What do you see when you look at a pile of packaging paper?

To most people, it’s just a pile of brown paper that was used to protect their product during shipment. And I’m sure that the majority of people recycle the paper without even thinking twice about it. But what about those creative DIY-ers? To them, it’s a pile with potential.

What do you get when you give a DIY designer a pile of packaging paper and a sewing machine?

A woven basket that can be used for just about anything.

Brett Bara, host of the Emmy-nominated television series Knit and Crochet Now, author, talented designer and DIY blogger, collected the paper from several packages she received from some online shopping. Noticing the durability of the packaging paper, she decided to reuse it to make a woven basket which she now uses to hold supplies. “The pieces were really nice and long, and they just seemed to have so much potential. I couldn’t bear to just stuff them in the recycling bin,”Bara says in her blog.

Using packaging paper, hot glue, paperclips and a sewing machine, Brett created a simple pattern to construct the woven basket—she detailed the step-by-step instructions on her blog, “FREE PATTERN: SEWN + WOVEN BASKET.” It’s amazing what used packaging paper can create!

More than just packaging paper.

Bara proves paper can be used for just about anything!  Think outside the box and create something uniquely innovative. If basket weaving isn’t your thing, you could always keep the packaging paper and use it the next time you have to ship, wrap or store something. Fold it up, store it and use it again and again. Whether it’s keeping a product safe during shipment, or holding a pile of yarn and needles, our packaging paper does the job, and it does it well.

What are SFI and FSC and why do we work with them?

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) was founded in 1993 as a response to concerns with global deforestation. FSC is an independent, non-governmental, non-profit organization whose goal is to promote and coordinate responsible economical management of forests worldwide. FSC sets high standards in order to keep our forests clean and green.  Products that have an FSC logo on them have met the requirements of the FSC, and therefore came from a well maintained forest.

Founded in 1994, Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) is an internationally recognized independent, non-profit organization whose focus is on North American Forests. It is the largest single forest certification standard in the world with over 180 million acres of registered forestland. Within these millions of acres, SFI strives to encourage and promote responsible forestry management. Some of its main goals include the following: protecting water quality, biodiversity, species at risk, wildlife habitat and Forests with Exceptional conservation Value. Products that have an SFI logo have met the requirements of the SFI, and therefore, like FSC certified products, came from a well maintained forest.

How do you decide whether to use FSC, SFI or both?

Listen to your customers. Ultimately, the goals and missions of the FSC and SFI are the same. Therefore, research and discuss the needs and expectations of your customers. Choose a certification aligned with not only your customers', but also with your company’s values and commitment to sustainability. You can also receive dual certifications for both SFI and FSC as well. For more information visit:

Forest Stewardship Council

Sustainable Forestry Initiative

 

In the end...

Both the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) are organizations who manage responsible forestry practices. Researching what each organization specializes in and then considering your customer’s needs will point you in the right direction. The organizations have different certification policies―choose the one that is best for you and your company. At the end of the day, both organizations are focused on maintaining our world’s forests and ensuring responsible forest practices which is a win for the environment.

 

Happy #EcoMonday!

 

http://www.fsc.org/.  6 Feb 2012

http://www.fscus.org/.   6 Feb 2012

http://www.sfiprogram.org/.   6 Feb 2012

http://www.yale.edu/forestcertification/pdfs/auditprograms.pdf.  6 Feb 2012

 

Ranpak has built our entire company on the back of ingenuity, hard work, good people and paper.

We’ve always been proud of our commitment to the simplicity, efficiency and environmentally responsible qualities of paper as a void-fill, cushioning or wrapping medium.  Our full line of products is designed to meet your needs and the needs of your clients.

But how is paper made?  Where does Ranpak’s paper come from?

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Ranpak’s void fill, cushioning and wrapping systems utilize
kraft paper, which is produced from pulp created by the kraft process.

Pioneered by Car F. Dahl in 1879, the kraft process derives its name from the German word for strong.  Kraft paper is machine- made paper that is created from wood pulp consisting almost entirely of pure cellulose fibers.

The kraft process dictates that wood chips are heated with water, steam and a strong alkaline liquid known as “white liquor”. 

After this initial treatment, the wood chips are heated in pressurized vessels called digesters.  After several hours at high temperatures, the natural components of the wood begin to break down, causing the wood chips to form an initial pulp.  After evaporating off some of the residual liquid, the pulp is finally screened and washed.

The kraft process includes the use of sulfate in the conditioning of the wood pulp.  This helps to add to the overall strength of the finished paper.

After the wood pulp is made, it is pulverized and fed into a machine, where it is formed into a paper web, with all water removed through pressing and drying.

It all sounds pretty technical, so what does it really mean? Well, to make it simple, the kraft process makes a pulp that is stronger than the pulp made by other processes. 

Translation: Ranpak’s paper is stronger, better and more durable.

Ranpak’s kraft paper is naturally tan in color, strong and has a high tensile strength – meaning it will hold up to the demands of packaging and shipping.

Ranpak only works with Sustainable Forest Initiative (SFI) or Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified mills to ensure our paper comes from a responsible source that follows sustainable forestry practices.  For more information about Ranpak's sustainability practices, visit our Go Green page.

Hello and welcome to our website and the Ranpak Blog!  My name is David Gabrielsen and I am Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Ranpak Corporation, a position I have held since March of 2002.  Since 1972, Ranpak has been a global supplier of paper-based, in-the-box, protective packaging materials.   We market our patented systems globally and maintain operations in Ohio, Nevada, Kansas, Czech Republic and the Netherlands. More...