“Made in Canada, Naturally”: New hemp-based jars for the cannabis industry

08 Jul 2019 --- As the cannabis industry continues to proliferate, environmentally minded consumers are seeking greener packaging options for their cannabis, hemp and cannabidiol (CBD) products. Hansen Packaging recently launched new jars and resins for the cannabis industry, which are touted as offering a drastic reduction in the amount of material used in making the jars, the use of renewable resources, such as hemp, and environmentally-responsible end-of-life disposal. This follows a string of recent launches in this space which utilize biobased solutions, as well as focusing on recyclability.

The marijuana industry is thriving and it can be expected that the rates of consumers using the now-legal herb will continue to increase. In the US alone, more than one million people legally use medical marijuana, according to ProCon, and that number is projected to climb as more states vote to legalize medicinal cannabis. Currently, recreational marijuana is legal in ten states, while medical marijuana is legal in 33.

Wherever cannabis has been legalized, such as Canada, California and Colorado, consumers have taken immediate notice of what many claim to be “excessive packaging,” notes Hansen Packaging. In order to comply with the laws governing the packaging of cannabis, producers often pack their products into plastic containers, some of which are only designed to be used once and then discarded. Consumers have been outspoken in calling for a reduction in plastic, with more responsible end-of-life for the packaging and a more sustainable source for the raw materials.The bio-composite resins and jars are made from renewable resources including hemp.

The bio-composite resins and jars are made from renewable resources including hemp. The guiding philosophy of the company is to use, as much as possible, agricultural residues that are non-food and non-forest based renewable natural resources. 

Hansen Packaging asserts that its “Made in Canada, Naturally” jars are a response to the current worldwide push to eliminate landfill-destined plastics in packaging. It does this in four main ways:

• The packaging is significantly lighter. The 3.5g Flower Jar weighs 12g and the lid weighs 6g – this is 18g total. The incumbent jars currently used along with the lids weigh 74 grams. This is said to be a saving of over 1.2 million pounds of plastic for every 10 million jars.
• Waste streams of the hemp plant are used. The black color is from US Department of Agriculture (USDA) certified “99 percent new carbon” which uses waste streams of the hemp plant – a first in the world.
• The bio-composite resin used is made from renewable resources that have a zero-carbon footprint. Use of non-renewable fossil fuels is thus minimized – contributing to a reduction in greenhouse gases.
• Food contact and Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI)-certified resins are used to mold the jars. The resins used to mold these jars are food contact certified.

Going green
Where the cannabis industry grows, sustainable packaging solutions seem to follow. Also in Canada, the first nationwide cannabis packaging recycling program was rolled out by recycling experts TerraCycle and cannabis brand Tweed in April. Tweed had voiced the need for a recycling system for all the new containers, tubes and packages created by the growing cannabis industry, in a bid to divert these away from landfills and upcycling them into other products.Where the cannabis industry grows, sustainable packaging solutions seem to follow.

Earlier this year, sustainable cannabis packaging manufacturer Sana Packaging partnered with Oceanworks to supply a new line of cannabis packaging made from reclaimed ocean plastic. While hemp bioplastics will remain its core focus, the use of reclaimed ocean plastic could add a new dimension to the portfolio. 

Sana Packaging’s first two commercial products are the Sana Container and the Sana Tube. The Sana Container is a versatile child-resistant box with optimal space for branding, compliance labeling and a nesting design that allows for efficient shipping and storage. The Sana Container is ideal for flowers, concentrates, vaporizer cartridges and edibles.

The Sana Tube is a versatile child-resistant tube that is ideal for pre-rolls (joints/cigarettes), vaporizer cartridges and vaporizer pens. The new line of ocean reclaimed plastic will also feature the Sana Container and Tube.

Even in lieu of the hurdles faced by the cannabis market, the market is buzzing with potential, primarily driven by a rising demand for cannabis-derived CBD. NPD has proliferated as the extract makes its way into mainstream consumer packaged goods. Cannabis industry specialist High Yield Insights reveals that the most common delivery methods of CBD are “edibles” such as baked goods, gummies; oils; vapes and topical beauty skincare products. 

Edited by Laxmi Haigh