Case Study: Premier Protein’s Shrink Sleeve Upgrade & How It Improved Sustainability
Premier Protein’s Story:
Since 1999, Premier Protein has made it their mission to give customers “the energy to get the most out of every day.”
Recently, Premier Protein also made it their goal to reduce their carbon footprint. Current trends are pushing towards protecting our planet and health-focused customers in particular tend to care deeply about environmental issues, so Premier Protein needed to provide eco-friendly solutions.
When packaging their 11.5 oz shakes, the brand originally used bulkier bottles, made from plastic that was tricky to recycle. But the brand has made changes that improve the recyclability of their packaging in order to increase their overall sustainability.
One way the brand did this was by changing their bottles to PET plastic. This plastic is strong and lightweight, enabling Premier Protein to reduce the amount of plastic used for each bottle by 35%, lowering carbon emissions and raw material demands.
Their new plastic is also completely clear, and can be dropped in just about any recycling bin. Although clear plastic is much easier to recycle than its opaque alternatives, opaque plastic has long been the material of choice due to its innate UV light blocking abilities, which can help protect contents from spoilage. Thankfully, light-blocking shrink sleeve film is finally beginning to change this. This all black light-blocking film keeps the contents fresh while still allowing brands to use clear, optimally recyclable packaging. When Premier Protein started using light-blocking shrink sleeve film instead of opaque plastic bottles, they were able to get the best of both worlds.
Premier Protein’s new packaging also increased convenience for their consumers.
Firstly, due to heat application, shrink sleeves have the ability to mold accurately to any shape, which allowed the Premier Protein team to select bottles that would curve perfectly in their consumers’ hands. Other label types can wrinkle easily, limiting brands to basic bottle shapes, but that’s not the case with shrink sleeves.
Secondly, Premier Protein’s shrink sleeve labels are designed with a zipper-like perforation, so when it comes time to recycle, a simple pull of the zipper causes the entire label to be removed. And since shrink sleeves are applied using heat, there’s no adhesive left stuck on the bottle. These updates make recycling Premier Protein products a breeze.
A packaging redesign like this one has allowed Premier Protein to reduce their carbon footprint, cut down on waste, increase convenience, and make it significantly easier for consumers to recycle, something that’s been in demand for quite some time.
With these recent changes, Premier Protein has proven that they’re not only seeking to give people energy, but to give the planet energy as well.
What Can Your Brand Do?
Is your team looking to take actions in pursuit of greater sustainability?
Consider the following shrink sleeve solutions:
Light-Blocking Film - allows your product to utilize recycle-friendly clear containers without exposing the contents to UV light, which can cause degradation and spoilage.
Shrink Sleeve Perforations - allows for quick and convenient label removal to encourage consumers to properly recycle your bottle or container.
Easier-to-Recycle Shrink Sleeve Materials - Shrink sleeves can be made in a variety of materials, including several that are proven to increase the recyclability and overall sustainability of your label.
Washable Inks - according to the EPA, the recycling rate for PET is only 29% due to difficulty removing inks during the wash cycle. However, the Association of Plastic Recyclers have confirmed that solvent-based inks greatly increase the recyclability of PET because they cause no contamination during the hot wash step of the recycling process.
Be informed on Unique and Science Backed Tips and Strategies - partner with a packaging team that is knowledgeable about sustainability. Our team has personally partnered with recycling facilities across the United States, connected with plastic and sustainability leaders, and done our own extensive research, all to ensure that our packaging consultants are giving the best tips and strategies for our clients to pursue real and science-backed sustainability. No greenwashing, just facts.
If you’re ready to explore sustainable packaging solutions even further, our team is available to help you make the best decision.
Step 1. Schedule a complimentary packaging consultation with one of our packaging experts. We will walk you through the different solutions available and help you determine which would be best suited to your products.
Step 2. We’ll send you complimentary samples to test.
Step 3. We’ll provide you with a quote.
Simply fill out our contact form, email us at info@tangopackaging.com, or call (844) 33-TANGO [82646].