable innovation, our understanding of sustainability, and sustainable practices are all improving at an extremely rapid pace.
Many practices, processes, and ideas that were considered sustainable five to ten years ago are no longer considered sustainable today. This is why it’s important to periodically examine and update the terminology we use to define sustainability.
Sometimes updating terminology isn’t enough. Sometimes it’s necessary to develop new terminology that’s are better suited for defining a particular practice, process, or idea related to sustainability.
Examining the terminology we use and updating definitions is also part of being transparent, and along with reducing the impact of single-use cannabis packaging, our goal at Sana Packaging is also to be as transparent as possible.
When we first began using ocean plastic in 2019, it was industry standard to call all ocean plastic “reclaimed ocean plastic.”
Today, our understanding of ocean plastic is more nuanced and we believe it’s more accurate to call the majority of the ocean plastic material we use “reclaimed ocean-bound plastic.”
Ocean-bound plastic is defined as plastic waste within 50 kilometers of the coast that has escaped traditional waste streams and entered the environment.
Ocean plastic, which includes ocean-bound plastic, also includes plastic waste that has made its way to the coastline, waterways, nearshore, and deep sea.
While the plastic we source is ocean plastic, it is predominantly ocean-bound plastic. And while ocean-bound plastic meets industry standards for ocean plastic, we want to be purposeful with our language and remove any risk of making misleading consumer communications.
We view ocean plastic – including ocean-bound plastic – as a stranded resource. On top of being post-consumer recycled material, our goal in using this stranded resource is to bolster the demand for reclaimed plastic and the infrastructure required to remove this waste from the environment.
Moving forward, we will be using phrases like:
- “Reclaimed ocean-bound plastic”
- “Recycled ocean-bound plastic”
- “Turning off the tap on ocean plastic waste”
- “Keeping our oceans clean”
- “Helping to stop ocean plastic pollution”
- “Helping to build a circular economy”
We encourage our customers to use these phrases as well.
Terminology and definitions associated with sustainability will continue to change moving forward. Even the definition of sustainability will continue to change. After all, change is the only constant in life.
And as the world around us changes, our mission will also remain constant: to reduce the impact of single-use packaging by leading the cannabis industry towards a sustainable future.
Sana Packaging is a sustainable packaging brand that designs and develops cannabis packaging using plant-based, reclaimed, or recycled materials.
Contact us if you’re ready to discover the real impact your packaging has on the environment, and if you’re ready to build a long-term relationship with a cannabis packaging supplier you can trust. It all starts with a conversation!
]]>We launched our first reclaimed ocean-bound plastic cannabis packaging product in 2019. Today, we produce six ocean-bound plastic products and we’ve reclaimed over 550,000 lbs of ocean-bound plastic.
]]>That’s right – with the help of our incredible customers, Sana Packaging has diverted and reclaimed over half a million pounds of ocean-bound plastic. You can read the press release here.
Whether you’re packaging cannabis flower, edibles, concentrates, topicals, or pre-rolls, Sana Packaging can help you. All our reclaimed ocean-bound plastic cannabis packaging products are recyclable, child-resistance certified, food-grade certified, and made in the USA. We also offer custom printing and labeling services.
Ocean-bound plastic is defined as plastic waste within 50 kilometers of the coast that has escaped traditional waste streams and entered the environment. This also includes plastic waste that has made its way to the coastline, waterways, nearshore, and deep sea.
We view ocean-bound plastic as a stranded resource. On top of being post-consumer recycled material, our goal in using this stranded resource is to bolster the demand for ocean-bound plastic and the infrastructure required to remove this waste from the environment.
We love checking in on our impact metrics and we’re always so thankful to our customers because none of this would be possible without their support. Surpassing half a million pounds of ocean-bound plastic reclaimed is a huge milestone for Sana Packaging.
550,000 lbs of ocean-bound plastic is over half a million pounds of material reclaimed, but that can be a difficult number to conceptualize. Let us help you visualize just how much 550,000 lbs of material really is.
Half a million pounds of ocean-bound plastic reclaimed is equivalent to 138 cars. That’s a lot of cars, but perhaps cars aren’t the most fun comparison we can make.
Half a million pounds of ocean-bound plastic reclaimed is equivalent to 157 hippos, 73 orca whales, 42 elephants, or 11 humpback whales.
We’re excited for this number to keep growing as the cannabis industry continues to embrace more sustainable packaging solutions.
Sana Packaging is a sustainable packaging brand that designs and develops cannabis packaging using plant-based, reclaimed, or recycled materials. Our mission is to reduce the impact of single-use packaging by leading the cannabis industry towards a sustainable future.
Contact us if you’re ready to discover the real impact your packaging has on the environment, and if you’re ready to build a long-term relationship with a cannabis packaging supplier you can trust. It all starts with a conversation!
]]>Our redesign of the 110mm reclaimed ocean-bound plastic pre-roll tube is made from reclaimed ocean-bound plastic PET and achieves a 32% material reduction.
]]>Our 110mm pre-roll tube, available in a plant-based hemp biocomposite or reclaimed ocean-bound plastic, has always been one of our signature products. Its unique design stands out in a crowded sea of pop-top pre-roll tubes and helps customers maximize the shelf-appeal of their products.
Our redesign of the 110mm reclaimed ocean-bound plastic pre-roll tube achieves a 32% material reduction and an improved functionality of the child-resistant locking mechanism.
The 32% material reduction was gained by transitioning to an ocean-bound PET plastic from an ocean-bound HDPE plastic. The material transition and resulting material reduction also allowed us to achieve more competitive pricing.
Ocean-bound plastic is defined as plastic waste within 50 kilometers of the coast that has escaped traditional waste streams and entered the environment. Ocean-bound plastic also includes plastic waste that has made its way to the coastline, waterways, nearshore, and deep sea.
We view ocean-bound plastic as a stranded resource. On top of being a post-consumer recycled material, our goal in using this stranded resource is to bolster the demand for ocean-bound plastics and the infrastructure required to remove this waste from the environment.
To date, with the help of our incredible customers, Sana Packaging has reclaimed over 500,000 pounds (250 tons) of ocean-bound plastic.
HDPE stands for “high-density polyethylene” and is a number 2 plastic. More specifically, HDPE is a thermoplastic polymer made from petroleum and is known for its high strength to density ratio. Some products commonly made from HDPE include milk jugs, shampoo bottles, cutting boards, and piping.
PET stands for “polyethylene terephthalate” and is a number 1 plastic. Like HDPE, PET is also a thermoplastic polymer made from petroleum. PET is known for its stress crack resistance, chemical resistance, and air transfer resistance. Some products commonly made from PET include water bottles, food packaging, and fibers for clothing, carpeting, and rope.
So why did we transition from an ocean-bound & reclaimed ocean plastic HDPE to an ocean-bound & reclaimed ocean plastic PET? Simply put: impact.
While both PET and HDPE make excellent packaging materials that maximize the shelf life of perishable products, like cannabis, there are some notable benefits to PET from an impact perspective.
PET is the most commonly used plastic in the world, and as a result of being the most commonly used plastic, PET has the most robust recycling infrastructure across the globe. This means that PET products have a higher chance of being recycled than products made from any other type of plastic.
A recent Green Peace study shows that 100% of Americans have access to material recycling facilities (MRFs) that accept PET and PET has the highest recycling of all plastics in the United States. For reference, HDPE has the second highest recycling rate of all plastics in the United States.
Touted for its tensile strength, PET is also known for being lightweight and versatile. It is these characteristics of PET that allowed us to achieve a 32% material reduction in the updated 110mm ocean-bound & reclaimed ocean plastic pre-roll tube.
It is no wonder that PET is the preferred packaging material in the food, beverage, and pharmaceutical industries.
Since PET is the most commonly used plastic and the most widely recycled plastic, is it bad to use other types of plastic?
Simply put: it depends on your definition of sustainability and the metrics you track to measure impact. Sustainability is about tradeoffs and there are no silver bullets when it comes to “sustainable” materials and mitigating the impact of single-use packaging.
As a sustainable packaging brand that uses plant-based, reclaimed, and recycled materials, our use case for using any type ocean-bound & reclaimed ocean plastic is simple: supporting the end-market for post-consumer recycled plastics supports the recycling infrastructure for plastics and helps bolster the demand for recycled materials.
In fact, one of the single best things a company can do to support recycling is to use recycled materials. Recycling only works if there is a robust end-market for recycled materials.
So remember: sustainability is about tradeoffs and every silver lining has a touch of grey.
Contact us if you’re ready to discover the real impact your packaging has on the environment, and if you’re ready to build a long-term relationship with a cannabis packaging supplier you can trust. It all starts with a conversation!
]]>Consumers also expect cannabis brands and retailers to provide sustainable flower packaging. Cannabis consumers are concerned about packaging’s negative impact on the environment. How do cannabis companies provide quality, regulatory-compliant packaging that is sustainable?
As a sustainable packaging company, Sana Packaging understands how to provide quality, regulatory-complaint cannabis flower packaging that reduces environmental impact. Are you responsible for packaging flower for a cannabis brand or retailer? Keep reading to understand unique considerations for sustainable cannabis packaging that maintains flower quality.
The cannabis flower is sensitive to extreme temperatures, humidity and light. As a result, cannabis brands and retailers must provide packaging that maintains an ideal environment for cannabis flower. How do cannabis companies produce packaging that protects flower from extreme elements?
Cannabinoids and terpenes are compounds contained in cannabis flower that provide psychoactive effects. Extreme temperatures will degrade these compounds and decrease flower quality. Leading cannabis companies recognize that flower packaging must maintain room temperature to protect quality.
The absence or abundance of humidity can affect the quality of cannabis flower. High levels of moisture will promote the growth of mold on flower. Low humidity levels will cause flower to lose moisture, which deteriorates cannabinoids and terpenes.
Oxygen also degrades the quality of cannabis flower, and packaging must prevent exposure to this element. “Flushing” is a process that uses inert gases like nitrogen to avoid the introduction of oxygen into packaging. Keep in mind, flower flushing is a lengthy and expensive process.
Alternatively, cannabis brands and retailers can vacuum seal flower into packaging. This process removes oxygen from the packaging, which protects flower until unsealing. Air-tight cannabis packaging will maintain an ideal flower environment.
Cannabis packaging needs to protect flower from sunlight exposure. Direct sunlight degrades flower quality. Quality cannabis packaging prevents direct sunlight from striking the flower.
Cannabis brands and retailers can source packaging that will prevent sunlight exposure. Cannabis companies should avoid using translucent glass packaging if they want to protect flower from direct sunlight. Alternatively, opaque plastic packaging can prevent sunlight exposure.
Cannabis companies and regulators are concerned about keeping cannabis out of children’s hands. As a result, regulations require cannabis companies to provide child-resistant packaging for cannabis flower. These regulations require that packaging is resistant to scratching and tearing.
Regulations also demand the specific display of label information contained on cannabis packaging. These regulations dictate the information that is allowed to appear on packaging. This information helps consumers understand the product inside the packaging and how to consume it safely.
Cannabis brands and retailers must consider child-resistant packaging and labeling requirements while pursuing sustainable, quality packaging. Otherwise, cannabis companies risk losing their license to operate.
As we mentioned, marijuana consumers require access to sustainable packaging. Cannabis companies should dedicate resources to pursuing sustainable packaging. Your packaging process for cannabis flower should be as green as your growth and distribution models.
Cannabis brands and retailers should consider the volume of materials used while packaging flower. There could be an opportunity for cannabis companies to downsize the material volume contained in the packaging. Downsizing packaging reduces the quantity of materials required to package cannabis flower. Downsizing also reduces the carbon footprint required to ship your cannabis flower.
Cannabis companies should also consider sourcing sustainable, quality packaging materials from companies like Sana Packaging. Sana Packaging sources sustainable materials that produce quality packaging. Our company produces sustainable packaging materials like ocean-bound and hemp plastic.
Ocean-bound plastic is a packaging material produced with 100% recycled materials. Sana Packaging’s ocean-bound plastic is reclaimed from waterways and converted into cannabis packaging. Our company manufactures recycled ocean-bound plastic cannabis packaging for flower, prerolls, vape cartridges, concentrates, edibles, and topicals.
Hemp plastic is another sustainable packaging material for cannabis products. This packaging material is 100% plant-based. Sana Packaging produces hemp plastic packaging for flower and prerolls.
Are you prepared to source inexpensive, quality and sustainable packaging? Sana Packaging is a sustainable packaging company that reliably delivers quality packaging. Click here to learn more about our cannabis packaging.
]]>As it grows, the cannabis industry increasingly contributes to this unsustainable waste management system. The cannabis industry must take steps to advance the use of sustainable packaging that promotes economic circularity. The development of a circular economy in the cannabis industry will ultimately overcome the challenges of an overwhelmed waste management system.
Sana Packaging is a sustainable packaging company that believes in creating a circular cannabis economy. We know how the cannabis industry can stop contributing unsustainable packaging materials to our overburdened waste management system and achieve a circular economy. Here are four waste management system improvements to enable the sourcing of sustainable packaging materials and the creation of a more circular cannabis economy.
The cannabis industry contributes over a billion units of single-use plastic packaging annually to the waste system. The cannabis industry must use more recycled packaging materials to help promote a circular packaging economy. How does the cannabis industry utilize recycled packaging materials?
The cannabis industry should minimize using newly manufactured petroleum-based plastic packaging materials. “Virgin” petroleum-based plastic is the most commonly used packaging material in the cannabis industry, and most go unrecycled after use (less than 10% of 8 billion tons). Polypropylene (PP) is the most popular plastic used in the industry, and only 1% of this material is recycled.
Packaging manufactured with mixed materials prevents recycling. Plastic packaging materials such as child-resistant plastic caps with liners made from a different material type are near impossible to recycle. The cannabis industry needs a sustainable alternative to plastic packaging that contains mixed materials.
Recycled plastic is a sustainable packaging material that advances a circular cannabis economy. Cannabis brands and retailers are using ocean-bound plastic to package various products. Sana Packaging produces recycled plastic marijuana packaging for flower, prerolls, vape cartridges, concentrates, edibles and topicals using materials reclaimed from waterways. Ocean-bound plastic is a sustainable alternative to virgin petroleum-based plastic.
Your customers require knowledge about compostable and biodegradable packaging and the industrial infrastructure needed to process it. Consumers are confused about compostable and biodegradable packaging and what to do with either post-use. Educating customers on compostable and biodegradable packaging will encourage the development of these sustainable materials and the infrastructure required to process them.
Consumers should know how to compost cannabis packaging. Compostable packaging requires industrial composting infrastructure. As it stands, only 11% percent of the U.S. population has access to industrial composting. The cannabis industry can educate consumers on composting facilities in their area. Furthermore, most industrial composting infrastructure in the United States is only set up to process food and yard waste, not packaging waste.
The public is unaware that most biodegradable cannabis packaging does not naturally degrade in the environment. Inks, colorants, and coatings prevent paper cannabis packaging from naturally biodegrading. Furthermore, “biodegradable” packaging made with petroleum-based resins degrades into micro plastics and is not good for landfill stability. Truly biodegradable packaging would leave no trace of chemicals after degradation in a natural environment.
While Sana Packaging produces 100% plant-based packaging made from hemp and other plants, we do not market these products as biodegradable because that is misleading.
Your customers must understand the difference between compostable and biodegradable packaging along with the difficulty associated with properly recovering and processing this type of packaging with our current waste management infrastructure.
The cannabis industry should encourage the amendment of regulations hindering the pursuit of sustainable practices. Regulatory compliance for cannabis packaging encourages the excess use of unsustainable materials. Following New York’s lead, the cannabis industry and regulators must partner to develop regulations stimulating a more circular cannabis economy.
Regulations can also hinder the cannabis industry from recycling most packaging. For instance, recyclers in some states are weary of collecting and processing cannabis packaging because of the liability associated with potential cannabis "residue" on the packaging. This is a significant barrier to recycling and the development of a more circular cannabis economy.
Regulations concerning child-resistant cannabis packaging can be a barrier to achieving a more circular economy. Child-resistant packaging regulations encourage unsustainable materials like virgin petroleum-based plastic and the use of mixed materials to design the child-resistant locking mechanisms. Child-resistant packaging can also result in using more material than is truly necessary to package a product.
This is another significant barrier to reducing the impact of cannabis packaging waste and we believe the cannabis industry should have a frank conversation about whether non-activated cannabis products truly require child-resistant packaging.
The cannabis industry should take the lead in supporting environmental sustainability and hold itself accountable. The cannabis market can promote regional sourcing of packaging materials to support environmental sustainability. Cannabis consumers want to see brands take the initiative to promote a more circular cannabis economy.
The cannabis industry has the opportunity to introduce accountability into best practices as it continues developing. Cannabis brands and retailers that take environmental sustainability will also be able to differentiate themselves in a competitive market. Leading cannabis brands and retailers are supporting the development of a more circular cannabis economy.
Overseas sources of packaging materials may come at a low cost, but this also comes with a hefty carbon footprint. Whenever possible, cannabis brands and retailers should source domestically manufactured packaging. Sana Packaging manufactures all its products domestically and local resilience is a key component of a more circular economy.
The cannabis industry will achieve ultimate environmental sustainability by creating a circular economy. A circular economy creates a closed-loop system where all packaging is plant-based, reusable or recyclable and is actually composted, recycled, or reused in practice. Sana Packaging is committed to the pursuit of a circular economy.
Click here to learn more about how Sana Packaging can help your cannabis business source sustainable cannabis packaging.
]]>What is economic circularity, and how does it advance environmental sustainability?
The cannabis industry exists in a linear “take-make-dispose” economic model where most materials are used once and discarded, most often ending up landfilled without being reused or recycled. Cannabis brands and retailers need access to sustainable cannabis packaging that meets consumer demand and protects resources for future generations. Most cannabis packaging does not fit this profile.
The cannabis industry must leave economic linearity behind and move towards circularity to achieve true cannabis packaging sustainability. Sana Packaging is advancing this agenda.
Economic circularity creates a closed-loop system where packaging is compostable, reusable, or recyclable. The development of packaging for a circular economy emphasizes using plant-based, recycled, or reusable materials. Economic circularity helps prevent packaging from harming humans and the environment.
Economic circularity shuns the use of single-use packaging consisting of finite and chemical-laden materials. Packaging design in a circular economy also focuses on downsizing materials used to produce packaging. Sana Packaging develops sustainable packaging that promotes economic circularity.
The cannabis industry can strive toward a circular economy by moving towards plant-based packaging materials. Cannabis consumers need access to both packaging and infrastructural changes that support compostable materials. Alongside the need for packaging solutions like chemical-free, easily recycled paper packaging made from rapidly renewable and regenerative plant-based feedstocks is the need for more robust composting infrastructure in the U.S. to ensure those efforts are worthwhile.
Cannabis packaging produced with “virgin” plastic is highly unsustainable. Packaging consisting of plant-based materials can be a more sustainable alternative. Unfortunately, most bio-based plastic on the market is not 100% plant-based. Bio-plastic packaging predominantly mixes plant-based plastic with petroleum-based polymers. As a result, these bio-plastics are challenging to recycle.
Sana Packaging has developed hemp bio-plastic that is 100% plant-based and chemical-free. Plant-based packaging pushes the cannabis industry towards economic circularity. Bio-plastics will be a sustainable cannabis packaging material when the United State’s composting infrastructure is fully developed.
The production of paper packaging in a circular economy also shuns the use of toxic inks that would prevent recycling. Chemical-filled paper is harmful to humans and hard to recycle. Plant-based inks allow for the easier recycling of paper cannabis packaging.
The cannabis industry must embrace recyclable and reusable packaging to achieve a circular economy. Economic circularity shuns the use of single-use packaging produced with unsustainable materials. Cannabis consumers need access to packaging that is recycled and reused easily.
Producing cannabis packaging with recycled materials advances sustainability and moves the cannabis industry toward economic circularity by extending the useful lives of materials and bolstering the secondary market for recycled materials. Using recycled materials collected in vulnerable ecosystems like oceans and rivers further promotes a circular economy. Ocean-bound plastic is a cannabis packaging material containing used plastic reclaimed from waterways. Cannabis consumers need access to recycled packaging materials like ocean-bound plastic.
Sana Packaging produces quality recycled cannabis packaging that includes ocean-bound plastic. In pursuit of sustainability, Sana Packaging manufactures ocean-bound plastic cannabis packaging for various products: flower, prerolls, vape cartridges, concentrates, edibles, topicals and prerolls.
Unfortunately, cannabis regulations make it extremely difficult to reuse of cannabis packaging. Government regulations often impede cannabis retailers from collecting used packaging and recycling them. These regulations hinder the cannabis industry from moving towards economic circularity.
Does your cannabis company need quality, sustainable packaging that promotes a circular economy? Sana Packaging produces affordable packaging for marijuana that encourages economic circularity. We are a cannabis packaging company committed to reliably delivering sustainable materials.
Contact us if you’re ready to discover the real impact your packaging has on the environment, and if you’re ready to build a long-term relationship with a cannabis packaging supplier you can trust. It all starts with a conversation!
]]>How does the cannabis industry source sustainable packaging materials? Here are the top five methods of developing sustainable cannabis packaging.
]]>How does the cannabis industry source sustainable packaging materials? Here are the top five methods of developing sustainable cannabis packaging.
Ocean-bound plastic is a sustainable alternative to cannabis packaging materials consisting of “virgin” plastic. Manufacturers of ocean-bound plastic reclaim and recycle plastic that escapes traditional waste, streams, ending up in the environment and ultimately waterways and oceans. Sana Packaging is a sustainable packaging company that produces ocean-bound plastic materials for the cannabis industry.
Sana Packaging uses ocean-bound plastic to produce marijuana packaging for various products: flower, prerolls, vape cartridges, concentrates, edibles, and topicals. All of these ocean-bound plastic packaging offerings can be recycled.
Cannabis brands and retailers must reduce to amount of materials needed to package their products. The pursuit of sustainable packaging involves developing innovative methods for minimizing the use of packaging materials. Cannabis companies are developing innovative solutions for reducing excess packaging materials.
STIIZY is a cannabis brand producing concentrates and vaporizer cartridges. The brand’s packaging minimizes the use of packaging materials. Going further, the company eliminated paper-based user manuals and replaced them with a QR code that allows customers to access a digital version.
Cannabis companies are also reconsidering the materials utilized for child-resistant packaging. Fumé is a cannabis brand crafting novel child-resistant packaging for flower and preroll products. The company engineered a paper preroll box that eliminated the use of plastic for child-resistant packaging. Consumers must insert a credit card into the box of prerolls to access the product.
Cannabis brands and retailers are sourcing plant-based packaging materials to promote sustainability. Plant-based packaging is a sustainable alternative to packaging that is not reusable or recyclable. Cannabis brands can use an array of plant-based materials for packaging cannabis products.
Sana Packaging produces bioplastic packaging composed of hemp and PLA. Hemp is a more sustainable feedstock for bioplastics compared to other popular feedstocks like corn or sugarcane. Unlike many bioplastics on the market, Sana Packaging's hemp bioplastic packaging is 100% plant-based.
Cannabis companies are also sourcing packaging manufactured with plant-based ink. Soulshine Cannabis created packaging with vegetable-based ink printed onto sustainably sourced cardboard. Using plant-based ink and cardboard makes the brand’s packaging more easily recyclable.
a massive carbon footprint. Cannabis companies pursuing sustainability must consider sourcing packaging materials domestically.
Sourcing packaging materials from local manufacturers will reduce the greenhouse gas emissions created by shipping packaging over long distances. Domestic manufacturers also minimize the packaging needed to ship materials to cannabis companies.
Sana Packaging believes sourcing packaging materials domestically helps promote sustainability. Our company is committed to providing cannabis companies with domestically manufactured packaging. All of our products are manufactured domestically in the U.S.
Cannabis brands and retailers promoting sustainable packaging minimize the use of mixed materials. Using mixed materials presents challenges while attempting to recycle packaging. Cannabis companies seeking sustainable packaging materials must consider reducing the use of mixed packaging materials.
Diminishing mixed materials will reduce the size of cannabis packaging and subsequent waste. This downsizing of materials will also reduce the energy required to manufacture and ship packaging.
Is your cannabis company searching for quality, sustainable packaging at a reasonable cost? Sana Packaging produces quality, sustainable, and affordable marijuana packaging. We are a packaging company committed to reliably delivering sustainable materials produced locally.
Click here to learn more about the sustainable cannabis packaging we offer.
Contact us if you are ready to discover the real impact your packaging has on the environment and if you intend to build a long-term relationship with a cannabis packaging supplier you can trust. It all starts with a conversation!
]]>RAIR is a customer-centric cannabis company that strives to sell products accessible to a diverse customer base. Molly McFadden is RAIR’s Director of Retail Operations, and she sources products for these consumers. Molly and Sana Packaging discussed RAIR’s contribution to creating a sustainable cannabis industry.
Molly shares her insights below:
As the Director of Retail Operations, I am the primary decision-maker for our provisioning centers. I am responsible for sourcing RAIR's sustainable cannabis packaging. I selected Sana Packaging to supply RAIR’s recycled plastic packaging. Our company believes Sana Packaging shares the same values regarding environmental sustainability.
RAIR is a value-oriented company that strives to promote sustainability and support the community. We organize local clean-up events monthly and recruit volunteers from the neighborhood. RAIR believes environmental sustainability starts in our backyard.
RAIR aspires to promote sustainable cultivation practices. Our cultivation facility recycles at least 90% of the water used for cultivation. Additionally, we cultivate hydroponically to minimize the use of water, fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides.
How does RAIR promote the use of sustainable cannabis packaging?
We source recycled plastic from Sana Packaging. You are a sustainable cannabis packaging company that produces hemp and ocean-bound plastic, a significant selling point. RAIR utilizes Sana Packaging’s recycled plastic containers for vaporizer cartridges and pre-rolls.
Why did RAIR engage with a sustainable marijuana packaging company like Sana Packaging?
While sourcing packaging, RAIR desired to partner with a sustainable marijuana packaging company that shared the same values on sustainability. We determined that Sana Packaging possessed an authentic passion for pursuing sustainable cannabis packaging. We believe you are the perfect cannabis packaging partner for our company.
What is the biggest challenge facing RAIR’s effort to promote sustainable marijuana packaging?
Regulations preventing the reuse and recycling of cannabis packaging hinder our ability to promote sustainability. We cannot reuse packaging that contains cannabis residue. We also cannot ship packaging to recycling facilities outside of Michigan. Regulators should reconsider regulations concerning packaging reuse and recycling.
Sana Packaging enjoyed discussing RAIR’s sustainability efforts with Molly. RAIR’s promotion of sustainability could be a model for other cannabis companies. Click here to learn more about RAIR.
Contact us if you’re ready to discover the real impact your packaging has on the environment and you’re ready to build a long-term relationship with a cannabis packaging supplier you can trust. It all starts with a conversation!
]]>There is a need to package and label your cannabis products effectively. Cannabis brands committing mislabeling accidents may incur heavy fines or lose their licenses. How do you avoid costly packaging and labeling mistakes while building your brand?
Quality, sustainable cannabis packaging and labeling promote product integrity, compliant marketing and consumer safety.
Cannabis labeling regulations dictate the information that must be included on labels to remain regulatorily compliant.
Labeling regulations in most states require the following components:
- Brand logo
- Statement of identity
- Production and expiration dates
- Net content and weight
- Manufacturer information
- Ingredients
- Active ingredients
- Tracking numbers
- Consumer warnings
Cannabis regulations also direct the use of wording and fonts featured in labeling. Misusing these typography components in your labeling can lead to brands incurring hefty fines. It is essential to understand these regulations completely before designing your labels.
We highly recommend seeking legal and compliance counsel while designing your labeling. These consultants will help you remain regulatory compliant and avoid fines that could negatively impact your brand.
Quality, sustainable cannabis packaging promotes product integrity, provides compelling marketing opportunities and prevents children from accessing its contents. While sourcing packaging, identify vendors who have experience developing attractive packaging for multiple cannabis form factors. You will also want to find a vendor with expertise in developing child-resistant packaging.
How do you find a packaging vendor that will consistently deliver quality, sustainable packaging? First, you should identify a vendor that will be a reliable partner for the long term. Trust they will provide effective communication during the design and production of your packaging as you build your brand.
Knowledgable packaging vendors avoid supply chain issues that could delay the delivery of your cannabis product. It would be best if you discussed lead times with your vendor to confirm delivery of packaging will meet production timelines. Reliable vendors can easily connect with domestic sources of packaging materials if overseas supply chains become disrupted.
Your cannabis packaging vendor will have experience developing packaging for various cannabis products. They will provide an opportunity to test the effectiveness of packaging to maintain product integrity and safety. Ask your vendor to attain a packaging sample and evaluate the customer’s experience while opening it. We recommend testing packaging’s ability to maintain child-resistant cannabis packaging requirements while not making the experience too cumbersome for senior citizens.
You should identify packaging manufacturers who avoid including hidden costs in contracts. They should also prevent outsourcing more than is necessary while designing and developing your cannabis packaging. Involving more contractors in packaging production will increase costs.
Responsible cannabis packaging vendors know how to source sustainable packaging at a low cost. Eco-conscious cannabis consumers crave sustainable packaging. For these consumers, ocean-bound plastic packaging is a sustainable alternative to biodegradable or petroleum-based packaging.
Are you searching for quality, sustainable packaging at a reasonable cost? Sana Packaging is here to help your brand. Our sustainable packaging company reliably delivers products that promote product integrity and prevents children from accessing them. Our company is developing quality, customizable packaging for cannabis brands. Click here to learn more about our services.
Contact us if you’re ready to discover the real impact your packaging has on the environment and if you’re prepared to build a long-term relationship with a cannabis packaging supplier you can trust. It all starts with a conversation!
]]>Many cannabis packaging companies recognize plant-based plastics as a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based plastics. Most bioplastics on the market are partially produced with the sugars from corn and sugarcane. Does this plant-based plastic packaging have the potential to replace petroleum-based plastic?
Plastic manufacturing and transportation in the United States produce 10 million tons of carbon dioxide every year. There is a need to secure a sustainable alternative to plastic that does not generate astronomical greenhouse gas emissions.
Recent academic research reported a 25% decrease in greenhouse gas emissions if all plastics were plant-based. Bioplastics would significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions; however, they may not be a long-term sustainable packaging alternative. This research also discovered that petroleum-based plastic would generate fewer greenhouse gas emissions than plant-based plastic if produced with renewable energy.
Bioplastic production currently reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Even so, as we will soon learn, bioplastic production has unique impacts on the environment. We must consider what the environmental effects of plant-based plastic are.
Bioplastic production requires massive amounts of plant materials. Growing biomass for bioplastic ingredients increases the number of fertilizers and pesticides pumped into the environment. This negative externality of bioplastic production is not a byproduct of petroleum-based plastic production.
Compared to petroleum-based plastic, bioplastics release more harmful chemicals into the environment. Additionally, plant-based plastics provide a more considerable contribution to the depletion of the earth’s ozone layer than petroleum-based plastics. Bioplastics may emit fewer greenhouse gases, but they also produce more chemicals than petroleum-based plastics.
The use of fertilizers and pesticides should be assessed when evaluating the sustainability of packaging for cannabis.
It is no secret: Most plant-based and petroleum-based plastics are not recycled, reused, or composted. Consumers need access to plastic that is recyclable, reusable, or compostable. Do bioplastics meet any of these needs?
Here is the truth: Bioplastics are challenging to recycle, reuse, and compost. Consumers cannot recycle plant-based and petroleum-based plastics in the same streams because bioplastics damage the recycling infrastructure. Consequently, consumers do not have access to a recycling infrastructure for plant-based plastic. As it stands, there is more potential to recycle petroleum-based plastic than bioplastics.
Additionally, plant-based plastics are difficult to compost: Jurisdictions providing access to composting infrastructure use a heavily carbon-intensive process to compost bioplastics. Most plant-based plastics enter a landfill and generate methane as they degrade. Bioplastics also have the same detrimental effects on the soil surrounding the degrading plastic as petroleum-based plastic.
As it stands, bioplastics are not a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based plastics. Bioplastics can be a sustainable alternative when consumers can access proper recycling and composting infrastructure. Until then, reused and recycled packaging is the most sustainable packaging option on the market.
Cannabis brands and retailers can choose ocean-bound plastic to package their products. Ocean-bound plastic is plastic reclaimed from waterways and recycled into cannabis packaging. This recycled plastic is one of the most sustainable packaging options available to cannabis companies.
Contact us if you’re ready to build a long-term relationship with a cannabis packaging supplier you can trust. Sana Packaging is here to help you find sustainable cannabis packaging for your products. It all starts with a conversation!
]]>In this post, we’ll discuss the major concerns regarding recycling cannabis packaging, how you can evaluate recycling that packaging, and how policymakers can hear your voice to encourage sustainability initiatives in the future.
The cannabis industry increasingly contributes to the massive volume of packaging waste produced annually. This budding industry generates more than a billion pieces of packaging waste every year.
Given the progress of cannabis legalization, we will soon witness the introduction of even more cannabis packaging waste into the environment. The cannabis packaging boom we are experiencing is happening at a time when most single-use packaging is not reused or recycled.
The cannabis industry needs to address the amount of packaging waste it produces. There is a need to develop sustainable cannabis packaging that is reusable and recyclable. As it stands, cannabis packaging rules sometimes prevent the development of reusable and recyclable packaging and the pursuit of sustainable practices.
Regulations for child-proof cannabis packaging are incredibly stringent compared to other adult-focused goods like alcohol and tobacco. Child-proof packaging regulations prevent consumer access to sustainable cannabis packaging as it is a significant contributor to the amount of packaging waste generated annually.
Research shows the cannabis industry could reduce packaging waste by 75% if regulators amended child-proof packaging regulations.
The short answer is: it depends. Unfortunately, the success of an item being recycled depends on its value for repurchasing recycled waste. The cannabis industry’s problem is that retailers cannot accept cannabis that a licensed provider did not produce. Since packaging for cannabis most likely contains cannabis residue, retailers cannot receive used packaging due to liability issues.
Currently in some states, retailers cannot comply with regulations on obtaining third-party cannabis products if they take used packaging. Often, retailers risk losing their license if they adopt packaging take-back programs. Practices vary greatly state-by-state, and no one system currently reigns supreme.
See if your dispensary participates in a take-back program. As mentioned above, it’s not legislatively possible everywhere but remains the best circular model for reuse.
Always attempt to upcycle and reuse it before tossing it into the recycling bin. Even single-preroll containers prove excellent for organizing items like beads or spices. Increasing the longevity of a product is step one if you cannot return it directly.
If you do intend to recycle, before purchasing, ensure the packaging you are receiving is highly recyclable, meaning it is either glass or has a low recycling number.
Seek to purchase products ensconced in sustainable packaging, such as Sana Packaging’s products made using 100% plant-based hemp plastic, 100% ocean-bound and reclaimed ocean plastic and other sustainable materials.
Try avoiding any single-use packaging and hardware, like single-use vaporizers and cartridges.
Regulations promoting sustainable cannabis packaging need the support of government regulators and the cannabis industry. As a consumer, it’s vital to understand the importance of personal and policy recommendations discussed in this blog post. Cannabis consumers must actively advocate for sustainable packaging practices, as their support is the key to achieving sustainable cannabis packaging solutions.
Consumers should support companies promoting the development of reusable and recyclable packaging while encouraging the cannabis industry to advocate for regulations promoting the reuse and recycling of packaging. Laws allowing access to packaging take-back programs would empower consumers to reuse and recycle, such as those being implemented in New York state.
These programs would also help the cannabis industry attain a sustainable packaging solution. The cannabis industry and government officials will adopt sustainable packaging solutions if consumers encourage the adoption of sustainable packaging regulations. While pursuing sustainable packaging solutions, remember your voice with both your purchasing and policy-influencing power. Consumers can help the cannabis industry become green in more ways than one.
Contact us if you’re ready to build a long-term relationship with a cannabis packaging supplier you can trust. Sana Packaging is here to help you find cannabis sustainable packaging for your cannabis products. It all starts with a conversation!
]]>We have found that there are several common misconceptions about hemp plastics. This article will address these misconceptions and outline the current state and ideal future of hemp plastics.
]]>We have found that there are several common misconceptions about hemp plastics. This article will address these misconceptions and outline the current state and ideal future of hemp plastics.
We will also shed light on the composition of the plant-based hemp plastic we use and the reasoning behind choosing specific material inputs.
From an agricultural perspective, hemp is an ideal feedstock for bioplastics because it is both a rapidly renewable and regenerative resource.
Hemp grows faster than other industrial crops. It also requires less water than other industrial crops and none of the pesticides.
Furthermore, hemp presents a superior carbon sequestration potential as 1 metric ton of hemp sequesters about 1.5 metric tons of carbon.
Cambridge University researcher, Darshil Shah, also claims “hemp can capture atmospheric carbon twice as effectively as forests while providing carbon-negative biomaterials.”
Unlike many industrial crops, hemp is also a canopy crop, meaning it protects the soil from overexposure to the sun. Lastly, hemp is an ideal rotational crop because it remediates the soil it's grown in.
The domestic hemp industry is growing somewhere between 15 percent and 30 percent per year, depending on the source of your information. As is the case with many emerging industries, early industry growth reports were more bullish than recent industry growth reports.
Regardless of the domestic hemp industry’s true growth rate, the point is that cultivating hemp for industrial goods presents a very real opportunity to help reinvigorate economically stifled agricultural communities across the United States.
Hemp has already proven to be a successful and sustainable input for paper, textiles, building materials, and more – so using hemp as an input for bioplastics makes a lot of sense.
At Sana Packaging, we made a conscious decision to incorporate and highlight hemp as an important manufacturing input in our plant-based plastic products.
Unfortunately, there is a significant discrepancy between the current state of hemp plastics and how hemp plastic products are marketed to businesses and consumers.
Most, if not all, commercially available hemp plastics on the market today are biocomposites. More specifically, they are fiber-reinforced biocomposites – i.e. hemp fiber is used to reinforce an existing polymer.
Simply put, hemp stalks are decorticated and the hurd – the innards of the stalk – is micronized and then mixed with an existing polymer to create a fiber-reinforced biocomposite.
In other words, polymers are not yet being derived directly from hemp at a commercial scale. And not all of the polymers used in hemp biocomposites are plant-based. In fact, many of the polymers used in hemp biocomposites today are petroleum-based.
An unfortunate result of this is that many hemp plastic products marketed as “sustainable” are just conventional plastics mixed with hemp fiber.
These materials cannot be recycled and do not have any tangible sustainability benefits, so marketing petroleum-based hemp plastic products as “sustainable” can be considered greenwashing.
Other hemp biocomposites are made using plant-based polymers, such as PLA, which is typically derived from corn or kenaf. However, in the United States, it’s very difficult to find PLA that is not derived from corn.
While there are drawbacks to corn-based PLA, sustainability is often about tradeoffs, and using corn-based PLA as a base resin for a hemp biocomposite has some very tangible sustainability benefits.
Looking first at the drawbacks of corn-based PLA, there are both upstream and downstream issues to consider.
Some of the upstream drawbacks of corn-based PLA include the amount of water and pesticides needed to grow corn and the nature in which corn is subsidized and monocropped in the United States.
Growing corn as a monocrop provides some short-term benefits to farmers from a productivity and efficiency standpoint.
In the long-term, however, growing corn as a monocrop leads to high pesticide use, high water use, a decrease in biodiversity with a particularly negative impact on pollinators, and soil degradation in the form of erosion and fertility loss.
The primary downstream drawback of corn-based PLA is the material’s end of life cycle and more specifically, how the material interacts with our waste management infrastructure. While most PLA is certified compostable, industrial composting infrastructure in the United States is severely lacking.
GreenBlue states that only 27 percent of the population in the United States has access to industrial composting programs. And according to BioCycle, less than 5 percent of composting facilities in the United States accept compostable packaging materials like PLA.
The benefits of corn-based PLA – beyond being derived from a renewable resource – include a smaller carbon footprint and a reduction in energy use compared to traditional petroleum-based plastics.
According to a study commissioned by NatureWorks, producing PLA uses 65 percent less energy than producing traditional petroleum-based plastics. Furthermore, a peer-reviewed lifecycle assessment conducted by Total Corbion PLA confirms that PLA has a 75 percent smaller carbon footprint than traditional petroleum-based plastics.
At Sana Packaging, we pride ourselves on our transparency. We market our hemp plastic as “plant-based hemp plastic” in order to differentiate it from petroleum-based hemp plastic and we refrain from marketing our plant-based packaging as “biodegradable hemp plastic” or “compostable hemp plastic” because they are misleading terms often used to greenwash.
Our hemp bioplastic is 100 percent plant-based and chemical-free. More specifically, it’s a fiber-reinforced biocomposite made from 30 percent micronized hemp hurd and 70 percent corn-based PLA. We also use biobased binders so the material is truly 100 percent plant-based.
We primarily use hemp plastic to manufacture pre-roll tubes, like the Sana Hemp Tube 78mm and the Sana Hemp Tube 110mm. Our hemp plastic pre-roll tubes are great for king-size pre-rolls, mini pre-rolls, blunts, and vape cartridges.
Biocomposites have been around for decades and their use cases for packaging are limited due to, among other things, their rigidity. In other words, hemp biocomposites are not the future of hemp plastics.
The future of hemp plastics lies in hemp-based polymers. Similar to other plant-based polymers, a hemp-based polymer is derived directly from the plant’s cellulose.
Hemp-based polymers have already been developed at the lab level but unfortunately, these polymers are not yet commercially viable.
The primary obstacle hemp-based polymers face in their journey towards commercialization is our industrial hemp industry’s fledgling infrastructure. Like developing a robust infrastructure for any industry, this will take time, money, and public and private buy-in.
Similar to other plant-based polymers, another challenge hemp-based polymers will face is their end of life cycle and how they interact with our waste management infrastructure. We need more robust industrial composting infrastructure and this too will take time, money, and public and private buy-in.
The good news is that there is a bright future for hemp plastics, we just need to be patient.
Plant-based is the direction we need to be moving in for single-use products, like packaging. And ultimately, all virgin feedstocks used for plastics and other packaging materials should be sustainably sourced from rapidly renewable and regenerative resources.
As more companies start using plant-based hemp biocomposites and, eventually, hemp-based polymers, it will help generate the demand and momentum we need to further develop our industrial hemp infrastructure and our industrial composting infrastructure.
The future of hemp plastics is circular and regenerative. In fact, the future of all plastics and other packaging materials is circular and regenerative.
We need to transition away from virgin petroleum-based materials and towards biobased, reclaimed, and recycled materials. And these materials need to be reused or recycled in closed-loop systems with adequate end-of-life cycle plans like anaerobic digestion or composting.
In short, we need to transition away from our linear “take-make-dispose” economic model and towards a circular economic model meant to eliminate waste and pollution, keep products and materials in use, and regenerate our natural systems.
It is also important to emphasize that there will likely never be a “silver bullet” when it comes to solving our plastic and packaging waste problems.
The solution to these problems is a large-scale systemic change that addresses every piece of the material sourcing, compounding, manufacturing, distribution, and waste management value chain.
By Galen Kuney
Supply Chain Director
Sana Packaging
This op-ed was originally published by Packaging Strategies.
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