Month: July 2024

WAKULLA SPRINGS, Fla., July 10, 2024 /3BL/ – The Florida State Parks Foundation yesterday joined Duke Energy Florida and its foundation, along with the Friends of Wakulla Springs State Park, to unveil a new, state-of-the-art accessible playground at Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park near Tallahassee.

The new playground, located a short distance from the park’s beachfront along the Wakulla River, includes several accessible play elements and a wide path to accommodate mobility devices.

The playground’s centerpiece is a large glider styled in the fashion of the park’s iconic river tour boats.

“Seeing a replica of the Wakulla Springs boat and all of the other fun playground experiences here brings a huge smile to my face,” said Kathleen Brennan, president of the Florida State Parks Foundation board of directors. “Thanks to Duke Energy Florida and the amazing Friends of Wakulla Springs, this beautiful new playground will welcome smiling faces for many, many years to come.”

Playground materials and installation costs totaled $72,204. Duke Energy Florida donated $44,000 toward the project, while the Friends of Wakulla Springs State Park contributed $15,000 and the Foundation funded the remaining balance.

The playground is open during regular operating hours and access is included with park admission.

“The Foundation is constantly seeking opportunities to expand accessibility in our state parks, and we are proud to have played a part in creating a playground for all children who visit Wakulla Springs,” said Julia Gill Woodward, CEO of the Florida State Parks Foundation.

This is the latest in a series of collaborations between the Foundation and Duke Energy Florida to benefit Florida state parks.

In recent years, Duke Energy Florida and its foundation have donated more than $300,000 to state parks amenities and projects, including all-terrain beach and trail wheelchairs, a new strike team trailer for the Florida Park Service’s emergency response teams, and more than 100 water bottle refilling stations at parks across the state.

“Vibrant communities do not happen by accident. They are the result of hard work, intentional investments and collaboration with key organizations to solve challenges and nurture the places where we live, work and play,” said Melissa Seixas, Duke Energy Florida state president. “We are proud to support the Florida State Parks Foundation and all they do to protect Florida’s most-treasured parks and expand access to outdoor recreation opportunities for all.”

The Foundation also unveiled the “Great Blue Heron” hybrid-electric tour boat at Wakulla Springs State Park late last year. The boat includes an extended dock ramp and wide spaces to accommodate people who use mobility devices.

“We are committed to providing inclusive recreational experiences for all of our visitors, and we are so pleased to offer these new accessible features at Wakulla Springs,” Florida State Parks Director Chuck Hatcher said. “This new playground will create fun park memories for our youngest guests, and we hope that it will help inspire a lifelong love of Florida’s natural resources.”

Florida State Parks Foundation

The Florida State Parks Foundation, founded in 1993 as Friends of Florida State Parks and renamed in 2018, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation whose mission is to support and help sustain the Florida Park Service, its 175 award-winning parks and trails, local Friends groups and more than 20,000 park volunteers.

It does this through programs that preserve and protect state parks, educate visitors about the value of state parks, encourage community engagement and active use of state parks, and advocacy. These projects were completed through the Florida State Parks Foundation Services LLC, which is a limited liability company affiliate of the Foundation.

The volunteer board of directors represents private and public sectors as well as local and statewide interests.

Duke Energy Florida

Duke Energy Florida, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, owns 12,300 megawatts of energy capacity, supplying electricity to 2 million residential, commercial and industrial customers across a 13,000-square-mile service area in Florida.

Duke Energy Foundation

The Duke Energy Foundation provides more than $30 million annually in philanthropic support to meet the needs of communities where Duke Energy customers live and work. The Foundation is funded by Duke Energy shareholders.

Media contact: Audrey Stasko 
Media line: 800.559.3853 
Twitter: @DE_AudreyS

Florida State Parks Foundation media contact: Tim Linafelt 
850.566.6118 
tim@floridastateparksfoundation.org

View original content here.

Originally published in the SEE Impact Report 2022

CRYOVAC® Brand Recycle-Ready Barrier Display Films 

Food packaging designed for recycling 

To optimize varying recycling compatibilities throughout Europe, SEE developed CRYOVAC® brand recycle-ready barrier display films. Designed for recycling, these ultra-thin overwrap shrink films maintain product integrity and shelf life and offer a 90% plastic weight reduction compared to thick thermoforming materials. The ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH)-containing films (BDF20M and BDF21) demonstrate compatibility with low-density polyethylene (LDPE) streams.  These films have been internally tested for recyclability following various international protocols published by the Association of Plastics Recyclers, Plastic Recyclers Europe (RecyClass), or Institut cyclos-HTP GmbH.  The degree of recyclability of the final package depends on the scope and availability of appropriate local recycling facilities.

CRYOVAC® Brand Darfresh® Systems Low-Carbon Solution 

Less plastic, more functionality 

CRYOVAC® brand Darfresh® vacuum skin packaging systems offer advanced packaging technologies that are more cost-effective and sustainable when compared to traditional modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) systems, while also increasing consumer appeal in the retail environment. The DARFRESH® packaging process uses a specially formulated top and a multilayer semirigid thermoformable bottom film to create a vacuum skin consumer pack that fits around the product like a second skin. The finished pack reduces material consumption from downgauged top and bottom films using 25% less plastic versus standard skin packaging, along with reduced secondary packaging and plastic scrap waste up to 40% compared with standard thermoforming skin systems.

CRYOVAC® Brand OptiDure Gen 2 Barrier Bag 

Less material lowers environmental impact 

CRYOVAC® brand OptiDure vacuum shrink bag and shrinkable rollstock is the f irst available recycle-ready Flowvac capable material in the market designed to run on fully automated packaging systems. The lightweight solution is 20% thinner when compared to standard vacuum thermoforming packs and lowers the environmental impact by reducing excess packaging around the product. The second-generation bags deliver improved oxygen barrier versus CRYOVAC® brand OptiDure 4005 to fill the gap for fresh meat applications with a 30% increase in shelf life. The bags have also been internally tested for recyclability following various international protocols published by the Association of Plastics Recyclers, Plastic Recyclers Europe (RecyClass), and Institut cyclos-HTP GmbH. 

Liquibox® VINIflow® Short Back-End Dispensing Tap 

Less plastic, more functionality 

The Liquibox®* VINIflow® short back-end dispensing tap has all the functionality of its predecessor—the VINIflow self-closing, top-pull tap for bag-in-box and stand-up pouch—but is designed with a shorter back end that uses 26% less plastic. The shorter back-end design is not only more sustainable, but also minimizes the risk of oxygen exposure to keep liquid products safe and extend shelf life, which is especially beneficial for preserving wine quality. The fitment can be produced in a natural color to eliminate carbon black, which may contaminate the recycling stream. *SEE acquired Liquibox in February 2023.

Liquibox® Recycle-Ready Urn-liner 

Recycle-ready solution reduces environmental impact 

For quick-service restaurants seeking recyclable solutions, Liquibox® developed a recycle-ready version of its patented urn-liner. Urn-liners offer improved efficiencies, as well as a reduction in bacteria growth. Urn-liners fit inside of beverage urns and utilize a tube that feeds through the urn spigot, keeping the liquid product from coming in contact with the urn or spigot when dispensing the product. The Liquibox® recycle-ready urn-liner is comprised of an all-polyethylene bag and adapter with a removable thermoplastic elastomer tube. The tube is easily separated from the urn-liner so the mono-material bag can be recycled. The urn-liners also reduce the environmental impact of beverage dispensing by eliminating the water and energy that would be needed during the urn cleaning process.

SEALED AIR® Brand TempGuard Gusset Insulated Bag 

Recyclable, fiber-based solution for temperature assurance 

Since its inception, SEE’s original SEALED AIR® brand TempGuard insulated box liners, an all-paper construction made from fibers certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, have been a popular curbside recyclable insulation choice for meal kit providers and other customers seeking up to 48-hour protection of perishable and other temperature-sensitive items during transit. SEE’s latest version of TempGuard, a gusseted bag with an expanded honeycomb paper insulation core, was developed to increase filling volume and provide a higher product-to-package ratio with a shorter pack-out time. Compared to a similarsized metallized bag, the TempGuard gusseted bag is curbside recyclable and helps avoid more than 154 metric tons of nonrecyclable plastic waste going to landfills in Australia and New Zealand. The solution earned silver place in the renewable materials category at the 2023 Australasian Packaging Innovation & Design Awards. It is currently available in Australia and New Zealand and will be sold globally in the near future.

SEALED AIR® Brand Bags Made From Ocean-Bound Plastics 

Converting plastic waste into packaging without compromising performance 

To contribute to a cleaner ocean environment, SEE has united with our suppliers to reuse ocean-bound plastics collected by our partners. The lowdensity polyethylene (LDPE) bag comes from abandoned plastic waste located within 50 kilometers from shore in communities and areas where waste management is nonexistent or very inefficient. To maintain packaging integrity and quality, the resins made from ocean-bound plastics are strictly selected, tested, and qualified so that the final ocean-bound plastic LDPE bag maintains the comparable performance and appearance as virgin LDPE. The ocean-bound plastic bag is comparable in strength and resilience to normal LDPE bags and complies with Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) and Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH). ocean-bound plastic bags can be used for a variety of applications, including electronic devices and accessories, retail fashion, cosmetics and personal care, books and audio, and third-party logistics.

Korrvu® Digital Manufacturing Processes 

Digital operation reduces material use 

Using digital technology, SEE has been able to switch from the traditional die- cutting process to laser cutting for the corrugate sheets that are a primary component of SEALED AIR® brand Korrvu® retention and suspension packaging. Laser cutting removes the need for tooling and traditional wood or steel dies, which results in less material consumption. In addition, the laser process preserves the strength of the corrugate, allowing for the same performance from thinner materials, which further reduces overall material use.

Recycle-Ready Mail Lite® Cushioned Paper Mailers 

Recycled-content material offers source reduction 

The new generation of BUBBLE WRAP® brand Recycle-Ready Mail Lite® mailers are made with 100% recycled paper. The mailers can be recycled by easily separating the paper outer layer from the inner bubble cushioning and recycling each in their appropriate waste stream. By using recycled paper for the outer layer, we are helping to protect natural resources. The inner bubble contains a minimum of 60% recycled content, making the total recycled content a minimum of 85% by weight. The pick-pack packaging format replaces a standard corrugated carton box with four cardboard trays overwrapped with CRYOVAC® brand high-performance shrink film at just 14 microns and an easy-open tear tape. These features enable more cartons per pallet, reduce the number of trucks on the road and associated CO2 emissions, and save on shipping costs. The Mail Lite® cushioned mailers pick-pack format won in the Resource Efficiency Award category at the UK Sustainable Packaging News Awards.

Read the full SEE Impact Report 2022

Originally published in the SEE Impact Report 2022

CRYOVAC® Brand Recycle-Ready Barrier Display Films 

Food packaging designed for recycling 

To optimize varying recycling compatibilities throughout Europe, SEE developed CRYOVAC® brand recycle-ready barrier display films. Designed for recycling, these ultra-thin overwrap shrink films maintain product integrity and shelf life and offer a 90% plastic weight reduction compared to thick thermoforming materials. The ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH)-containing films (BDF20M and BDF21) demonstrate compatibility with low-density polyethylene (LDPE) streams.  These films have been internally tested for recyclability following various international protocols published by the Association of Plastics Recyclers, Plastic Recyclers Europe (RecyClass), or Institut cyclos-HTP GmbH.  The degree of recyclability of the final package depends on the scope and availability of appropriate local recycling facilities.

CRYOVAC® Brand Darfresh® Systems Low-Carbon Solution 

Less plastic, more functionality 

CRYOVAC® brand Darfresh® vacuum skin packaging systems offer advanced packaging technologies that are more cost-effective and sustainable when compared to traditional modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) systems, while also increasing consumer appeal in the retail environment. The DARFRESH® packaging process uses a specially formulated top and a multilayer semirigid thermoformable bottom film to create a vacuum skin consumer pack that fits around the product like a second skin. The finished pack reduces material consumption from downgauged top and bottom films using 25% less plastic versus standard skin packaging, along with reduced secondary packaging and plastic scrap waste up to 40% compared with standard thermoforming skin systems.

CRYOVAC® Brand OptiDure Gen 2 Barrier Bag 

Less material lowers environmental impact 

CRYOVAC® brand OptiDure vacuum shrink bag and shrinkable rollstock is the f irst available recycle-ready Flowvac capable material in the market designed to run on fully automated packaging systems. The lightweight solution is 20% thinner when compared to standard vacuum thermoforming packs and lowers the environmental impact by reducing excess packaging around the product. The second-generation bags deliver improved oxygen barrier versus CRYOVAC® brand OptiDure 4005 to fill the gap for fresh meat applications with a 30% increase in shelf life. The bags have also been internally tested for recyclability following various international protocols published by the Association of Plastics Recyclers, Plastic Recyclers Europe (RecyClass), and Institut cyclos-HTP GmbH. 

Liquibox® VINIflow® Short Back-End Dispensing Tap 

Less plastic, more functionality 

The Liquibox®* VINIflow® short back-end dispensing tap has all the functionality of its predecessor—the VINIflow self-closing, top-pull tap for bag-in-box and stand-up pouch—but is designed with a shorter back end that uses 26% less plastic. The shorter back-end design is not only more sustainable, but also minimizes the risk of oxygen exposure to keep liquid products safe and extend shelf life, which is especially beneficial for preserving wine quality. The fitment can be produced in a natural color to eliminate carbon black, which may contaminate the recycling stream. *SEE acquired Liquibox in February 2023.

Liquibox® Recycle-Ready Urn-liner 

Recycle-ready solution reduces environmental impact 

For quick-service restaurants seeking recyclable solutions, Liquibox® developed a recycle-ready version of its patented urn-liner. Urn-liners offer improved efficiencies, as well as a reduction in bacteria growth. Urn-liners fit inside of beverage urns and utilize a tube that feeds through the urn spigot, keeping the liquid product from coming in contact with the urn or spigot when dispensing the product. The Liquibox® recycle-ready urn-liner is comprised of an all-polyethylene bag and adapter with a removable thermoplastic elastomer tube. The tube is easily separated from the urn-liner so the mono-material bag can be recycled. The urn-liners also reduce the environmental impact of beverage dispensing by eliminating the water and energy that would be needed during the urn cleaning process.

SEALED AIR® Brand TempGuard Gusset Insulated Bag 

Recyclable, fiber-based solution for temperature assurance 

Since its inception, SEE’s original SEALED AIR® brand TempGuard insulated box liners, an all-paper construction made from fibers certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, have been a popular curbside recyclable insulation choice for meal kit providers and other customers seeking up to 48-hour protection of perishable and other temperature-sensitive items during transit. SEE’s latest version of TempGuard, a gusseted bag with an expanded honeycomb paper insulation core, was developed to increase filling volume and provide a higher product-to-package ratio with a shorter pack-out time. Compared to a similarsized metallized bag, the TempGuard gusseted bag is curbside recyclable and helps avoid more than 154 metric tons of nonrecyclable plastic waste going to landfills in Australia and New Zealand. The solution earned silver place in the renewable materials category at the 2023 Australasian Packaging Innovation & Design Awards. It is currently available in Australia and New Zealand and will be sold globally in the near future.

SEALED AIR® Brand Bags Made From Ocean-Bound Plastics 

Converting plastic waste into packaging without compromising performance 

To contribute to a cleaner ocean environment, SEE has united with our suppliers to reuse ocean-bound plastics collected by our partners. The lowdensity polyethylene (LDPE) bag comes from abandoned plastic waste located within 50 kilometers from shore in communities and areas where waste management is nonexistent or very inefficient. To maintain packaging integrity and quality, the resins made from ocean-bound plastics are strictly selected, tested, and qualified so that the final ocean-bound plastic LDPE bag maintains the comparable performance and appearance as virgin LDPE. The ocean-bound plastic bag is comparable in strength and resilience to normal LDPE bags and complies with Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) and Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH). ocean-bound plastic bags can be used for a variety of applications, including electronic devices and accessories, retail fashion, cosmetics and personal care, books and audio, and third-party logistics.

Korrvu® Digital Manufacturing Processes 

Digital operation reduces material use 

Using digital technology, SEE has been able to switch from the traditional die- cutting process to laser cutting for the corrugate sheets that are a primary component of SEALED AIR® brand Korrvu® retention and suspension packaging. Laser cutting removes the need for tooling and traditional wood or steel dies, which results in less material consumption. In addition, the laser process preserves the strength of the corrugate, allowing for the same performance from thinner materials, which further reduces overall material use.

Recycle-Ready Mail Lite® Cushioned Paper Mailers 

Recycled-content material offers source reduction 

The new generation of BUBBLE WRAP® brand Recycle-Ready Mail Lite® mailers are made with 100% recycled paper. The mailers can be recycled by easily separating the paper outer layer from the inner bubble cushioning and recycling each in their appropriate waste stream. By using recycled paper for the outer layer, we are helping to protect natural resources. The inner bubble contains a minimum of 60% recycled content, making the total recycled content a minimum of 85% by weight. The pick-pack packaging format replaces a standard corrugated carton box with four cardboard trays overwrapped with CRYOVAC® brand high-performance shrink film at just 14 microns and an easy-open tear tape. These features enable more cartons per pallet, reduce the number of trucks on the road and associated CO2 emissions, and save on shipping costs. The Mail Lite® cushioned mailers pick-pack format won in the Resource Efficiency Award category at the UK Sustainable Packaging News Awards.

Read the full SEE Impact Report 2022

Complimentary Webinar

Storage & Distribution Audits – How to Get Started and Best Practices

July 18, 2024| 12:00 PM ET / 9:00 AM PT

REGISTER

This is part 2 of the 3-part summer webinar series, Auditing Mastery.

In today’s ever expanding supply chain, the expectations for food facilities that provide product storage and distribution services are becoming more heavily relied on and with it comes increasing regulations and expectations. Whether your facilities are on the pathway to food safety certification or already undergoing an audit, it is a continuous journey that requires a team approach. In this webinar, SCS Global Services will review the audit standards that offer S&D audits and what criteria is required from training, HACCP plan development, modern GDP practices, and how to apply industry best practices for developing and implementing management systems.

REGISTER HERE FOR THE WEBINAR

By registering, you will get access to the webinar recording.

For inquiries, contact:

Shyama Devarajan 
Senior Marketing Manager, SCS Global Services 
sdevarajan@scsglobalservices.com

Complimentary Webinar

Storage & Distribution Audits – How to Get Started and Best Practices

July 18, 2024| 12:00 PM ET / 9:00 AM PT

REGISTER

This is part 2 of the 3-part summer webinar series, Auditing Mastery.

In today’s ever expanding supply chain, the expectations for food facilities that provide product storage and distribution services are becoming more heavily relied on and with it comes increasing regulations and expectations. Whether your facilities are on the pathway to food safety certification or already undergoing an audit, it is a continuous journey that requires a team approach. In this webinar, SCS Global Services will review the audit standards that offer S&D audits and what criteria is required from training, HACCP plan development, modern GDP practices, and how to apply industry best practices for developing and implementing management systems.

REGISTER HERE FOR THE WEBINAR

By registering, you will get access to the webinar recording.

For inquiries, contact:

Shyama Devarajan 
Senior Marketing Manager, SCS Global Services 
sdevarajan@scsglobalservices.com