Sustainable is Good | Where design, lifestyle and packaging meet

Target Archer Farms Packaging FSC Certified

UPDATE:   See our latest story on Archer Farms new innovative cereal packaging

Target Stores Archer Farms brand has recently released new paperboard packaging that is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).

The new packaging was noticed by one of our contributors at a local Target store.  The packaging is appearing on select Archer Farms Organic product lines.  We found the packaging for the entire line of Archer Farms Organic cookies (Key Lime White Chocolate pictured) carrying both the FSC Mixed Sources logo and the Green-e logo.

According to Target's 2007 Corporate Responsibility Report, "In 2007, select Archer Farms Organic product lines will convert to a paperboard manufacturer that uses 100 percent wind power. Additionally, this paperboard and manufacturer are certified with the Forest Stewardship Council."

San Francisco-based Michael Osborne Design (MOD) redesigned Archer Farms packaging several years ago.  The redesign featured a French country theme and allowed Target to position its Archer Farms brand as their "premium" store brand and introduce a more basic Target store brand of food items.

It is unknown what other products in the Archer Farms Organic line have the new FSC/Green-e paperboard packaging or who is producing the packaging.  Target did not respond to multiple inquires by Sustainable is Good.

FSC/Green-e certified packaging on a store brand product is rare and could signify an increased interest from Target in more sustainable packaging.  Previously Sustainable is Good reported on Target's efforts to reduce PVC from the packaging of products in its stores.

Target Mirel Bioplastic Gift Card Pictures

UPDATED 12/4 - See our latest story on Mirel and Target - all 1600 stores will carry the gift cards for the holiday season - Read full story.

Back in August Sustainable is Good reported on new gift cards Target was selling made from a biodegradable plastic called Mirel.  At the time we ran the original story, shortly after the cards were announced, we didn't have any photos of the actual cards.

Sustainable is Good has obtained photos of the new gift cards as well as a photo of one of the cards after 40 days in compost.  The gift cards are only available at a small number of Target stores nationwide (129 stores).  Readers have told us the cards are sold in specially designed display cases usually located near the front of the store. The cards say the following on the back, "This GiftCard is made from naturally renewable corn-based material that is biodegradable in your backyard compost

The cards are made from Mirel, a new family of biobased plastics made from corn that provides an alternative to traditional, petroleum-based plastics. Unlike conventional plastics, Mirel biodegrades in a variety of environments including soil, home compost, wetlands, rivers and oceans.   

The biobased plastic is made by Telles, a company formed between Cambridge Massachusetts, Metabolix and Archer Daniels Midland (ADM).  Telles is a 50-50 joint venture between the two companies.   

A new web site was just launched for Mirel plastics. 

Telles is currently working with more than 50 prospects on more than 70 applications, including consumer products, packaging, single-use disposables, and products used in agriculture and erosion control.

Target Stores Reduce PVC Plastic Packaging

Minneapolis-based Target has used its size and buying power as a way to get suppliers to reduce unnecessary packaging.

The retailer targeted suppliers using the often tough to open "clamshell" style packaging asking them to switch to greener options. 

According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, earlier this year Target asked its packaging vendor for Ipod carrying cases to replace its clamshell packaging with a recyclable cardboard package with a small plastic window.    The change in packaging will prevent an estimated 5,000 pounds of PVC from ending up in landfills.

About 18 months ago, Target pushed its seven private-label packaging companies to get rid of excess wraps. The result: Packages for more than 500 items, from dog leashes to toy rocket launchers, have been redesigned to be less harmful to the environment. In about 100 instances, PVC plastic was eliminated from private-label packages.

Target's biggest competitor Wal-Mart is taking similar steps.  The retail giant has pledged to eliminate all private-label PVC packaging by 2009. The company also has set a goal of producing "zero waste" by 2025; which means that, through recycling and packaging reduction, Wal-Mart will eliminate all waste flowing through its stores and offices.

Target Stores New Mirel Bioplastic Gift Card

Target stores have introduced a new gift card made from a bioplastic called Mirel.  The gift card is biodegradable and made from natural sources. 

The new biobased gift cards are available at 129 Target stores across the country.

Mirel is a new family of biobased plastics made from corn that provides an alternative to traditional, petroleum-based plastics. Unlike conventional plastics, Mirel biodegrades in a variety of environments including soil, home compost, wetlands, rivers and oceans   

The biobased plastic is made by Telles, a company formed between Cambridge Massachusetts, Metabolix and Archer Daniels Midland (ADM).  Telles is a 50-50 joint venture between the two companies.   

Telles is currently working with more than 50 prospects on more than 70 applications, including consumer products, packaging, single-use disposables, and products used in agriculture and erosion control.

Target Focuses on Organics in Weekly Ad; Shareholders Urge Eco Progress

Target Stores has devoted an entire page in their current national print ad campaign to "natural home choices," featuring organic home textiles and recycled and/or natural home products.  This national print ad comes the same week as shareholders gathered at Target's annual shareholder meeting held yesterday in Cleveland, Ohio.

Eco issues were a focal point at this years meeting.  HTT reported five shareholders each representing larger groups of shareholders raised concerns over the use of PVC in products and packaging.

Target executives reiterated their intention to assess and pursue alternatives to the pollutant. 

The company offered examples of progress by saying they were looking into offering shower curtains made from ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) as well as cloth curtains.  They also said they were looking at moving from plastic to corrugated packaging for some of their Target brand dinner ware products.

Target said they have requested vendors reduce the amount of packaging and use materials that are easily recyclable.

The focus on eco progress at the shareholders meeting is interesting especially in light of the increased presence of more eco-friendly products on store shelves.  This fact appears not to have been a focal point of the meeting.

Target has increased its eco-friendly home textiles carrying full lines of organic kitchen and bath towels, two different eco bedding lines one fully organic cotton and one a 60/40 cotton/bamboo split.  The company also has a highly successful relationship with household cleaning company Method and has introduced a new line of men's personal care products that are eco-friendly called Every Man Jack.  In addition Target has established relationships with other well-known brands such as Burt's Bees.

archer farms organic

Organic Hits Target Stores with Archer Farms

Archer Farms Organic Raspberry fruit strips are this weeks focus on value organic products. Sold by Target stores in the US under their brand Archer Farms, these organic fruit strips are made in Canada. Containing apple, raspberry and a relatively low amount of sugar (8g) I find them to be pretty darn good. At $2.99 for (10) they are a solid value. The taste is what you would expect from an organic fruit strip with low sugar. I find them very good, but they certainly aren't like the fruit roll-ups of the 80s.