Winston-Salem, NC -- Rising gas prices have affected everyone, but the pain at the pump may have done one favor for us.
The price of fuel is causing some manufacturers to shy away from petroleum-based plastic packaging or clamshell. It's that heavy duty plastic packaging that it seems live everything comes in at the store. And a Winston-Salem company is reaping the benefits.
"We do packaging for things from food products, everything from energy bars, powdered energy drinks and dietary meals to recreational products like golf tees," said President and CEO of Winston Packaging, James Gordon.
Winston Packaging, which is now 100 years old, packages products for about 50 companies using paper board.
"CVS Pharmacy is one of our largest customers. All of their photo finishing products, those envelopes, we do them nationally," Gordon said.
According to Gordon, more companies are making the switch from clamshell to paperboard.
"We have a line of marker pens where they were doing them in clamshells about four or five years ago. Then they went to a board product, but then transitioned further to a more sustainable paperboard item and now it's on recycled board," he said.
Gordon said the reason manufacturers are making the switch is actually two-fold: The cost and the environment.
"Everyone's gotten more conscious of the environment, so they're looking to reduce the amount of material that's used," he said.
Gordon said some people try to recycle plastic, but in most cases it can only be used once, so most of it ends up in the trash. On the other hand, paper can be recycled five to seven times a year.
Big box retailers, like Wal-Mart and Target, and other stores have also pledged to become more environmentally friendly.
"At the end of 2009, Whole Foods mandated anybody selling products in their stores, if they were in a container or a plastic board, they had to be a sustainable item," Gordon said.
While Gordon calls paperboard a win-win because it is cheaper, easier to open, and better for the environment, there is one downside.
"There are times where the package may be set up for a liquid or something, so certainly plastic would have the better application," he said.
WFMY News 2