• All Hi-Cone
plastic ring carriers sold worldwide are made from a special low-density
polyethylene plastic, which is 100 percent photodegradable.
• Exposure to
the sun’s ultraviolet rays causes the rings to weaken and become
brittle. Wind and rain will break up the brittle carrier into small pieces.
• When exposed
to summer sunlight, a photodegradable plastic ring carrier will begin
to lose its strength in a short period of time and become totally brittle
in about three weeks. This process takes longer in cloudy, cold winter
weather.
• Once a ring
carrier has been weakened by ultraviolet rays it poses minimal risk to
wildlife. Since the carrier floats, photodegradation occurs on water as
well as land.
• Hi-Cone has
introduced a zipper opening feature on some of its carriers. This facilitates
container removal by breaking the rings and also mitigates potential for
wildlife endangerment.
• Hi-Cone carriers
are non-toxic and meet the most stringent US and European toxicity standards
for lead, cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium and other metals and chemicals
known to be toxic at certain levels.
• Of the three
major packages used for beverage multipacks (ring carriers, shrink wrap
and paperboard), ring carriers generate the least amount of solid and
water-borne waste, use less energy and release the fewest emissions into
the environment.
• Hi-Cone collects
used ring carriers throughout North America through its award-winning
Ring Leader Recycling Program. Recycled rings are processed and converted
into new material for production of photodegradable ring carriers and
other products.
• For open-loop
recyclers, Hi-Cone ring carriers can be commingled with other compatible
plastics and recycled into a variety of different products.
• Further information
about Hi-Cone recycling is available at www.ringleader.com
11/27/06
