April 2013
Eden Foods' environmental activities go hand-in-hand with its company goal of having a strong, positive impact on farming practices and food processing techniques. We track the environmental impact of our food upstream to our suppliers, through company operations, and downstream by monitoring its social and environmental impacts. Energy use and waste are tracked by utilizing custom in-house tools. In 2009 Eden Foods was selected as the best food company in the world, and the third best company overall by The Better World Shopping Guide. Those awards acknowledged an outstanding record in environmental and social responsibility. The sourcing and utilization of eco-logical packaging solutions has always been part of our work.
The ethic of pure food packaging should always support a healthy environment that can then produce more pure food.
Aseptic Packaging
In the making of EDENSOY we strive to be ecologically commonsensical. Aseptic cartons provide food to folks with a minimum amount of materials and energy. The cartons we chose require no refrigeration in storage, transport, or merchandising. Seventy-three percent of EDENSOY's package is from certified sustainable forests that ensure biodiversity and protect endangered species. The Environmental Protection Agency reports pollution from refrigeration has exponentially increased since the 1990s. To make a food that requires no refrigeration into one that does, for marketing purposes, is a practice Eden considers to be ecologically unethical.
BPA Free since 1999
Since April 1999 Eden Foods has exclusively used custom made cans lined with a oleoresinous c-enamel that does not contain the endocrine disrupter bisphenol-A (BPA) for thirty-seven varieties of EDEN organic beans, chili, rice & beans, refried, and flavored beans, including the 108 oz. food service cans. These cans cost 34% more than industry-standard cans that do contain BPA. In 2010 Eden was commended with a “Green Packy Award” based upon the Responsible Packaging Guidelines for the Organic Industry. The award was given to Eden in recognition of its BPA Free cans.
Amber Glass Protected
All EDEN oils, vinegars, and soy sauces are bottled in protective amber glass. Light damages the color and the flavor of food by causing chemical reactions. Photo-oxidation light damage is systemic in food stores where, in particular, fluorescent lighting reduces food quality. Efficacious amber glass is difficult to get and more costly, but it best protects food.
In 2011 we moved part of our tomato line into amber glass jars. The driving force at Eden for amber glass packed tomatoes was the avoidance of BPA and the failure of can manufacturers to make BPA free cans for high-acid foods such as tomatoes. Eden now offers the only tomatoes in the U.S.A. packed in amber glass &emdash EDEN organic spaghetti sauces, pizza pasta sauce, and crushed tomatoes. Eden Foods was awarded the “Friends of Glass” award in 2011 for our amber glass packed tomatoes.
Glass packaging is also used for all EDEN organic fruit sauces, butters, juices, and most condiments. After thorough research Eden chose glass as the most environmentally and health friendly of all food packaging materials. Glass is made of three simple, sustainable ingredients — sand, limestone, and soda ash, and it is easy to recycle.
Recycled and Recyclable
EDEN organic pasta and dry beans are packed in boxes made of recycled and recyclable paperboard printed with soy inks. Recycled paperboard is one of the most environmentally friendly packages available. According to the 100% Recycled Paperboard Alliance (RPA100.com) “Fourteen trees are saved for each ton of paperboard converted to 100% recycled paperboard. Trees are critical to the sequestration of CO2, a greenhouse gas. For each ton of paperboard converted to 100% recycled paperboard, an equal amount of recovered fiber has been diverted from municipal landfills. Production of 100% recycled paperboard uses 50% less energy than virgin grades of paperboard, thus significantly reducing greenhouse gases released into the environment.”
Thoughtful Tea Bags
EDEN organic teas (16 tea bags/box) are thoughtfully packaged. Manila fiber bags are oxygen washed, no polluting chlorine bleach is used, and they are crimp sealed with a 100% cotton string. No plastics or glues are ever used. Each tea bag is wrapped in a moisture proof, easy to open paper envelope. Envelopes and boxes are printed with eco-friendly soy inks. Boxes are made of recycled and recyclable paperboard.
Ongoing Cleansing Process
Eden uses LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) common sense building methods. EDEN trucks are ecologically configured and operated. Our used pallet wrap is recycled. This single process reduced our total landfill output by 50%. Last but not least, post consumer recycled materials and biodegradable packaging materials are exclusively used in our shipping procedures.
Eden has a company-wide commitment to reduce, reuse, recycle, rethink, and re-evaluate existing practices. Our commitment is ongoing and all encompassing.
