More IPG Products Achieve Cradle to Cradle Certification

 

IPG is pleased to announce two additional product lines have achieved Cradle to Cradle Certification™

In an ongoing effort to provide the market with sustainable packaging alternatives, IPG has implemented the demanding standards held under the Cradle to Cradle certification process. William McDonough and Dr. Michael Braungart first introduced Cradle to Cradle® as a circular design philosophy in the 1990s. Together, they founded the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute in 2010. The institute is a non-profit organization whose mission is dedicated to transforming the safety, health and sustainability of products through the administration of the Cradle to Cradle Certified™ Product Standard.

Cradle to Cradle Certification is a rigorous auditing process across five critical performance categories: material health, material reuse, renewable energy and carbon management, water stewardship, and social fairness. A product is assigned an achievement level (Basic, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum) for each category. A product’s lowest category achievement also represents its overall certification level.

ExlfilmPlus® Cradle to Cradle Certified Silver

In July 2020, IPG ExlfilmPlus performance shrink films were Cradle to Cradle Certified Silver. ExlfilmPlus polyolefin shrink film is the first Cradle to Cradle certified shrink film in the world. Exlfilmplus films are crosslinked, providing customers with a stronger film capable of working on a wider variety of equipment and sealing systems.

NovaShield® Cradle to Cradle Certified Bronze

In August 2020, NovaShield Structure Membrane products were awarded Cradle to Cradle certification and became the first structure membrane fabric in the world to be Cradle to Cradle Certified. NovaShield Structure Membrane products are used to construct fabric buildings for all climates. Featuring a patented weave which produces impressive strength-to-weight ratios, NovaShield's lighter weight makes for easier, faster, money-saving installations.

Water-Activated Tape Cradle to Cradle Certified Bronze

In February of this year, IPG’s Natural Kraft Water-Activated Tape (also known as WAT or Gum Tape) was Cradle to Cradle Certified Bronze. All of IPG’s WAT is recyclable with the carton it is applied on. Cartons are one of the most widely recycled packaging products in use today. When you use IPG’s WAT tape to seal the carton, the paper from the tape contributes to the recycling stream with the corrugate. 

Doing Our Part for a Sustainable Future

With a keen eye toward validating and continuously improving our process, and our overall stewardship of the industry we serve, IPG is committed to sharing our progress and doing our part to uphold the promise of the UN global compact through the implementation of the Cradle to Cradle Certification design principles.

The Material Health Category requires IPG to evaluate all chemicals down to 100 parts per million to determine each chemical’s effect on human and environmental health. Cradle to Cradle Certification requires products to contribute to the Circular Economy, which means the product is able to be recycled and/or use recycled materials in its production. For Cradle to Cradle certified products, IPG’s Manufacturing was audited to ensure that both the Energy and Water Categories have minimal impact on the environment. Social Responsibility, the final category, requires IPG to be accountable to all stakeholders within the company and the communities where they conduct business. The standard encourages continuous improvement over time by awarding certification on the basis of ascending levels of achievement and requiring certification renewal every two years. These ongoing audits endeavor to ensure IPG’s customers receive a product that leads to a sustainable future.

To view IPG's 2019 Sustainability Report, click here.