They are also easier to transport, store and display. These advantages translate to less material and energy used during the production, distribution and storage of juice. Thus, the hidden source reduction benefits of flexible packages can often equal or even outweigh the recycling benefits of older, supposedly environmentally friendly, ones. So, as you go about choosing products, keep in mind that source reduction makes a big difference when it comes to conserving resources. It can be a particularly effective way to reduce the amount of packaging that is created and landfilled, especially when done in concert with recycling and reuse.
Flexible packages are excellent examples of the benefits of source reduction.
They are lightweight and low volume, translating to a variety of advantages. Unfortunately, the value of source reduction is sometimes lost amid the rhetoric of recycling. Yet, in actuality, many products and packages that have been source reduced lead to greater conservation and less waste than their older, generally more recyclable, counterparts. Contact manufacturers of various products and ask them what they are doing to source reduce. Many major household and food products companies invite your questions, and provide toll-free numbers on their packages.