What We Chose for Packaging Materials & Why

written by

Jared Frye

posted on

July 9, 2024

At C&F Farms, sustainability is more than just a buzzword – it’s a commitment we live by every day. From our farming practices to our packaging choices, we strive to reduce our environmental impact while delivering the highest quality products to your doorstep. 

You can read it on our shirts, we strive every day to “Leave it Better Than We Found It!”

When taking on the addition of a shipping program, we did a lot of research to find sustainable packaging. And when it comes to shipping frozen goods around the country, that can be a challenge! 

Today, we want to share with you the eco-friendly packaging materials we use in our shipping program and why they matter.

And first I should mention, we didn’t do this alone! We believe you have to know your strengths and know when to stay in your lane, so we have worked closely with Morissette Packaging to work through the best options for us.

Let’s jump in!

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Cardboard Boxes: Strong, Recyclable, and Eco-Friendly

Our journey for packaging begins with our cardboard boxes. Made from recycled materials, these sturdy boxes are designed to protect your farm-fresh products during transit. 

While we wanted to be as environmentally friendly as we could, strength was a huge concern here as well because keeping your investment safe in transit had to be a priority. 

And of course, cardboard is fully recyclable and biodegradable, ensuring that even when you’re done with them, they continue to have other uses and environmentally friendly ways to be recycled or reused. 

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Fiber Liners: Insulation with a Conscience

Let’s be honest though…the boxes were the easy part of keeping the footprint low on this one! 

Keeping your products frozen in transit is pretty much the crux of it all right!? 

This is where the homework, and due diligence really came into things. There are a ton of sustainable, eco-friendly, recyclable packaging materials out there…but they’re also so dang expensive unless you order 100,000 units at a time that we just couldn’t make that work! 

Again, working closely with our friends at Morrissette we were able to find something that came pretty darn close to perfect….without breaking the bank! 

These liners are made from a post-industrial, recycled natural fiber blend, all wrapped in a perforated recyclable plastic film, basically providing excellent thermal protection without the need for harmful plastic foam. 

You might need to separate the natural fiber from the plastic wrap, but so far every piece of this package is recyclable!

Back to the issue of keeping your products frozen, these liners are pharmaceutical grade. Meaning they are manufactured to such a high tolerance they are most commonly used in the shipping and transport of sensitive pharmaceutical items.

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Reusable Ice Blankets: A Cool Solution for a Sustainable Future

The last piece to the puzzle is of course what helps keep the temperature low inside of all that packaging?!

To ensure your products arrive at the perfect temperature, we utilize reusable ice blankets in our packaging. 

These ice blankets are designed to be used multiple times, reducing the need for single-use ice packs or costly and wasteful dry ice.

 Simply refreeze them and use them again for your own needs, whether it’s for a picnic, a road trip, or another delivery. By choosing reusable options, we’re taking another step towards minimizing waste.

Why It Matters

Choosing sustainable packaging materials is an important part of our commitment to the environment and to you, our valued customers. By using recyclable, compostable, and reusable materials, we’re reducing our carbon footprint. 

We’re only a small piece of this world, but we believe that every small step towards sustainability makes a big difference, and we’re proud to have you join us on this journey.

Thank you for supporting our efforts to deliver fresh, high-quality products in an eco-friendly way. We’re always looking for new ways to improve and appreciate your feedback. If you have any questions or suggestions about our packaging, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Jared

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