A California-based wholesale retailer has launched a sourcing program to support recycling and reusability across the supply chain.
Bay Area Bottles of Carlsbad launched the sustainability initiative in late October. The online retailer plans to focus on traceability, making sure its packaging suppliers and recyclers help ensure that all post-use material that passes through the business can be reused in some capacity.
“We may not manufacture the bottles ourselves, but we can absolutely make sure we’re connecting our customers with responsible suppliers, verified recyclers and materials that stay in circulation longer,” said Paul Nash, company president and founder.
Spokesman Frankie Lee said the move came about, in part, after a 35% increase in requests over the past year for packaging made with recycled or eco-friendly materials. Similar trends among other value chain partners, such as recyclers and resin suppliers, necessitated action on Bay Area’s part.
So the company is launching a resources section on its website dedicated to blogs, sustainability guidelines and other materials meant to educate buyers. By helping them understand the impact of proper disposal methods and circular supply chain benefits, Lee said the company aims to change behaviors among those who cross paths with Bay Area.
To help customers stay on a more sustainable path, Bay Area will put eco-labeling and post-consumer recyclate (PCR) content indicators on its product listings to allow customers to make better sourcing decisions, Lee said. The company also will partner with MRFs to help make sure common packaging types like HDPE get recycled, and provide relevant recycling codes as part of product listings.
The initiative also can help companies comply with extended producer responsibility (EPR) laws for packaging that are being implemented in numerous states.
“Circular packaging is the foundation of a sustainable economy,” Nash said. “Every participant in the supply chain has a role to play, and we’re playing ours.”
The immediate goal is to ensure that at least 50% of Bay Area’s online catalog features products made with PCR materials by 2026, Lee said. The company is also working toward a 100% verified sustainable sourcing network by 2028, which he said would ensure that every product can be traced to environmentally responsible suppliers.
The initiative will result in an 8%-10% increase in supplier and material costs due to expenses relating to new processes, Lee said, and will not result in an increase in the company’s roughly 20-person workforce.
“We view this expense as a long-term investment in both environmental responsibility and customer trust,” Lee said. “Our leadership strongly believes that sustainability and affordability can co-exist, and we are committed to proving that model within the packaging industry.”
Plans are to extend supplier verification and recycling partnerships through next year in regions with dense infrastructure and strong municipal participation such as California, Texas and Florida, Lee said.
Nash founded the company in 2020 and supplies jars, bottles, caps and other materials to pharmaceutical, cosmetic and other industries.
A version of this story appeared in Resource Recycling on Nov. 11.
