By Jon Blumenauer
As the world’s leading expert in mold prevention systems, Micro-Pak Ltd. is aware of the need to consistently leverage the company’s sustainability platform.
Micro-Pak’s proprietary technologies – which prevent mold from developing during transportation of consumer products that are manufactured in Asia and shipped to Western markets – have always offered inherent sustainability benefits. During storage and transit, mold can destroy consumer products like shoes, apparel and furniture. Micro-Pak’s unique packaging inserts prevent mold more effectively than the silica gel packets once ubiquitous in consumer packaged goods, translating into substantial environmental and financial benefits.
Specifically, Micro-Pak products are manufactured more efficiently and with significantly lower resource use. They are considerably lighter than silica gel counterparts, thereby reducing fuel use and carbon emissions from transportation. When the weight difference is applied to billions of intercontinental shipments, it adds up.
Not a company to rest on its laurels, three years ago, Micro-Pak entered into a study to analyze the environmental footprint of its product. While the study highlighted environmental advantages, it also identified a number of ways to improve.
Today, Micro-Pak’s sustainability platform is a major business driver, with the company making impressive progress toward its goals.
Recent accomplishments include achieving Cradle to Cradle Silver certification for all products. Micro-Pak became the first in its industry to attain this comprehensive certification, which evaluates the material health of every component that goes into products, as well as energy, carbon, water use and social fairness.
The company also recently calculated its carbon footprint and is installing solar power at its China manufacturing facility to help meet carbon reduction targets. Through extensive testing, it identified the opportunity to improve environmental performance by replacing some product components, and immediately made the change.
Moreover, Micro-Pak is currently conducting a life cycle assessment of its products to augment an Emissions Calculator created to compare environmental performance among products.
The use of Micro-Pak technologies helps the company’s customers – including major retailers and apparel and footwear brands – achieve their own sustainability goals as virtually all companies supplied have objectives to decrease packaging, increase recycling, and reduce carbon emissions from transportation.
Headquartered in Hong Kong, Micro-Pak has a global reach with offices in China, The Netherlands, and New York, along with a network of twenty-one authorized distributors around the world. The company’s North American headquarters, located just outside Portland, drives the sustainability platform.
Micro-Pak Ltd was founded in 1998 and is now a leading supplier to the footwear, apparel, bag and accessories markets. Micro-Pak® Enhanced Packaging Stickers and Micro-Pak® PE Sheets are registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. For additional information, please call 503-747-5755 in the U.S. or visit the company’s website at www.micropakltd.com. Micro-Pak Ltd can also be found on LinkedIn (Micro-Pak Ltd), Facebook (MicroPak) and Twitter (@micropakltd).
Jon Blumenauer is the Sustainability Officer for Micro-Pak USA.