Graham's sustainable packaging solutions
From lightweighting and PCR to innovative ways to reuse materials, we're leading the way in creating a circular economy.
When used responsibly, plastic packaging has the power to reduce pollution, decrease energy use and lead to a smaller carbon footprint — especially when compared to other forms of packaging available today.
These benefits are possible, but only if we work together to change the way we manufacture and dispose of this valuable, finite resource. Today, consumers are calling for more sustainable packaging. Companies like us are exploring revolutionary new resins and manufacturing processes.
Plastic packaging has the potential to be the most sustainable solution on the market — one that helps create a circular economy where valuable resources are conserved rather than wasted. We believe that through continuing innovation, designing for recyclability and fostering better recycling habits, we can contribute to bringing this vision to life.
Explore our Sustainable Packaging Initiatives
Recycled Materials
Dedicated to using post-consumer and post-industrial resins
Graham Packaging is committed to partnering with brands to incorporate post-consumer resin (PCR) content into their packaging. We are experts in working with PCR and have created bottles for brands that are made with up to 100% PCR. Nearly every package we produce contains some level of recycled content. Additionally, our extrusion multilayer technologies let us use more PCR in packages by sandwiching the PCR content between layers so it doesn't touch the product inside and doesn't impact the look on the outside.
We've taken that one step further with the Graham Recycling Company. The GRC takes recycled HDPE containers and transforms it into PCR that is used in our plants nationwide, including in the one across the street from the recycling center in York, Pennsylvania. The GRC, which has operated for more than 30 years, is always seeking to improve its rHDPE and is exploring new technology to better process and reuse non-natural colored recycled bottles. To learn more about PCR and Graham's capabilities, visit our PCR page.
Barrier and Multilayer Technology
Innovative solutions to reduce food waste
The manufacturing, packaging and distributing of food requires many natural resources, including water, land and fuel. When that food is wasted, all the resources that went into the production and distribution are wasted as well. Plastic packaging helps mitigate food waste by preserving perishable foods, lengthening their shelf life and reducing product loss due to breakage. Graham's barrier technologies and multilayer bottles can help extend a product's shelf life, protecting it from oxygen ingress and moisture.
Lightweighting
Reducing the amount of plastic and trucks on the road
Graham is a leader in lightweighting plastic packaging. By lightweighting our bottles and containers, we not only are reducing the total amount of plastic used in each bottle, but also are reducing its weight and the amount of trucks needed to transport the finished product. We have numerous lightweighting technologies that are exclusive to Graham, including our Active Base technology, which creates some of the lightest hot-fill PET containers on the market, and our AccuStrength technology that let's you pinpoint exactly where you need additional plastic on a container. We also are providing lighter weight alternatives to glass that boast a better carbon footprint, like our ThermaSet® PET packaging.
Label Solutions
Reducing the risk of recycling contamination
Graham works with brands to help find new, innovative ways to make their packaging more sustainable. One way we partner with our brands in this goal is to look at bottle engraving or embossing to remove the label entirely from the package. By using in-mold labeling, we can help prevent contamination of the recycling stream with shrink sleeves, labels and wrap arounds often found on HDPE containers.
Designing for Sustainability
Tools to create the most sustainable package possible
When creating a new packaging product, we turn to our sustainability tools, including our carbon footprint calculator, design for recyclability tools and packaging life-cycle analysis, to optimize the bottle. Our experts also look at a long list of items, like pallet layouts, top load simulations, blow simulations, near-site and on-site plant location possibilities, production line evaluations and more.Learn more about how we design for sustainability