In another significant effort to reduce its ecological footprint on the planet, Clif Bar Inc. announced today that all of the cartons (caddies) that hold its energy and nutrition bars on store shelves will be made with 100 percent recycled paperboard, of which at least 50 percent will be derived from post-consumer waste.

Clif Bar Inc. annually produces more than 10 million caddies, each holding anywhere from a dozen to 16 of its LUNA(R), CLIF(R) BAR or MOJO Bar(R) products. By moving to recycled paperboard caddies instead of caddies derived from virgin wood, the company will dramatically reduce its impact on the planet by saving an estimated 7,500 trees and conserving more than 3.3 million gallons of water a year.

In addition, the switch to recycled packaging fights global warming. It reduces the energy consumed annually in making caddies by 4 billion BTU's (the amount of energy used to run 39 households for one year) and avoids the annual release of 660,000 pounds of greenhouse gases (equivalent to taking 58 cars off the road).

“The new packaging represents another big step in managing our company in an environmentally sensitive manner,” said Gary Erickson, Clif Bar Inc. owner and CEO. “We're working hard to be a sustainable business that acts responsibly on behalf of people and the planet.”

Clif Bar Inc. has made the development of its sustainability program a priority. The company is constantly looking for ways to preserve the environment and give back to the community where it conducts business.

For example, earlier this year the company announced it is supporting construction of the first large scale Native American-owned wind farm to offset the carbon dioxide generated by the energy used in its offices, manufacturing, and business travel. Carbon dioxide — a by-product of burning fossil fuels such as gas, oil and coal — is the leading contributor to global warming. The environmental benefit of Clif Bar Inc.'s offset is equivalent to taking 250 SUVs off the road for a year.

Clif Bar Inc. also joined the California Climate Action Registry and will measure and manage its greenhouse gas emissions with the goal of becoming more energy efficient.

Additional efforts Clif Bar Inc. has undertaken to sustain the earth include:

  • Eliminating the use of shrink-wrap to seal its caddies, saving 90,000 pounds of shrink-wrap a year. The company also uses non-toxic, soy-based inks to print its caddies.
  • Becoming the first major energy bar to be certified organic.
  • The use of organic ingredients provides a better product and protects the integrity of soil, air and water by supporting organic agriculture. Switching to the use organic cotton for promotional products.
  • Hiring a staff ecologist to guide the company's environmental efforts.
  • Instituting an office “green up” program that included an energy audit, desk-side recycling and the use of recycled paper for all printed material.