Case Study: Packaging Alternatives for a Cleaner Environment – Sustainable Lifecycle Assessment with C.L. Smith

In response to increasing demands for environmental stewardship, C.L. Smith partnered with a leading provider of professional and do-it-yourself carpet cleaning products to deliver sustainable packaging solutions. Leveraging the expertise of Lyons Blow Molding, C.L. Smith developed strategies to meet rigorous lifecycle assessment requirements and support customers’ sustainability objectives.

Background

The client, a prominent carpet cleaning product company, initiated a Sustainable Lifecycle Assessment program requiring vendors to demonstrate measurable environmental improvements. As a long-term customer of Lyons Blow Molding, the client sought a packaging sustainability program that would not only fulfill these requirements but also deliver tangible environmental benefits

Our Approach

C.L. Smith and Lyons Blow Molding collaborated closely with the client’s team to design and implement a comprehensive sustainability initiative focused on the “4 R’s”:

• Recycle: Utilized 100% recyclable HDPE bottles, with ongoing testing of additives to accelerate biodegradation.
• Renew: Streamlined logistics by delivering bottles in the same cartons used for final product shipment, reducing secondary packaging needs.
• Remove: Eliminated the use of 7,228 pallets (totaling 289,120 pounds of wood) by adopting floor-loaded bottle deliveries, significantly reducing wood consumption.
• Reduce: Achieved a reduction of 151 metric tons of CO₂ emissions and saved an estimated 467,000 square feet of corrugate annually—equivalent to preserving 10 acres of pine trees. Additionally, bottles were shipped from St. Louis instead of Chicago, resulting in 77,000 fewer miles traveled and further minimizing the carbon footprint.

Customer Benefits:

• Environmental Impact:Significant reductions in raw material usage, waste generation, and greenhouse gas emissions.
• Resource Conservation:Preservation of natural resources, including wood and trees, through reduced pallet and corrugate consumption.
• Operational Efficiency:Streamlined packaging and logistics processes, resulting in cost savings and improved supply chain sustainability.
• Regulatory Compliance:Fulfillment of the client’s lifecycle assessment requirements and alignment with broader sustainability goals.

By integrating innovative packaging solutions and sustainable practices, C.L. Smith and Lyons Blow Molding enabled their client to achieve measurable progress toward a cleaner, more responsible supply chain.