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Details and FAQ About our Environmentally-Safe
Products and Recycling Programs |
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As
the world’s leading manufacturer of ring carriers, ITW
Hi-Cone recognizes that we all share a responsibility to our
environment. Manufacturers and consumers must take a hard look
at the choices of packaging on the products we buy and sell.
Since the introduction of the Hi-Cone carrier in the early 60’s,
they have represented a minimal packaging and less waste. In
the 70’s we developed the photodegradable carrier. Today,
we continue to improve our ring carriers and have initiated
recycling programs.
Below is a list of common questions and information that have
been asked about our carrier products. To view our response
or information simply click on a question in the list. |
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Information
About Hi-Cone Carriers
Carrier
Trivia/Facts
What
has Hi-Cone done to minimize the eyesore of careless littering?
How
does the photodegradable ring carrier break down?
How
long does it take to break down?
Will
the Photodegradable carrier break down in water?
How
can I tell if a ring carrier is photodegradable?
How
has the photodegradable carrier reduced the threat to wildlife?
Are
the photodegradable ring carriers toxic?
Why
is the ring carrier a minimal package?
If
you consider other factors besides landfills, how does the
ring carrier compare to other types of packaging?
What
about recycling?
What
about waste-to-energy?
A
statement from Hi-Cone to you
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Information
About Hi-Cone Carriers
As the world's leading manufacturer of ring carriers, we recognize
just how great a responsibility we all share to our environment.
Hi-Cone Carriers are designed with the minimal amount of packaging
material which produces the minimal amount of waste and impact
on the environment. In addition Hi-Cone has committed to two
major initiatives: Photodegradable carriers and a closed loop
recycling program.
Photodegradable Carriers The sun's ultraviolet rays cause
our photodegradable carriers to become brittle, so that
they break down into smaller and smaller non-toxic pieces
under the effects of wind, rain, and other environmental
forces.
Recycling Program
While we strive to reclaim carriers from all our channels
- to recycle them into more carriers - the initiative that
gives us the most pride is our "Ring Leader" program.
Currently in thousands of schools, "Ringleader"
helps us to retrieve carriers from consumers while teaching
children the importance of recycling. Including an interactive
web site www.ringleader.com "Ringleader" makes
learning about recycling fun.
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Carrier
Trivia/Facts
125
Rings Per Pound
1
Pound = 2 inch high stack of rings
1
ring is approximately 8 inches in length
· 8,000 rings = 1 mile (end to
end)
· 1 pound of rings = 83.3 feet
(end to end)
· 63 pounds of rings = 1 mile (end
to end)
318,912,513 rings recovered from waste stream from 1991
through 2003
· Equals 2,551,300 pounds or 1,276
tons
More
than 12,000 schools in all 50 states have adopted "The
Ring Leader Recycling Program"
"Closed Loop Recycling" of six-pack rings helps
the environment click here
to see an illustration of how this works.
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What
has Hi-Cone done to minimize the eyesore of careless littering?
While ring carriers are only a small portion of the total
litter problem, they ought to be recycled or disposed properly.
Unfortunately, we cannot stop careless littering. To help
minimize the problem, ITW Hi-Cone developed a photodegradable
ring carrier which breaks down naturally in the environment.
Today, all ITW Hi-Cone ring carriers sold in the U.S. and
Canada are photodegradable.
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How
does the photodegradable ring carrier break down?
The photodegradable carrier is sensitive to sunlight. The
sun's ultraviolet rays cause the carrier to become brittle,
so that it breaks down into even smaller an smaller pieces
under the effects of wind, rain and other environmental forces.
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How
long does it take to break down?
The ring carrier loses approximately 75% of its strength within
days of direct exposure to sunlight. It can become completely
brittle in a matter of weeks. The carrier must be exposed
to direct or indirect sunlight. The speed at which it becomes
brittle will vary with the time of year, temperature, latitude
and any other factors which limit the amount of ultraviolet
(UV) light exposure to the carrier. The carrier will not degrade
if behind a glass window or otherwise shielded from UV exposure.
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Will
the Photodegradable carrier break down in water?
Yes. The ring carrier floats on the surface of water where
it is exposed to sunlight, causing it to break down.
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How
can I tell if a ring carrier is photodegradable?
All ITW Hi-Cone ring carriers sold in the U.S. and Canada
are now photodegradable. You can identify them by a small-embossed
diamond shape on the carrier.
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How
has the photodegradable carrier reduced the threat to wildlife?
The photodegradable carrier starts to lose its strength very
quickly after exposure to sunlight. Once a photodegradable
carrier has become brittle by exposure to sunlight, any animal
or bird which might become entangled in it could easily break
free.
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Are
the photodegradable ring carriers toxic?
An independent testing laboratory found the photodegradable
carrier to be non-toxic. It contains no heavy metals or toxic
additives. As the carriers degrade, they break down into smaller
and smaller pieces of inert, harmless material.
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Why
is the ring carrier a minimal package?
Hi-Cone has decreased the amount of material in a ring carrier
by over 30% since the 1960's. Today, of the three major packages
used for 6-packs (plastic shrink-film, paperboard and ring
carriers), ring carriers produce the least solid waste by
both weight and volume.
Minimizing
the amount of packaging sent to waste landfills is important.
Recent studies show that nothing breaks down quickly in our
landfills, "biodegradable" materials are slow to
decompose because they are sealed away from air and water.
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If
you consider other factors besides landfills, how does the
ring carrier compare to other types of packaging?
You must consider everything that happens in its total life
cycle from extracting raw material, through a product's production,
to its final disposal. The independent firm of Franklin Associates
conducted a study comparing the three types of 6-pack packages.
Here are the results:
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Energy
Usage |
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Hi-Cone
ring carriers use about 45% less energy through their
total life cycle than paperboard 6-packs and about 34%
less than shrink-film |
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Air Pollution |
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Ring
carriers produce about 47% less emissions released into
the atmosphere than paperboard cartons and about 36% less
than shrink-film 6-pack packages. |
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Water Pollution |
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Over
their total life cycle, ring carriers cause about 44%
less water-borne wastes than paperboard cartons. This
because paperboard uses so much more water in its production.
Ring carriers cause about 23% less water-borne waste than
shrink-film packages |
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What about recycling? ITW Hi-Cone has an active, closed
-loop recycling program. We collect post-consumer photodegradable
ring carriers and, at our recycling facility, we convert them
into material used to make new photodegradable carriers. The
process reduces the need for virgin material.
For
open-loop recyclers, our photodegradable carriers are made
of low-density polyethylene, modified to be photosensitive.
Our carriers can be commingled with other compatible plastics
and recycled into a variety of different products.
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What
about waste-to-energy?
The photodegradable carriers offer a
high energy source when incinerated, producing non-toxic residue.
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Thank
you for your concern.
The health of our environment is vital to all of us. ITW Hi-Cone
promises to continue our commitment to environmental responsibility
with:
· Minimal packaging
for minimal waste
· Non-toxic carriers
· Recycling
· Photodegradability
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