HARTSVILLE, S.C., Nov 02, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Mother Parkers is converting its Brown Gold(R), Martinson(R) and private label brands from metal coffee cans to Sonoco's more environmentally responsible paperboard composite container. Switching to Sonoco's rigid paper container increases the overall recycled content of the package and reduces material weight by 27 percent, energy inputs by 34 percent and greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent.
"At Mother Parkers, we are passionate about coffee and our passion has made us an industry leader in the science of coffee quality control," said Lib Trombetta, Mother Parkers' director of Strategic Global Sourcing. "When we decided to convert from metal cans to composite cans, we wanted a partner who was also passionate about quality and their product. We found that passion with Sonoco. Not only does Sonoco meet our high quality standards, their packaging experts are active members of our conversion team. Together we are delivering the best cup of coffee possible while protecting the environment."
Sonoco's rigid paperboard containers are less expensive to produce and ship than metal cans, and they perform as well as metal canisters in abuse resistance and shelf life. Four different components make up the new Mother Parkers' composite can. Each component is produced by Sonoco and provides a complete packaging solution to Mother Parkers at filling plants in Fort Worth, Texas and Mississauga, Ontario.
The can is spiral-wound from 100-percent recycled paperboard and includes a high-barrier liner that locks out moisture and locks in product aroma and taste. Created for non-processed applications like coffee, Sonoco's patented flexible Ultraseal membrane end creates a hermetic seal that features a unique valve to release built-up pressure in coffee packaging. Sonoco also produces and provides the metal bottoms.
Enhanced shelf appeal and branding wraps up the new coffee containers. The attractive flexo-graphic label is created using Sonoco's state-of-the-art gravure cylinder engraving operations and rotogravure presses. Because there are no ribs on the can, the smooth surface provides superior graphic bill boarding for Mother Parkers' newly created graphics. In total, four divisions and seven Sonoco plants are producing components for the new Brown Gold and Martinson rigid paper cans.
"Our unique ability to deliver complete and customized packaging solutions along with turn-key project management capabilities separates Sonoco from its packaging peers. Because we are not anchored to one technology or material, we deliver solutions to our customers, like Mother Parkers, that successfully meet their cost objectives, performance expectations and sustainability goals," said Jack Sanders, Sonoco's executive vice president, Consumer.
About Sonoco
Founded in 1899, Sonoco is a $3.6 billion global manufacturer of industrial and consumer products and provider of packaging services, with approximately 300 operations in 35 countries, serving customers in some 85 nations. Sonoco is a proud member of the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index. Each year Sonoco's composite containers eliminate more than four million pounds of raw materials in package production. When compared to metal cans, composite cans made by Sonoco require less energy to manufacture and result in fewer greenhouse gas emissions. For more information on the Company, visit our Web site at http://www.sonoco.com.
About Mother Parkers
Mother Parkers Tea and Coffee is the leading privately held producer of quality tea and coffee products in the North American market place. For further information about Mother Parkers Tea & Coffee Inc. visit http://www.mother-parkers.com.
SOURCE: Sonoco
Sonoco
Robin Montgomery, 843-383-7509, robin.montgomery@sonoco.com,
http://www.sonoco.com