Cascades (Kingsey Falls, QC, Canada) was the recipient of the Canadian Plastics Industry Association (CPIA) Sustainability Award for its Ultratill products—a new generation of mushroom containers boasting a lighter environmental footprint. Accepting the award on behalf of the company was Mathieu Roberge, Products and Processes Development Manager at Cascades, during the CPIA Plastics Industry Leadership Awards Dinner held in Toronto on June 15.

"We truly appreciate this public recognition," said Mathieu Roberge. "Developing Ultratill represents a major innovation enabling Cascades to provide clients with packaging whose environmental footprint has been minimized. This accomplishment has once more earned us industry recognition, which is very gratifying. We are particularly proud of the whole team and how it has demonstrated leadership in environmental performance."

The Sustainability Award recognizes the leadership and level of effort invested by Cascades in order to provide green products to the food industry. Catering to the needs of mushroom growers and packers across North America, the innovative container line is made of low-density PETE (LDPETE) that contains 80% recycled post-consumer material, while continuing to meet the rigorous demands of the packaging process.

Lighter than other containers commonly found on the market, Ultratill is solid, resistant and recyclable. Its production is based on improved manufacturing processes that require fewer raw materials, and this further contributes to reducing the product's environmental footprint. In addition, Ultratill reduces CO2 emissions by 62% during its life cycle compared to other mushroom containers made of HIPS.

“Developing a container made with LDPETE, which is light and includes recycled material, is proof of Cascades’ leadership position when it comes to caring for the environment, innovating and paying attention to our clients’ concerns regarding the economic and environmental viability of our products,” said Luc Langevin, President and Chief Operating Officer of Cascades Specialty Products Group. “We are proud to offer Ultratill, an innovative mushroom container that allows our clients to reduce their environmental footprint.”