100% Recycled Paperboard Powers CLIF BAR Caddies
The health of its consumers and the environment are top priorities for a leading maker of natural energy bars, so a packaging switch to 100% recycled paperboard was the natural choice.
About Clif Bar & Co.
Based in Berkeley, Calif., Clif Bar & Co. (formerly Clif Bar Inc.) is a leading maker of all-natural and organic energy and nutrition foods. Clif Bar products include energy and snack bars such as CLIF BAR, Mojo Bar, Luna Bar, Nectar and Builder’s Bar; and electrolyte and recovery drinks and gels in the CLIF SHOT product line. Clif Bar is committed to sustainability from the field to the final product.
Packaging Challenge
Clif Bar launched an environmental program in 2001 and has since worked to ensure that their business practices support sustainability. In search of an environmentally-sound package, Clif Bar redesigned its caddies in 2002 to eliminate the need for shrink-wrap, but continued in its search for environmentally-responsible packaging.
A Recycled Solution
The search led Clif Bar staff to explore the option of packaging its Clif Bars in cartons made of 100% recycled paperboard. Despite preliminary information from suppliers who warned of recycled paperboard’s quality, Clif Bar did further research and found it to be comparable with virgin board. Not only was the quality and strength comparable, but Clif Bar staff found the price to be better and supply of the material was ample.
100% Results
Clif Bar switched to 100% recycled paperboard cartons in 2003 as 100% recycled clay-coated newsback replaced a pulp-based paperboard at the same caliper that had been previously produced. The switch refuted the preliminary doubts of suppliers regarding recycled paperboard’s strength, performance and overall quality. Although Clif Bar encountered initial hesitation from their production and graphics staff, these concerns were also unfounded as production of the new 100% recycled paperboard cartons ran without problems through all filling line and logistical protective functions, and colors remained consistent run after run, maintaining the graphic appeal in the retail setting.
Clif Bar proudly displays the 100% Recycled Paperboard symbol on its caddies and now requires all vendors to be a member or an affiliate member of the 100% Recycled Paperboard Alliance (RPA-100%) in order to do business related to the Clif Bar caddies.
Although Clif Bar realized substantial cost savings resulting from the switch to 100% recycled paperboard and continues to produce a high quality package, the company asserts that the biggest benefit of the move was the ability to prove that it is possible to do the right thing for business and the right thing for the environment at the same time and to have positive results.
June 2005