Be Green Eco-Social Commitments

Eco-Social Commitments

Be Green Packaging is a whole system packaging operation – from designing custom packaging to manufacturing to in-store education and marketing support to the creation of rich compost, we serve our customers with the highest quality fiber products with a life-cycle we can all be proud of:

Our Eco-Social Initiative is based on:

1) Educating Ourselves & Our Customers

2) Reducing Our Environmental Footprint

3) Giving Back

To track and progress with our eco-social initiatives we formed an Eco Advisory Board. Our Board is Chaired by Megan Havrda, Senior Vice President, and includes Ron Blitzer, CEO of Be Green Packaging; John Melack, Dean of Bren School for Environmental Science and Management, UCSB (click here for bio); Ratnesh Lal, Director for the Center for Nanomedicine, University of Chicago (click here for bio); Kat Linehan, Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine (click here for bio); Sharon Leeds; and Eva Van Wingerden, Director of Eco-Social Commitments.

Here is what we are currently doing regarding our 3 Environmental Initiatives:

EDUCATING
We operate under Codes of Conduct and Social Responsibility Agreements. Our factories and supply chain are held to these agreements through internal audits and consistent communication.

Be Green Packaging has a specific commitment to organic farming and compost education. Our commitment to The Organic Center is a strategic relationship that we greatly value. We feel that we can both learn from them as well as add immense value to the farming community through our work with compostable packaging. To learn more visit: www.organic-center.org

Healthy soils depend on healthy compost. Our compostable products work in both residential and commercial composters if properly handled. Our products Cradle to Cradle life cycle depend on ultimately finding themselves in a composter. Our marketing and education is therefore geared to not only describing 'why to compost' but also 'how to compost'. In alignment with the Organic Center's incredible outreach and organic farming support we hope to have a meaningful impact on the US based composting programs in the years ahead.

We continually provide our staff and brokers with product specific education, training, and materials to expand their knowledge base on the web of influences and impacts that our sustainable packaging has and can have.

And for the end user, we provide complete marketing and educational support for their staff and customers, at launch and on an annual basis. This includes: staff trainings, in store signage, radio and AD content, new store opening day support, and in store demo booths.

REDUCING
cradle to cradle silver logo Be Green Packaging has achieved Cradle to Cradle Silver certification, making us the first packaging company to achieve this level of certification. Cradle to Cradle is a positive new approach to sustainability and prosperity that completes the loop of returning products back to their natural state.

The certification means that Be Green Packaging has met or exceeded the following requirements:

Product/material transparency and human/environmental health characteristics of materials
Product/material reutilization
Production energy
Water use at manufacturing facility
Social fairness/corporate ethics

Be Green Packaging also supports Green Mountain Energy projects, including adding wind, solar and biomass to the national grid. Through this company we are able to offset a portion of our carbon annually.

GIVING BACK
Be Green Packaging supports the mission of the Whole Planet Foundation through an annual donation. The Whole Planet Foundation is a private, nonprofit organization established by Whole Foods Market that provides grants to microfinance institutions in Latin America, Africa and Asia who in turn develop and offer microenterprise loan programs, training, and other financial services to the self-employed poor.

In 2009 we supported these non-profit organizations and events:

Whole Planet Foundation
Santa Barbara International Film Festival
Community Environmental Council at Santa Barbara's celebration of Earth Day

Thus far in 2010 we have supported these non-profit organizations and events:

Santa Barbara International Film Festival
Kids in the Kitchen: Spring into Health Day
Direct Relief International's Earthquake Response in Haiti
Community Environmental Council at Santa Barbara's celebration of Earth Day

Be Green Packaging has been awarded the Sustainable Business Institute’s (SBI) Seal of Sustainability. The Seal of Sustainability™ is a nationally recognized icon of business sustainability. Awarded to companies that have demonstrated continuous commitment to sustainable practices in the areas of economy, society and environment, this trusted icon helps the public identify businesses that promote sustainability so consumers can make educated decisions about companies they want to support.

“Be Green Packaging demonstrated significant advancements along their roadmap to sustainability,” said Jessica Fullmer, Founder of the Sustainable Business Institute. “Specific commitments like their Codes of Conduct/CSR Standards & Give Back programs, certifications such as the Silver Cradle to Cradle from MDBC, and technology such as their chemical free pulping of wild grown and harvested plants have resulted in their rise as leaders in the sustainable packaging niche.”