Perdue Farms unveils sink-disposable packaging with e-commerce website launch

16 Jan 2020 --- In celebration of its centennial year, US-based organic chicken producer Perdue Farms has launched a direct-to-consumer e-commerce website that packages orders in 100 percent recyclable foam insulated boxes. The foam insulation is made from water-soluble cornstarch, which can be composted or even disintegrated under running water and safely rinsed down a kitchen sink. The bio-based foam material is produced by Green Cell Foam.

Green Cell Foam recommends four disposal methods for the foam insulation: composting, dissolving large pieces, dissolving small pieces or burning.

“The use of this foam keeps what would have likely otherwise been Styrofoam from going into landfills. Disposing of this foam properly is a meaningful step toward reducing waste going to landfills,” David Zucker, Senior Vice President of E-commerce and New Ventures for Perdue Farms, tells PackagingInsights.

Perdue Farms' e-commerce website launches at a time when nearly half of all shoppers buying perishables items order online.“We’ve received many positive comments from consumers regarding the use of this compostable foam insulation. We have specific targets that we’re constantly working toward as a company; one being our goal to reduce our greenhouse gas intensity by 30 percent by 2022. The decision to use recyclable material in our e-commerce shipping materials, including the compostable foam insulation, is one of many steps we’re taking throughout our supply chain to help us achieve these targets.”

Perdue Farms’ shipment packaging for e-commerce orders is all recyclable or compostable. The cardboard box is recyclable and the insulating foam is compostable. The actual packaging that encases the products themselves is the standard, USDA-approved, food-safe packaging, much of which is recyclable, Zucker underscores.

Each order from the new e-commerce website will also arrive with a recyclable, reusable shopping tote and a packet of bee- and butterfly-friendly seeds for consumers to plant in their yards or elsewhere around their communities to help the local pollinator population flourish. 

E-commerce: The new norm for perishable products?
With nearly half or more of all shoppers buying perishables such as meat, produce and dairy items online, Perdue Farms has launched an e-commerce website that will offer a selection of its family of brands for sale directly to consumers at PerdueFarms.com.The cardboard box is recyclable and the insulating foam is compostable, while the packaging that encases the products is USDA-approved, food-safe and typically recyclable.

The site will initially offer an assortment of frozen items across some of Perdue Farms’ most popular brands including PERDUE, Niman Ranch, Coleman Natural, Sonoma Red and Skagit Red, with plans to add additional offerings over time as demand increases.

“As both online shopping and the demand for convenience show no signs of slowing down, we felt it was important to be in this space,” explains Zucker. “We’re excited that this is the first time we’ve been able to offer so many of our brands in one place, nationally. Now, consumers all over the country will be able to enjoy expanded offerings from our portfolio regardless of where they live, including heritage, organic, pasture-raised, pork, beef, chicken or lamb – all raised with no antibiotics ever by farm families with the highest standards of animal care.”

The foam insulation is made from water-soluble cornstarch, which can be composted or even rinsed down a kitchen sink.Drawing inspiration from Perdue Farms’ existing logo, the new e-commerce platform features dedicated branding and a modernized version of Perdue’s iconic farmhouse graphic to represent the role that this channel plays in the company’s total sales initiatives.

“Through our e-commerce logo’s new tagline, we’re giving a nod to our company’s farming history, the family ownership and leadership that still exists today, and the farm families – many of whom are multiple generations – who partner with us to produce trusted, wholesome, high-quality products,” notes Chris Perdue, Director of E-commerce for Perdue Farms.

“Our company is turning 100 years old this year. To make it this long, we believe we’re doing something right. This includes keeping a modern, forward-looking mindset and constantly innovating. That includes not only offering the differentiated products people love but also making the products available to buy through the channels where they prefer to shop,” adds Randy Day, CEO for Perdue Farms.

“We're constantly seeking new and better ways to reduce our environmental impact as a company. As we get traction with our new e-commerce site, we'll certainly have learnings and we will explore if there are opportunities to expand the benefits even further across our supply chain,” Zucker concludes.

By Joshua Poole