Every year, over three billion trees are cut down and every second, mountains of waste are created*. To reduce dependence and pressure on forests as a source of paper, global apparel label manufacturer, ITL – Intelligent Label Solutions, is introducing new alternative boards to its C.A.R.E Collection. The Sugar Cane, Crush Corn and Savile Row boards use recycled content and agricultural waste residue instead of 100% virgin fibres which significantly lowers a brand and retailer’s environmental impact.
About the alternative boards
Sugar Cane
This board is made from agricultural bagasse: the dry pulpy fibrous material that remains after crushing sugarcane to extract their juice. Using Sugar Cane allows brands and retailers to reduce their environmental impact:
- Using agricultural waste residue has a significantly lower environmental impact compared to virgin fibres
- Sugar Cane is elemental chlorine-free (ECF) and genetically modified organisms (GMO) free
Crush Corn
This board is made by replacing up to 15% of virgin tree pulp with the process residues of organic corn. This raw material is saved from landfill and used to make distinctive and vivid paper. Using Crush Corn allows brands and retailers to reduce their environmental impact:
- As an FSCTM certified board with 45% virgin fibres, brands and retailers can rest assured that the fibres come from a managed forest that preserves biological diversity and benefits the lives of local people and workers, while ensuring it sustains economic viability
- Made from 40% post-consumer waste and 15% agricultural residue fibres (corn), the board uses recycled content and agricultural waste residue; offering significantly lower environmental impact compared to virgin fibres
- Crush Corn is also acid-free, elemental chlorine-free (ECF), genetically modified organisms (GMO) free
- Finally, the emissions during the manufacturing process of the board are offset with carbon credits
This board is made using 60% FSCTM virgin fibres, 20% cotton fibres and 20% natural textile fibres from hemp and linen off-cuts from fabric manufacturing. The Savile Row board is available in three options: plain, tweed and pinstripe. Each option offers a different texture and aesthetic.
Savile Row
Using Savile Row allows brands and retailers to reduce their environmental impact:
- Made from 40% alternative waste fibres, the board has a lower environmental impact than virgin wood fibres
- As an FSCTM certified board, brands and retailers can rest assured that the fibres come from a managed forest that preserves biological diversity and benefits the lives of local people and workers while ensuring it sustains economic viability
- Savile Row is also acid-free & elemental chlorine-free (ECF)
About the C.A.R.E Collection
These alternative boards will be added to ITL’s C.A.R.E Collection: an extensive range of conscious, affordable, responsible and ethical alternatives that never compromise on quality or aesthetics. From recycled materials to low-impact inks, the range allows brands and retailers to create more sustainable labels and packaging.
According to a 2020 Mintel report, 84% of consumers do not trust retailers when they make sustainability claims. To avoid greenwashing and ensure the materials listed in the C.A.R.E Collection are traceable and responsible, ITL adopts a strict and rigorous two-step sourcing process which also furthers its transparency efforts:
- Market research: ITL listens to its customers’ needs, works closely with its suppliers and studies the latest trends and insights from both internal and external reports to decide which materials will be assessed.
- Material research: ITL looks at the exact technical details about the specific materials that make up a product. This process involves looking at certifications, technical data sheets and in-depth discussions with numerous actors in the supply chain. ITL feels it is important to delve as far back as possible down the supply chain, to the source, to ensure it can provide as much information as possible about the material and its production process, and hence offer traceability and transparency.
*(2021, Next Gen Video, Canopy).