Words by: Family Farm Team
It's a common question around here. In fact, it's the one we get asked more than anything else: I love your organic eggs and applaud your commitment to animal welfare and sustainability on your farms, but why do you use plastic egg cartons? Isn't plastic terrible for the environment? Eggs have been packaged in paper cartons for decades. Why reinvent the wheel?
Before we first began packaging our eggs in plastic cartons back in 2012, we knew the switch would raise some eyebrows. We had a feeling the term "organic" proudly displayed on a shiny clear box might read as an oxymoron to some consumers. We didn't doubt that our inboxes would be inundated with questions from longtime loyalists. But even so, we made the switch.
Cardboard and molded paper pulp cartons have been the status quo since the invention of the first egg carton in 1911. But the saying "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" doesn't leave much room for innovation and progress, does it? We live in a very different time now; things that used to do the job just fine are being traded for their more planet-friendly, sustainable, improved alternatives, and egg cartons are no exception.
As a values-led certified B Corporation, we are diligently committed to people and the planet, so we have always taken it upon ourselves to find the best solution possible in every single area of our business.
As we began to add new partner farms to our network and extend access to our eggs across the country, we wanted to put some critical thought and research into our carton design. Choosing packaging for cargo as precious as organic eggs isn't a task to be taken lightly. That's why we went the extra mile, ultimately basing the decision on research and real data that found our cartons to be more environmentally-friendly than most other options (including paper and cardboard) on the basis of carbon footprint, human health, ecosystem quality, and resource depletion measures across their entire life cycle.
Most people have come to believe that plastic is inherently bad. It’s derived from a non-renewable source (oil), it doesn’t decompose for an unimaginably long time, and a lot of it continues to wind up in our oceans. It's understandable that plastic has a bad reputation. On the other hand, energy-sucking molded paper and dreaded polystyrene aren't environmental home runs either. So what’s a well-meaning grocery shopper to do?
In 2012, we hired Quantis, a Canadian research company specializing in the environmental impact of products, to do a complete Comparative Environmental Life Cycle Assessment of Egg Cartons for us. Quantis examined raw material sourcing, manufacturing, packaging, transportation, and end of life/recycling aspects for RPET (recycled plastic, like the cartons we use), virgin PET, recycled molded pulp (RMP), and polystyrene (commonly known as Styrofoam). They assigned each egg carton type a total carbon/climate change footprint score based on all those life stages. They also scored each carton type on the basis of human health, ecosystem quality, and resource depletion measures.
We went with the most environmentally-friendly packaging based off real data.
The RPET carton that we use was determined to be superior, or vastly superior, to both the molded pulp and polystyrene as a whole and across all of the individual life stages, with the one exception: it has a slightly higher manufacturing impact than recycled pulp. The worst option across almost all life stages was PET plastic made from virgin plastic, which comes as no surprise due to the high amount of fossil fuels required both as energy and raw material in its production. Unfortunately, PET is what makes up most of the soda and water bottles that are manufactured every day. Fortunately, we found a solution that not only has a low footprint, but actually removes that plastic from the waste stream: our 100% recycled RPET egg cartons.
If you don't feel like reading the study cover to cover but still aren't convinced that recycled plastic is, in fact, the better option, let us explain further. Rather than create new waste or use up untouched resources, our cartons are made from the plastic that's already headed for the landfill (or worse, the ocean). And although it's unfortunate, the truth is that there's a plethora of that plastic to go around. By reusing materials that are already in circulation, we’re diverting them from our oceans and landfills; giving them new life and making a decision that puts our planet first. Once used, our cartons can then be placed right back in the recycling stream for another trip through the system.
We believe we're making the right choice in reusing plastic, and we’re proud to have made that decision based on science over perceptions and assumptions.
We don't claim to be scientists, but we've done a bit of "research" ourselves, too. We've tested molded paper pulp and cardboard egg cartons on many a grocery store shelf, tracking data like egg breakage and consumer feedback closely. Through every test, our 100% recycled plastic cartons have prevailed, decreasing food waste and egg breakage through the durability of our design and the structural integrity of the material.
There's a lot of buzz around the fallacy of an individual carbon footprint and the importance of putting the onus on businesses to make changes at a higher level. And while every individual has a part to play, we strongly agree that Pete and Gerry's has a responsibility as a company to ensure that our earth-friendly cartons make it to the recycling bin. Our Take Back program allows consumers - including those without local access to recycling - to store their cartons and mail them back to us in bulk. We've set aside some barn storage space here at our home farm for these cartons, and once we amass enough, they're taken up to our carton manufacturer's facilities to be melted and molded into new cartons and other packaging. We launched our takeback program in response to the ever-changing policies and practices in both the national and international recycling industries, and all are welcome to participate. Here's how it works:
Yes! Well, under the right conditions. Unfortunately, it's not as simple as tossing a paper egg carton in your backyard and waiting for it to disappear into the soil. The reality is that the vast majority of consumers don't have access to professional composting facilities (or even backyard compost bins) that can handle the breakdown of compostable egg cartons.
While many people have been led to believe that paper-based materials like egg cartons will break down in landfills, that's unfortunately not the case. Landfills are compacted, anaerobic environments, which means they're void of oxygen, an essential component of biodegradation. In short, landfills are designed not to decompose garbage, but to store it.
We have! We're constantly re-evaluating and improving our packaging based on what's happening in the world around us as new innovations become available. Bioplastics made from things like corn and hemp are becoming increasingly popular, but they have a major downfall: most bioplastics can only be composted in commercial composting systems. Even more frustrating, the bioplastics that end up in the recycling bin actually do more harm than good by contaminating entire batches of recycling.
Actually, we have one! In 2020, we introduced a reusable egg carton at our local co-ops here in the Northeast, where we also made Pete and Gerry's available as loose eggs. The COVID-19 pandemic forced us to press pause, but we plan on expanding our reusable carton program to more grocery stores in the near future.
It's true that because our cartons don't involve the creation of new plastic, they rely on the existence of plastic that other companies are already manufacturing. But to be frank, those massive companies aren't going to stop pumping out water and soda bottles if Pete and Gerry's stops recycling their plastic. So until widespread changes (we're talking big, like governmental and global) arrive, we'll continue to do our part in removing that existing plastic from the waste stream.
Despite increased press around recycling, sustainability, and especially plastic in recent years, a lot of the metrics that the Quantis study relies on have not changed. In fact, recovery rates for plastic have actually improved over the last decade, an upward trend that is likely to continue. On the paper pulp side, there haven't been any improvements to the energy required for drying, which is the biggest driver of carbon dioxide emissions during this type of carton's life cycle. That's not to say that we won't consider commissioning an updated study in the future, but for now, we feel that the data still accurately reflects the current climate of the recycling industry.
July 04, 2020
Way cool! Some extremely valid points! I appreciate you penning this write-up and the rest of the website is also very good.
2 Replies
March 05, 2021
It's all about the eggs! Go to love them!
1 Reply
March 06, 2021
Thank you Fred for those kind words! And thanks for choosing small family farms!
July 06, 2020
Thanks for the feedback, Hector!
January 02, 2022
Thank you, My better half and I where taking about your packaging looking like none recycled material, until we used our grade school level reading and found your earth friendly packaging imfo. Thank you again!
June 18, 2021
I bought your eggs because they were the only brown eggs left on the shelf. Quality-wise, they don't seem to be any different than others I buy. But, Next time I'll just go without. We don't eat lots of eggs anyway. We compost the paper cartons, but can't do anything with the plastic carton except put it in the trash.
June 21, 2021
We’re so sorry that you had an unusual experience with some of our eggs and that you can't recycle our cartons in your area. This quality variation certainly doesn’t sound typical, so we’d like to look into it right away. Do you mind sending us an email at [email protected] so we can replace this carton for you? We're also happy to send a prepaid label to take your used cartons off of your hands! If you would like to learn more about this program, we invite you to check it out here: https://www.peteandgerrys.com/about/sustainability. Thank you for your feedback, we'll make sure to pass it along!
May 16, 2021
Glad that you are working on being environmentally positive---however I am having more of an issue with cracked/broken eggs than I like. It's hard to get them through the hands of a checker/bagger in one piece. Can you do anything to firm up your cartons?
May 20, 2021
We’re so sorry that you've had some unusual experiences with some of our eggs. This certainly doesn’t sound typical, so we’d like to look into it right away. Do you mind sending us a direct message or email so that we can replace this carton for you?
April 28, 2021
Can cartonsbe returned to you?
They sure can! We recently started up our own carton takeback program that allows those who purchase our eggs to send their used cartons directly back to us to be recycled. If you would like to learn more about this program, we invite you to check it out here: https://www.peteandgerrys.com/about/sustainability.
April 25, 2021
Love your eggs but I’m not buying them until they come in a container that’s better for the environment.
December 05, 2021
Jeff, You need to read the above article. I came to the website to say the same thing, but after reading the article and being informed that they will take back the containers )postage paid!!), I am all in.
Hi Jeff, At this time, we have not found an alternative carton that we feel is worth switching over to, as many pulp cartons take more energy to produce and don't break down as well as we wish they would. We also understand that plastic has become more difficult to recycle, so we recently started up our own carton takeback program that allows those who purchase our eggs to send their used cartons directly back to us to be recycled. If you would like to learn more about this program, we invite you to check it out here: https://www.peteandgerrys.com/about/sustainability. Thank you for your feedback, we'll make sure to pass it along!
April 18, 2021
Do your cartons have BPA in them?
April 19, 2021
They most certainly do not!
April 11, 2021
We cannot recycle your cartons here in Idaho. I would like to mail you a stack. So if you can use these undamaged cartons, how many in a stack would be equal to a coupon that would cover the cost of mailing? You win, we win.
April 12, 2021
We'd love to get those cartons back from you so they can have another go around! Here's a link to just how you can do that: https://fal.cn/3eF98
March 28, 2021
What about the information sheets in the carton? Is that recyclable? I can recycle paper where I live
March 29, 2021
Absolutely!
March 22, 2021
Very much appreciate your efforts to find the best solution for the cartons. I've spent similar efforts while developing product for Patagonia and Nike. Please allow some additional comments: In the recycling world, the biggest issue is creating a market for recycled materials. Yes, PET can be recycled, but mostly it’s not. It’s still cheaper to use virgin plastic than it is to use recycled. That’s why ethically-based companies try to use recycled materials, at least in some amount. In addition, recycling is still a struggling and 97% inefficient process. Most people don’t do it at all. The next largest group would be people who recycle badly, throwing dirty plastics into the bin, or mixing in garbage so the entire truck is thrown into a landfill due to the high cost of sorting and cleaning. Also, there is still a very limited market for the recycled product. Finally, since China stopped recycling plastics for the world (2019) the rest of the world was simply not equipped to pick up the slack. Including the USA. Normal egg cartons are made with the lowest grade of recycled paper. So right off the bat, that’s a win because they’re helping to create the market for recycling paper. The cartons themselves are biodegradable. Probably not worth much as recycling themselves, but in my opinion the paper cartons are far more sustainable and a much smaller footprint than plastic made from Fossil Fuels.
March 24, 2021
Thanks for the comment, Kevin! We appreciate your dedication to sustainable packaging and you bring up some very key points. You're absolutely right that it's cheaper to use virgin plastic, though we've continued to stick to our commitment in using 100% recycled plastic in manufacturing our cartons and see this higher cost as necessary for the most sustainable option. This choice in using rPET to manufacture our cartons is what puts them in first place for sustainability across their entire life cycle. Traditional paper cartons, made of RMP (recycled molded pulp), still require an alarming amount of fossil fuels to manufacture due to the lengthy process of drying that paper at very high heat for a considerable length of time. Our minimal manufacturing process lowers our carton's environmental footprint enough that whether they're recycled or sent to the landfill, they're already a more sustainable option as they've helped divert plastic out of the waste stream. This underscores the need to look at the sustainability of any packaging from a life cycle perspective that takes into account the environmental cost at each stage of life, rather than only an individual stage that may not give a complete picture of sustainability. Thanks again for sharing your thoughts, and we'd be happy to answer any other question you have if you'd like to send us an email at [email protected]
March 18, 2021
Our recycling station only takes plastic in the form of bottles with necks. Where can I recycle the egg cartons?
Hi Michelle! You can find out more about our take back program (on our sustainability page under the "About Us" tab) where we will pay to have your cartons shipped back to us for recycling. We hope this helps!
March 17, 2021
Happy to pay a little more to support small farming, and even more to not buy plastic. Much has changed since your study in 2012 including consumers. I love your eggs but only buy them if there is no other organic option with a paper container. We have to get off plastic!
Hello Amy, we appreciate you reaching out with your feedback and are happy to pass it along. We agree, the usage of new plastics is something we too would like to see less of. That's why we're so glad to know that we're using plastic that isn't brand new, ensuring that the plastic we're using is made from plastic that's already out there and helping to keep it out of the landfill. We've also gone a step further. When recycling of plastics began to get more difficult, we developed our own recycling program for the cartons. This makes it easy for our consumers to save up cartons from their recent egg purchases and send them directly back to us for recycling. The best part is, we'll even pay the postage! We hope you will check out the details on our sustainability page here: https://www.peteandgerrys.com/about/sustainability. Thank you again for the feedback, we're most happy to pass it along to our team.
March 12, 2021
I'd like to know the duration or how many times should I use the egg tray carton?
Hi Mark, You can use our egg cartons a couple of times before they need to be recycled. It's important to make sure the container stays dry or free from refrigerator condensation as the pooling of water allows micro bacteria to grow.
March 10, 2021
Our recycling centers are very limited in eastern Washington. Do you know if safeway or other supermarkets that sell your product would take your REPET plastic carton?
Hi there, Unfortunately, we do not know if specific stores have recycling or not, as most stores follow local and state recycling regulations. However, please visit our sustainability page to learn more about our easy takeback program!
Your eggs are the best tasting, other than my eggs, I've ever bought at a store. I perched them on Amazon Whole Foods home grocery delivery. I am an old man and I like to take my vitamins in an egg. Yours fit the bill. They're great. frj.
March 04, 2021
I was totally shocked at our curbside pickup last month when our usual Happy Eggs got substituted with your eggs, in a plastic overlay carton. I only noticed this after we got back home. If it happens again, we will decline the eggs. Reason? We cannot recycle the plastic. Yes, I've read your research. But the cartons have no "good" number on them. We much prefer the pressed pulp, that can go into our big yard debris and food compost bin. As for the polystyrene, we can very easily drop that stuff off at a nearby company that reuses it. Company name -- Agilyx. https://www.agilyx.com/ So, in the meantime, no more of your eggs. Sorry, but we just can't.
February 26, 2021
Wow good to know about the RPET egg cartons - thank you, I didn’t know any of that - the life cycle of the 3 kinds of cartons compared in the study is such important info. I’ve always recycled the gray pulp ones, & recycled your RPET cartons - & avoided buying eggs packaged in styrofoam - but I didn’t know the detailed science behind it all - thank you! Oh, & not to forget, my family & I love your eggs!
Hi Cathy, we appreciate you taking the time to learn more about our cartons and are so glad you found this information helpful. Thank you for supporting our small family farms!
January 29, 2021
Hey gang. METRO.gov says theses cartons have to go in trash bin, paper cartons can be recycled. Looks like I gotta go back to Happy Egg. Sam
February 01, 2021
Sorry to hear that you're not able to recycle them in your area. We're happy to send a prepaid label to take them off of your hands if you'd like! If you would like to learn more about this program, we invite you to check it out here: https://www.peteandgerrys.com/about/sustainability. Thank you for your feedback, we'll make sure to pass it along!
January 28, 2021
I have been buying your eggs since I will only buy eggs from free-range hens....however, I am concerned about your plastic packaging. I’m happy to know it’s made from recycled plastic, but as for recycling it again, I’m afraid that is not true. Just this week, I was told by the Ulster County (NY) Resource and Recovery Agency representative at my transfer station, that plastic like your cartons, is not recycled. It has no resale value and therefore is thrown away. They only truly recycle the heavier plastics.... So, I would like to put in a plea for you to consider using the pulp/cardboard eggcrates, because at the very least, they are biodegradable....not to mention recyclable...thanks...
Hi Laurie, we are so grateful for you taking the time to reach out to us about our rPET cartons and are so sorry to hear your county is no longer taking our packaging to recycle. Our cartons are made of #1 recycled plastic, so typically they are recycled with other plastic bottles. Knowing that fewer recycling stations are accepting them, we will definitely take this into further consideration as we consider making future improvements. In the meantime, you might be interested in taking advantage of our in-house Carton Takeback program: https://www.peteandgerrys.com/about/sustainability. We will pay for you to ship our empty cartons back to us so we can recycle them for you. Again, thank you for your time and thoughtful note, and we hope you will continue supporting our small family farms!
January 26, 2021
Your plastic clamshell egg cartons may be theoretically recyclable, but as a practical matter, they are not. I live in Portland where the recycling ethic is quite strong, yet no public or private recycling entity will take your egg cartons. We would continue buying your eggs if you could get this figured out and stop trying to rationalize that you are currently doing it the right way. John Rees
January 27, 2021
Hi John, At this time, we have not found an alternative carton that we feel is worth switching over to, as many pulp cartons take more energy to produce and don't break down as well as we wish they would. We understand that plastic has become more difficult to recycle, so we recently started up our own carton takeback program that allows those who purchase our eggs to send their used cartons directly back to us to be recycled. If you would like to learn more about this program, we invite you to check it out here: https://www.peteandgerrys.com/about/sustainability. Thank you for your feedback, we'll make sure to pass it along!
January 11, 2021
If i save all these plastic containers is there a point where(amount of containers) would be worth it to send them to you and get reimbursed for shipping
January 12, 2021
Hi Raymond. Feel free to reach out to us about a pre-paid label for your cartons. Our email is: [email protected]
January 05, 2021
I join the many people who have commented here to express disappointment in your choice to use plastic. I came to this website as directed by the carton to "learn more about the 100% recyclable" carton. Our community recycles PET plastic, but only in the form of bottles and jugs. Labelling your carton "100% recyclable" surely has a negative impact from people who will "wish-cycle" them to facilities that can't handle them. Did you research how many places can actually take your cartons? (And no fair counting "waste to energy" programs, which will simply burn them). Also, I am highly skeptical of how great the impact of your take-back program will be. Please use recycled pulp if you wish to claim the environmental high ground! "Our option is way better than styrofoam" is not very persuasive! Thank you for your commitment to the environment and to organic farming.
January 06, 2021
We greatly appreciate your thoughtfulness and feedback regarding this subject, Diane. Our decision to use these cartons isn't one we took lightly and is something we continue to put much time and research into as the sustainable packaging industry evolves. We also understand and are aware of concerns specifically related to recycling plastic, which is why we created our carton takeback program that allows us to ensure our cartons are being recycled with companies such as our carton manufacturers. We certainly hope there comes a day when post consumer plastics are scarce and we are forced to utilize another material, but for now, we want to do our part to reduce the amount of plastic in the waste stream by putting it to use.
January 02, 2021
But I can't recycle your egg cartons
January 04, 2021
Hi Marion, To learn more about our Take Back program and other initiatives, we invite you to visit the sustainability page on our website: https://www.peteandgerrys.com/about/sustainability.
December 29, 2020
I strongly disagree with your position. A great deal of research has been done on the damaging effects of plastic and how very little is recycled. Check out the series "The United States of Plastic" which was published by The Guardian. Until you stop using plastic I will not buy your product.
Hi Elvin, we appreciate you reaching out with your feedback on this matter and want to reassure you that our packaging and where it ends up is not something we take lightly. That's why, when recycling of plastics began to get more difficult, we developed our own recycling program called our Carton Takeback program. This makes it easy for our consumers to save up cartons from their recent egg purchases and send them directly back to us for recycling. The best part is, we'll even pay the postage! We hope you will check out the details on our sustainability page here: https://www.peteandgerrys.com/about/sustainability.
December 24, 2020
Thanks for your consideration in choosing the carton material! This was what brought me to your website -- the issue of plastic cartons. (That, and your amazing eggs.) I'm glad to know that the plastic used is recycled plastic and that you offer a carton take-back program. (Reusable wicker baskets would be awesome, though.)
December 26, 2020
Hey Sarah, We will make sure to note your reusable wicker baskets idea! That would be super awesome for sure!
December 20, 2020
Hey there! It looks like your data about recycling is out of date. As it turns out, PET plastic is not very recyclable and is usually tossed out by municipal recycling plants. China is no longer buying our used plastic and non virgin plastic doesn’t hold up when remade into other products. It’s incredibly expensive and uses a lot more energy to convert into something new. However, the paper pulp cartons are compostable, which is much better for the environment! Most cities offer municipal compost now in 2020. Plastic still is not a good environmentally friendly solution in this case when compostable packaging is readily available. Plastic might be cheaper for your business but it is still harmful for everyone else.
December 21, 2020
Hi Rebecca, We are currently looking at other options other than plastic and hoping to expedite new ideas once the world gets back to some normalcy. In the meantime, we are expanding and encourage our consumers to participate in our TakeBack program. More info here: https://www.peteandgerrys.com/about/sustainability You are more than welcome to email or call us with any other questions! Be well!
December 13, 2020
I found your website through instagram and what drew me to investigate further were the recipes. Now that I have watched your videos and read your policies, I am more intrigued and love that small family farms are banding together. I loved the videos that enable me to see how the farm is run. Thank you for all that you do to bring good food to our tables. I'm in CA and look forward to finding your product.
December 14, 2020
Thank you for taking the time to learn more about our company and the small family farms we work with. We can't tell you how much we appreciate your support.
Sounds real good on the recycling and I do like to be able see the eggs in the carton. Especially in this covid19 environment.
Thank you for the feedback and support, Marty!
December 08, 2020
Hi, based on the packaging, I won't be buying your eggs.
December 07, 2020
The problem with your packaging is that the plastic hold on to the eggs (especially the smaller ones)so hard that I have broken several when trying to pry them loose!
Hi Ingrid, we are so sorry to hear you've been having trouble with breakage. If this persists, we would be grateful if you'd send us an email at [email protected] so we can get to the bottom of this and replace those broken eggs for you
December 06, 2020
I really love your eggs. They are my favorite. I was concerned about packaging since I also have the option of returning boxes to a local farm to get their eggs. Have you thought about partnering with BJ's or other supermarkets that sell your eggs? Have people bring their empty boxes to the store? Seems to me that might be more economical.
Hi Caren, thank you for choosing to support our small family farms! We greatly appreciate your feedback and will certainly keep this idea of partnering with retailers in mind. For the time being, we hope you will keep enjoying our eggs and recycling our cartons either through a local recycling center of by taking advantage of our carton takeback program.
December 03, 2020
Where can these egg cartons be recycled? I live in Portland, OR.
December 04, 2020
Hi Janice! Our cartons are made of #1 recycled plastic, so you should be able to recycle them with other #1 plastics. If your recycling center doesn't take these plastics, we also have a carton takeback program (https://www.peteandgerrys.com/about/sustainability) and would be happy to recycle them for you.
I was going to ask the same thing as I also live inPorltnad Or and our city recyclers do not accept #1 plastics. I'll have to look into your recycling program, but if 's a hassle I'm going to stick with pulp cartons.
November 11, 2020
I like paper containers
Hi Connie, we greatly appreciate your feedback. At this time, we have yet to find a carton that meets the same level of sustainability and durability of our current post consumer recycled cartons, but will continue to do our research into eco-friendly carton alternatives.
November 10, 2020
Are you rethinking this since we can no longer recycle plastic? Glad to see you are at least thinking about environmental impact. For now, until we can again recycle plastic we will have to buy our eggs in paper pulp cartons.
Hi Jane, thank you for your thoughtfulness. At this time, we have not found an alternative carton that we feel is worth switching over to, as many pulp cartons take more energy to produce and don't break down as well as we wish they would. We understand that plastic has become more difficult to recycle, so we recently started up our own carton takeback program that allows those who purchase our eggs to send their used cartons directly back to us to be recycled. If you would like to learn more about this program, we invite you to check it out here: https://www.peteandgerrys.com/about/sustainability.
November 01, 2020
This is an informative article. Thank you. Also very cool that you guys are certified humane. I don't buy eggs that aren't.
November 03, 2020
Thanks for reading up on why we use our cartons, Mimi! We are so glad you found it informative and appreciate you supporting small Certified Humane farms like ours.
October 31, 2020
Re: Your plastic egg cartons Your egg cartons are not recycled, they go into the trash where they do not decompose for years and years. At least the pulp cardboard cartons can be recycled. Your eggs were sent in my grocery order a couple of weeks ago because the eggs I ordered were not available at that time. I will not order your eggs again and will tell my grocery store not to substitute Pete and Gerry's.
Hi Jack, we are so sorry to hear you were unsatisfied with our egg cartons. We have chosen to use these cartons because they are made with 100% post consumer recycled plastic and are able to be recycled again. While we wish there was less plastic used these days, the fact of the matter is that we have a long way to before plastic is no longer used and want to put what's already been produced to use. If you are unable to recycle our cartons near you, we invite you to check out our carton takeback program (on our sustainability page under the "About Us" tab) where we will pay to have your cartons shipped back to us for recycling. We hope this helps to better justify our decision for you.
October 16, 2020
Where is the info about returning your cartons to you? Have you stopped the program?
October 19, 2020
Hi Jane, we are in fact still running our carton takeback program. More information on how to mail in your cartons can be found on our sustainability page here: https://www.peteandgerrys.com/about/sustainability. We hope this helps!
October 12, 2020
Love your eggs. I'm happy to learn that your cartons are recyclable as #1 plastics, but I only learned that by going to your website. For the many who don't take the time to look it up, it would be helpful if you have the recyclable triangle stamped into the plastic.
October 13, 2020
Hi Ellen, we're happy to hear you found the answer to your question here and are sorry you had trouble finding it on our carton. The recycling information is located on the back of each carton where it says, "Earth Friendly Packaging."
October 09, 2020
Thank you for your conscious packaging use. I’m assuming the cartons can go out with my other recyclables.
Hi Peter, that's correct. You should be able to recycle our cartons with other #1 plastics. Before recycling, it's best to remove the paper insert and recycle with other like papers. If you have any trouble recycling these, you may be interested in participating in our carton takeback program: https://www.peteandgerrys.com/about/sustainability.
October 07, 2020
Last week, I made a comment on here, and included a link to an article called "Is Plastic Recycling Just a Big Fraud?" But it seems that my comment is nowhere to be found. Are you-all afraid to address this issue?
October 08, 2020
Hi Sam, so sorry about that. We aren't seeing where your previous comment ever came through but want you to know that we greatly appreciate you taking the time to reach out and are always eager to discuss these issues, as they mean a lot to us. Please feel free to send us an email at [email protected] if you would like to discuss further. We'd love to see that article you tried to send our way.
Thanks, Akaylah. Maybe your Web site filters out links or something? OK, I will send you an e-mail with the link to the story. The gist is that plastic recycling has very little effect, because it can be recycled at most once.
Oh, perhaps that's it! Regardless, we are glad you reached back out to us about this. We look forward to continuing this discussion through email and checking out the story you're referring to.
October 21, 2020
I had sent you-all an e-mail with a link to the article, but it bounced back and said that your e-mail address was undeliverable. If I can't post a URL on this site, or send you-all an e-mail, how am I supposed to give you-all a link to the article?
Hi Sam, so sorry to hear this. I'm not sure why your email to [email protected] wouldn't go through. Perhaps try sending again or just telling us the source and name of article and we will look into this. Appreciate your follow-up.
October 24, 2020
OK, let's try this, Akaylah. Go to Dr. Mercola's Web site (mercola dot com). In the search box at the top of the page, type in: "Is Plastic Recycling Just a Big Fraud?" Click the search button, and then the article should appear. You do have to register (it's free) to read it, though. Hope this works. :)
October 26, 2020
Thank you, Sam! We will give this a read and take the article's findings into consideration as we continue our research and continue to make improvements to our practices.
October 29, 2020
OK, great. Glad to be of any help, Akaylah. :)
I love your eggs! I had store bought eggs (as I call them) when I purchased your eggs. I cracked in same bowl and was amazed at the difference in the color of the yokes. I knew then I had real free range eggs. That's what I grew up on. I like a lot of people took a picture and shared with friends. They also were amazed.
Yes! Free range eggs tend to be much richer and more flavorful than eggs from hens that don't get to spend their days outside. We're so glad you've found our eggs to live up to this high caliber. Thank you for supporting our small family farms!
September 28, 2020
So, in 2012 you may have made the best choice. In 202, there are other options such as "plastic" made from corn byproduct. How does that figure into the equation, and would you consider changing?
September 30, 2020
While corn byproduct "plastic" seems like a great option, there are unfortunately very few facilities that would be able to break that down at the end of its lifecycle. Most of the time, these eco-friendly plastics actually contaminate the recycling, which means the city will just throw out a whole load of perfectly fine recycling in fear that there are more "contaminants" in it. I really wish there were more awareness of how much green-washing goes on with plant-based plastics as the labels they often fall under are unregulated and often lots of conditions need to be met before they break down into particles that are not microplastics.
September 29, 2020
Hi Sandra, thank you for bringing up the great point that materials are evolving and other options are present. We want to reassure you that we are continuously researching our carton options and the impact they have on the environment as well as how well they can transport our eggs. We haven't yet found an option that we feel checks all the boxes as well as our current cartons, but are definitely continuing our research and keeping an open mind.
September 27, 2020
I'm really glad that you're doing what you can to get plastics out of the environment - however - I think you might need to go back to the drawing board on the carton design. The last three times I've purchased your eggs, there are at least two if not four broken eggs in the carton. It seems to be the bottom of the eggs that is not well protected - and seems to always be the ones on the outside ends. Usually, I check in the store before I buy, but with the pandemic, I've been relying on store shoppers who clearly aren't checking. But then again, there should be a reasonable expectation that the carton will protect all of the eggs - not just some of them! Love your product and your ethos - but please check your carton design. The plastic on the bottom where the eggs are pushes in way too easily...
Hi Ann, thank you for taking the time to read our blog and reach out to us. We are so sorry to hear you've had trouble with breakage in our cartons. We typically find that our trifold design protects the eggs better, however it's possible the eggs could've been bumped around extra in the transport process from our farms to your store. If this happens again, please send us an email at [email protected] as we'd love to look further into it so we can prevent this from happening in the future.
September 25, 2020
Are you willing to share the Quantis report?
Hi Joanna, we'd be happy to share the study with you. Please find it via this link: https://bit.ly/2S66WgD. I think that the few pages I would refer you to would be the chart on page 5, and the conclusion write up on pages 47-48. I’ll also just start by letting you know when you look at the study, our style of carton is referred to as “Eco 13” or “Eco 14.” Hope this is helpful and please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions.
September 20, 2020
Very interesting to read you Good luck to you
September 21, 2020
Thanks for your feedback. We are so happy to hear you enjoyed it!
September 16, 2020
Good morning!I want to return the many cartons I have been saving since March. How do I do that? I know you send postage but I can’t find the info on the website. Thought this would save time. Thank you.
Hi there! Thanks for taking the time to reach out. We're so happy to hear you have been saving up your cartons and are happy to help you out. The best way to do so is to send us and email at [email protected] letting us know your name, return address, and number of cartons you'd like to ship our way and we will create a paid label for you from there. Looking forward to receiving your email!
November 18, 2020
I am sending you an email now. I hope you receive it. I thought I did this in September but haven't heard from you so I am going to assume I never sent one. I hope to receive my label soon. Thank you Sister Sue
November 20, 2020
Hi Susan, so sorry to hear your previous email wasn't answered. We never saw anything come through from you in September but will be on the lookout for an email from you this time. Please make sure you have the correct email address as well: [email protected] We look forward to receiving your message!
September 09, 2020
With the negative impact on our planet with packaging and fossil fuels, I guess it’s time to get my own chickens. End of story!
September 10, 2020
Hi Carolyn! We certainly understand and appreciate your concern for the environment, as we are continuously looking to decrease our environmental impact. That's one reason why we've chosen these cartons which take plastic out of the waste stream and turn it into our strong, recyclable cartons. That said, we 100% support anyone who wants to raise their own backyard flock--in fact, we always say that's the best option and our eggs are, in our opinion, the next best. Please let us know if we can be any help to you as you get started. We have some wonderful resources you might find helpful. They can be found here: https://www.peteandgerrys.com/blog/complete-guide-to-raising-backyard-chickens.
September 01, 2020
Here in Fort Collins (Colorado) we are not supposed to put the #1 plastic "clamshell" containers in with the plastic. They say it is not recyclable and they don't want it. I think this must be wrong as a typical water bottle also says "#1 PETE on it and they are recyclable. Can you help me understand the difference in the #1 plastic between bottles and clamshell containers? Seems to be a mystery!
September 02, 2020
Hi Tom, thank you for reaching out with this question and so sorry our cartons aren't accepted at your local recycling center. We've found that it often depends on the recycling center as to whether or not they accept our cartons and other clamshell packaging. What we've heard is that labels are one concern, as the adhesive on some packaging can be difficult to remove in order to proceed with the recycling process. There has also been some talk that some clamshell packaging needs to be heated at a different temperature than traditional bottles when being recycled. Because not all recycling centers will take our cartons these days, we've created a carton takeback program so you can save your recycled cartons until you have 10+ and we will help you get them shipped directly back to us to be recycled. You can learn about the program by typing "carton takeback" into the search bar, or by sending us an email at [email protected] Hope this helps.
August 28, 2020
"Once used, our cartons can then be placed right back in the recycling stream for another trip through the system." Where can they be recycled? I live in Oregon and I don't believe they can be recycled here.
Hi Lisa, First and foremost, we’d like to express our gratitude for your commitment to making responsible decisions about the waste and recyclables in your home. We’re very sorry to hear that our #1 plastic cartons are not accepted at your local recycling center, but luckily, we have a solution that we’d like to share with you: our takeback program. We launched our takeback program in response to the ever-changing policies and practices in both the national and international recycling industries. For those who live in states that no longer recycle plastic, our program is a way to ensure that your empty cartons are being responsibly recycled once you’ve enjoyed the eggs inside of them. Here’s how it works: simply store your empty cartons until you've collected at least ten. The more you collect, the better! Transportation has a carbon footprint too, and shipping back larger batches at a time helps keep that footprint low. Once you have a hefty carton collection, "nest" them in a recycled box, then let us know your name, mailing address, and the number of cartons you'll be mailing back to us. We'll email you a prepaid label to print out and affix to your box. Then, simply drop your box off at a US post office and go about your day knowing that you've done a good deed for our environment. We've set aside some barn storage space here at our home farm for the cartons returned to us via this program, and once we have enough, they'll be taken up to our carton manufacturer's facilities to be melted and molded into new cartons and other product packaging. As a B Corp, we are diligently committed to the planet, so we chose to base our decision to use 100% recycled plastic for our cartons on an independent study that found them to be more earth-friendly than cartons of other kinds, including paper pulp and cardboard. When they’re recycled again, they approach “carbon neutral,” which is why we’ve taken this extra step to keep our cartons out of the waste stream and make recycling accessible to our wonderful consumers all over the country. We appreciate your efforts to do your part in caring for our environment, and if you have any questions or if you’d like to learn more about our earth-friendly cartons, please don’t hesitate to let us know.
August 14, 2020
I appreciate all your thinking around deciding to use "100% recycled PET cartons", and your invitation to us consumers to then just recycle the cartons. Because only 2% of plastic used in the US gets recycled (instead of burned, landfilled or exported to other countries to deal with it), I can not buy your eggs rapped in plastic. I would if they came on paper pulp. Earth can't digest one more piece of plastic! Morally I can not ask other countries and communities to deal with my plastic. Please, do your part to free ourselves from fossil fuels and the karma of polluting other people's lands so we can be happy. Use paper pulp and me and my family will be your forever clients! Thank you.
August 17, 2020
Hi Neddy, Pulp or cardboard may feel like naturally a better choice than plastic, but, pulp and cardboard result in immense deforestation of our planet, which can cause loss of biodiversity. Additionally, pulp consequently releases large amounts of carbon dioxide, due to the nature of recycling, breaking down, and molding pulp. Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas and is known to the science community to act like a wool blanket for our planet (ie Global Warming). Recycling plastic reduces our global carbon footprint by stopping the creation of new materials and using what is already available to us. We feel that we’re making a good choice in reusing plastic, and we’re proud to have made that decision based on science over perceptions and assumptions. It's on all of us as individuals to do our part, but we also believe that we have a responsibility as a company to ensure that our earth-friendly cartons make it to the recycling bin. Beyond our Take-Back program, we'll continue to educate and encourage these thoughtful and crucial practices whenever possible. Our Take-Back program is a start, and we hope other companies and consumers will follow us and make this a regular practice because its a start at reducing our waste stream. We are always looking for the best material for sustainable and protective packaging. That's why we are constantly investing in our research and development department to come up with the newest and best packaging. If you have any other questions, please don't hesitate to email us at [email protected]
August 05, 2020
So HOW does one recycle your carton? What recycle stream do they go into.
Hi Todd! Our cartons of made of #1 recycled plastic, so they can be recycled with other #1 plastics. The paper insert can also be recycled an would go in with other papers like magazines and flyers. Hope this helps!
August 03, 2020
I always buy your eggs, and to be honest, it was the family package image that first caught my attention!But the reason I keep buying your eggs is the quality and the taste. My grandmother raised chickens on her farm back in the early 1900's in a grass covered pasture. My husband and I farmed for 16 years and know your commitment to the land. Thanks for the recycle program, I will begin collecting my cartons to send back. Best regards
We are so happy to hear this, Jean. Thank you for supporting our small family farms.
July 31, 2020
I have enjoyed P & G eggs for many years. Recently I don't feel like they look or taste as fresh. Many of the yolks are a dull yellow. I'm curious if COVID has some how affected your supply chain. Or is there some else. Thank you for looking out for your consumers and our preferences.
Hi Dede, Thank you for taking the time to reach out to us. We’re sorry to hear that you've encountered some eggs with paler yolks, and we would like to take a moment to explain what factors can lead to this difference in color. You’re absolutely right that free range eggs tend to have darker, sometimes even orange yolks, and that is indeed what we and other consumers tend to see in our eggs. While free range has many benefits, we’ve also found that it leads to more variability in yolk color due to different grazing habits and preferences from hen to hen. Flock age can also be an important factor when it comes to inconsistencies in yolk color. Whatever the case may be, we really appreciate you letting us know. Given all the factors that go in to determining yolk color, it's unfortunately a characteristic that fluctuates from time to time, especially in organic and free range eggs like ours. It's not unlikely that the eggs you've purchased recently came from the same few batches, and thus from the same handful of farms; possibly ones with flocks that are on the older side. As hens age, their grazing habits and feed composition will change based on their needs, and we tend to see lighter yellow yolks in their eggs. However, despite any differences in appearance or taste, these eggs still have the same nutritional value of eggs from any other small family farm in our network. We wish there was a way to guarantee a consistent color for all of our eggs, but we feel that the benefit of giving our hens free range to eat what they please and to live out a longer life on our farms is worth the inconsistencies that result from choosing the humane option. You can always send us an email at: [email protected] for any additional questions or concerns!
July 27, 2020
Hello. And Bye.
July 26, 2020
You used a Canadian study on recycling plastic, unfortunately the US is lacking in its recycling efforts. Texas especially. I can say this as I live in Texas and am a Canadian. What i see is your packaging going straight to the landfill. So I'll go with products comparable to yours with pulp based packaging. Plastic is drastic
July 24, 2020
I am all for recycling, I have been doing it since 1965. The only problem I have is when I found out in 1985 that 80% of our recycle scrap was being sent to other country's like China and sent back here as finished product for us to purchase. I will never stop recycling, but I wish it would go to company's in the US.
July 10, 2020
Thank you for this explanation. Unfortunately, where I live this plastic cannot be recycled. I compost the pulp cartons, so they never end up in the waste stream. I have a small parcel (.15 acres) in town, but this is not only feasible to do, but adds a necessary "brown waste" component to my compost recipe.
3 Replies
Oh I forgot, make sure the Water Bottle, Soda Bottle and Soda Can, can be recycled in the stat you are taking them to.
One solution to your problem is, if you live close to a state that does recycle Water Bottles, Soda Bottles and Soda Cans., Save them up and once a mouth take a ride. If you have enough it will pay for your gas and maybe even you lunch. It will also give you a chance to get out of the House.
July 11, 2020
Hi Roberta, First and foremost, we’d like to express our gratitude for your commitment to making responsible decisions about the waste and recyclables in your home. We’re very sorry to hear that our #1 plastic cartons are not accepted at your local recycling center, but luckily, we have a solution that we’d like to share with you: our takeback program. We launched our takeback program in response to the ever-changing policies and practices in both the national and international recycling industries. For those who live in states that no longer recycle plastic, our program is a way to ensure that your empty cartons are being responsibly recycled once you’ve enjoyed the eggs inside of them. Here’s how it works: simply store your empty cartons until you've collected at least ten. The more you collect, the better! Transportation has a carbon footprint too, and shipping back larger batches at a time helps keep that footprint low. Once you have a hefty carton collection, "nest" them in a recycled box, then let us know your name, mailing address, and the number of cartons you'll be mailing back to us. We'll email you a prepaid label to print out and affix to your box. Then, simply drop your box off at a US post office and go about your day knowing that you've done a good deed for our environment. We've set aside some barn storage space here at our home farm for the cartons returned to us via this program, and once we have enough, they'll be taken up to our carton manufacturer's facilities to be melted and molded into new cartons and other product packaging. As a B Corp, we are diligently committed to the planet, so we chose to base our decision to use 100% recycled plastic for our cartons on an independent study that found them to be more earth-friendly than cartons of other kinds, including paper pulp and cardboard. When they’re recycled again, they approach “carbon neutral,” which is why we’ve taken this extra step to keep our cartons out of the waste stream and make recycling accessible to our wonderful consumers all over the country. We appreciate your efforts to do your part in caring for our environment, and if you have any questions or if you’d like to learn more about our earth-friendly cartons, please don’t hesitate to let us know.
July 09, 2020
I love that your eggs are organic, humanely raised and are great tasting. It still baffles me that your company along with Nellie's continue to use plastic containers as our municipality and many others all over the country do not recycle this type of plastic container and it will eventually end up in either the landfill or the ocean. Mailing the cartons back to you is not realistic. Even the conventionally grown eggs are sold in the regular pulp cartons. At the end of the day it still comes down to the cost in packaging for the egg producers which I clearly understand. Consumers today are more conscious of what they buy & how their purchases will impact the environment in the long run. This has now become even more apparent as we are living with COVID. This is not a responsible thing to do so I will continue to buy organic eggs in paper pulp containers that I can either reuse for seedlings and gets recycled back into the soil or gets recycled with other paper products. I hope your company will factor in this variable as consumers are trying hard to minimize the amount of plastic from our daily purchases and some of us are even willing to pay a bit more for the greater good of the planet. Thank you.
Hi Kim, Thank you for taking the time to write to us regarding this important topic. As a values-led certified B Corporation, we are diligently committed to people and the planet, so we wanted to put some critical thought and research into our carton design. As you might imagine, choosing packaging for cargo as precious as our eggs isn't a task to be taken lightly. That's why we based the decision on research and real data that found our cartons to be more environmentally-friendly than most other options (including paper and cardboard) on the basis of carbon footprint, human health, ecosystem quality, and resource depletion measures across their entire life cycle. Rather than create new waste (such as pulp), our cartons use what's already headed for the landfill (or worse, the ocean). They're made from 100% recycled material that comes from the most common plastics around: water bottles and soda bottles. By reusing materials that are already in circulation, we’re diverting them from our oceans and landfills; giving them new life and making a decision that puts our planet first. Pulp may feel like naturally a better choice than plastic, but, pulp results in immense deforestation of our planet, which can cause loss of biodiversity. Additionally, pulp consequently releases large amounts of carbon, due to the nature of recycling, breaking down, and molding pulp. Recycling plastic reduces our global carbon footprint by stopping the creation of new materials and using what is already available to us. We feel that we’re making a good choice in reusing plastic, and we’re proud to have made that decision based on science over perceptions and assumptions. It's on all of us as individuals to do our part, but we also believe that we have a responsibility as a company to ensure that our earth-friendly cartons make it to the recycling bin. Beyond our Take-Back program, we'll continue to educate and encourage these thoughtful and crucial practices whenever possible. Our Take-Back program is a start, and we hope other companies and consumers will follow us and make this a regular practice because its a start at reducing our waste stream. We are always looking for the best material for sustainable and protective packaging. That's why we are constantly investing in our research and development department to come up with the newest and best packaging.
July 05, 2020
Just wanted to make sure the paper insert is also recyclable! Please confirm. Thanks!
Indeed they are, Bradley! Thanks for checking in with us on that.
July 02, 2020
I thought I read somewhere that you would provide a mailer so that I could return a certain amount of the cartons to you.
Hi Barbara, thanks for inquiring about our take back program! When you're ready to ship your cartons back to us, we ask you to send us an email at [email protected] to let us know how many cartons you'll be shipping. We will send you a prepaid shipping label for you to affix to any box or mailer you have available. More information regarding our take back program can be found here: https://www.peteandgerrys.com/about/sustainability
June 24, 2020
Hello. I appreciate the article above and the fact that you considered how best to package your eggs, but I have to push back a bit. Plastic recycling is getting more and more limited and few communities will accept your plastic containers AND, you said it yourself "it has a slightly higher manufacturing impact than pulp." Having a transparent container doesn't offset the plastic use AND I still open the containers because your paper insert isn't transparent. I compost my paper egg cartons, which is far superior to recycling anything, especially plastic which degrades once recycled. At some point, it will end up in a landfill! While I LOVE your eggs and have seen them in paper cartons before (I haven't in a long while), I purposefully choose not to buy them to avoid the plastic. I am writing today because your eggs are so good, I really do want to buy them and I'm writing because I have taken a plastic free July pledge and while I've already chosen not to buy your eggs, I thought reaching out to you personally would be my next step in my efforts to advocate for a reduced plastic world! I thought you should know why I'm (sadly) not supporting your company. Good luck to you, Rachel Woods
June 26, 2020
Hi Rachel, we can't thank you enough for taking the time to reach out to us with such a heartfelt response. We certainly hear you and understand all of the reasoning you presented backing up your decision to no longer purchase our eggs. As you've probably gathered from our research and just knowing us as a company, we are dedicated to creating a business that can be sustained well into the future. We will never deny there is always work to do to further improve, but we are happy with our decision to stick with them and help keep removing post-consumer plastic from the waste stream, until we have done our full research and found a better alternative. Not sure if you've seen any hype about it in the media, but we do have a reusable egg carton in the works that we are really hopeful about as one option! Please never hesitate to send us an email if you have any other ideas. We always welcome and listen to feedback.
June 23, 2020
Hi Pete and Gerry, I buy lots of eggs...exclusively from you. I always purchased the 6 pack hard boiled eggs with a zip seal. The new 6 pack plastic design which is sold with 2 hard boiled eggs per plastic sleeve and wrapped in a paper sleeve is not working. I have gone thru 2 different purchases (all 7.27.20 exp. dates) and there is a vile odor. They are BAD. It’s either the package design or 2 bad batches. The odor is still lingering from shelf in refrigerator,
Hi Lauren, we are so sorry to hear about this experience you had with a couple packages of our Hard-Boiled eggs! This certainly isn't typical and we're glad you brought it to our attention. We would love to look into this further, if you wouldn't mind sending an email to [email protected] with the expiration date, where these were purchased, and details regarding what you experienced. Again, thank you for letting us know and thank you for choosing to support our small family farms.
June 08, 2020
I had contacted you about a different matter with my eggs but in your reply you had said that I could send you my plastic cartons to you if I asked for a mailing label from you. I looked on your website and I was wondering if you still want your cartons sent to you, or has covid-19 made this method of recycling difficult? In our county, we cannot recycle these containers so I was excited I could return them to you.
June 10, 2020
Hi Evie, Thanks for checking back in! We are still accepting cartons. Please send an email to [email protected] letting us know how many you wish to ship our way and we will get a label made up for you.
May 24, 2020
May 12, 2020
Try to make cartons from materials that could be food for plants or animals. Then I will believe in your product. Right now, I just can't approve of all that plastic. There's even more than necessary with that inner cover. The eggs taste good.
May 13, 2020
Hi Gail, we thank you for sharing your feedback with us and will keep this in mind as we continue our research. Our cartons are something we've put a lot of thought into. We've chosen our recycled plastic tri-fold cartons because they take less resources and energy to produce than even recycled pulp cartons. They also help eliminate already used plastic from landfills and waterways and they do a great job of protecting our eggs from damage en route to our customers' homes. While we certainly wish there was less plastic being used in the world, we are grateful to be able to take some out of the waste-stream and put it to good use.
May 11, 2020
I will not be buying your eggs in the future, as I cannot support the use of plastics. I thought is may be a compostable plastic but it is not. Though your eggs are beautiful, delicious, and your husbandry practices are respectable. Many rural communities do not have access to recycling. Returning the cartons for recycle is also not a solution. (time, shipping) A complete phase out of plastics completely is the wave of the future. Maybe someday your cartons will be made of graphene! For now there are other organic, free range, humanly raised eggs that offer pulp containers, that are at least compostable or bio degradable. Thank You to Pete and Gerry's Organic eggs.
Hi Deborah, thank you for your thoughtful feedback. We've based our decision to use our current cartons on research that showed our recycled plastic cartons actually have a lower environmental impact than recycled molded pulp cartons. Those pulp cartons require more resources and energy to manufacture than ours, which is one of the biggest reasons for their increased climate footprint. Of course, we're always on the search for the most protective and sustainable packaging option, and would love to see less plastic being used in our world, but for now we're proud to be using recycled plastic that helps remove unwanted plastic from landfills and waterways.
May 07, 2020
I'm wondering if you have reconsidered your packaging decision, given what we are learning about China's refusal to continue recycling the bulk of US plastics and news about the economic invisibility of plastic recycling in general.
May 08, 2020
We appreciate your question Julie and the answer is, yes. Here at Pete and Gerry's we are always putting further thought and research into how we produce our eggs and what we can do to decrease our carbon footprint. Our cartons are one thing we've put a lot of time and research into. When we chose to use our current cartons made from post-consumer recycled plastic, we chose them for many reasons, some of which are that they give us an outlet to help keep used plastic out of the landfills, they don't take as much energy to produce and ship as pulp cartons, they do a better job protecting our eggs which helps us waste less food, and they can be recycled again. We understand that, since we first made the switch to these cartons, they have become more difficult to recycle, so we started up our own carton take back program to give our consumers a direct outlet where they can guarantee their cartons are being recycled properly. You can learn more about our program here: https://www.peteandgerrys.com/about/sustainability. Please don't hesitate to send us an email if you have any further questions or suggestions. We are always eager to listen and do our part to make further environmental improvements.
April 30, 2020
Hello I would like to take advantage of your thoughtful Take Back program but my question is: will you sanitize and reuse them? I don't want to send them back to have you do the recycling.....thank you.
May 01, 2020
Hi Judy, thanks for reaching out. Unfortunately we aren't able to sanitize and reuse our cartons on our own, so all of the cartons returned through our Take Back program get recycled through a municipal recycler. If you're looking for ways to reuse them we highly recommend using our cartons as mini greenhouses for starting seedlings. Details can be found here: https://www.peteandgerrys.com/blog/recylced-plastic-cartons.
April 24, 2020
Plastic carton? No way. You were the last eggs available in the store yesterday. I still came home with no eggs.
April 27, 2020
We're so sorry to hear that. We truly value your opinion and understand your concerns about plastic packaging. That's why we want you to know that we do too--that's actually why we've chosen this packaging because it allows us to take plastic packaging that's already been created out of the waste stream. As mentioned in this blog, our packaging can then be recycled again. We certainly wish that there was less plastic being used across the board but feel that, until that is the case, we can at least do our part in keeping it out of the landfills.
April 22, 2020
Until there is recycling available for your plastic in Portland OR I cannot see how this is better for the environment. I would be happy to buy IF I could send back to you for reuse or recycling. Please tell me if you know somewhere local I can recycle.
Hi Patti, we completely understand your frustrations and are right there with you. That's why we've set up a Carton Take Back program for us to do just that--we will pay to have your cartons shipped back to us for recycling. You can find more information about this on our sustainability page: https://www.peteandgerrys.com/about/sustainability.
April 21, 2020
I totally disagree with this premise. Most recycling companies do not recycle plastics, they burn huge mounds of plastics, thus releasing toxins in the air. Polystyrene is absolutely not recycling friendly. Paper would be a much better choice.
We appreciate your opinion and concern for the environment and want to reassure you that this is not the case for our cartons, so long as our consumers join us in recycling them after use. The sustainability and protectiveness of our cartons is definitely top of mind as we continue to look into alternative options but, for now, our recycled plastic cartons seem to be the best option at hand.
April 15, 2020
I also live in Portland and have the same concern as Ray Mead, will you also send me the necessary recycling info please?
April 16, 2020
We'd be happy to welcome you into our Take Back program, Ingrid! You can read about our program on our Sustainability page on our website, and when you're ready to participate you can shoot us an email at [email protected] to get started.
April 11, 2020
We live in Portland, Oregon and the egg container plastic is nor recyclable here so it ends up in the garbage. Any suggestions on how to recycle the carton?
April 13, 2020
Absolutely, Ray! We'd love to have you participate in our Take Back program. If you're interested in learning more, please send us an email at [email protected] and we'll get you all set up!
Wow. Glad to know about the packaging. The plastic disturbed me and I could not find the the little recycle symbol so I felt badly. Paper should deteriorate or compost simply and I am just uncomfortable about encouraging plastic manufacturing. I trust you have made the best decision until we, as a society rise up against Big oil. I am old enough to remember the first roll of clear plastic wrap my mom brought home from the store and we marveled at it in the kitchen. We could never have envisioned the chaos being unleashed. In some place, my mom's plastic wrap from the 1940's still exists as the angel/devil plastic.
Thank you for your thoughtful comment, Joe Anne. We're so glad that our explanation and research helped you feel a bit better about the recycled cartons that we've chosen to package our eggs in. We hope to see a day when the manufacturing of new plastics ceases completely, and until then, we'll continue doing our part to reduce what's already in the waste stream.
April 08, 2020
Will you send me the information on your Take Back program. I didn't see it on your website - although I may have missed it.
April 09, 2020
Hi Joan! We're sorry to hear you couldn't locate that information. You can find out more about our Take Back program on our Sustainability page here: https://www.peteandgerrys.com/about/sustainability. We hope this helps, but you can also send us an email at [email protected] if there are any specific questions we can answer for you!
April 04, 2020
That's really nice but I cannot find anyplace here near Portland Oregon that accepts this plastic. They only take milk jugs, and beverage containers in my recycling pickup bin. Thank you so much for offering the take back program!! I will definitely act on it after stockpiling a few cartons. That is a game-changer!
April 06, 2020
Hi Janet, we're sorry to hear you're unable to recycle our cartons at your local facility. That's exactly why we started our Take Back program: to help those without access to recycling facilities locally and to keep our cartons out of the landfill! We look forward to welcoming you into our Take Back program, and thank you for your dedication to responsible waste management.
April 03, 2020
Recent PBS Frontline really outlines the the issue of “recyclable” plastics. Sorry, but for the most part, they’re ending up in landfills here or overseas. This is not a product I would purchase again in this packaging.
Hi Mel! We understand your concerns regarding the recycled plastic industry and we hope we can help bring some positivity to this very important issue. We're proud to be using cartons made of recycled plastic that help divert plastic waste from landfills and our oceans, and we truly see using that plastic as a way to help solve the plastic problem. While we can't speak for all recycling facilities or plastic products, we know that our cartons are made from recycled plastic and can be recycled after use. We're also proud to offer a Take Back program where our cartons can be sent back to us and then returned to our carton manufacturer to be made into new recycled cartons. We understand the frustration that comes from not knowing where your recycling is truly going, and we're doing our best with our Take Back program to ensure that our cartons are being recycled and not adding to landfills. For more information about our Take Back program, we invite you to check out our sustainability page here: https://www.peteandgerrys.com/about/sustainability. Thank you again for bringing up this important topic, and don't hesitate to reach out to us with an email at [email protected] if we can answer any other questions for you.
April 02, 2020
First of all THANK YOU , thank you for your humane treatment of chickens. You are HEROS! Re: plastic cartons Our recycling center is no longer taking these plastic cartons, so now I have to throw them in the regular trash. This concerns me. I wonder if this is happening now in other towns.
Hi Dianne! We're sorry to hear that your recycling center is no longer taking #1 plastic. We have started a take back program here at our home farm. We've set aside some barn storage space here at our home farm for these takeback cartons, and once we have enough, they'll be taken up to our carton manufacturer's facilities to be melted and molded into new cartons and other product packaging. We welcome you to send us a message so we can get one of these prepaid labels to you if of interest. Our email address is: [email protected] Please know that we'll be glad to pass your feedback along to our team, as it helps us to decide future packaging needs. Please don't hesitate to reach out anytime.
April 01, 2020
Are the cartons actually recycled or just recyclable? We have been duped for decades. Only 10 % of plastics have ever been recycled. Shame on us. Paper pulp better.
Hi Karen. We can only speak for our particular #1 cartons, but we've taken some extra steps to help facilitate recycling by offering a take back program. As you know, our waste system is far from perfect: the majority of our landfills are not designed or able to biodegrade because they’re compact and anaerobic environments. In other words, their function in our society, at this current moment at least, is to store garbage rather than break it down. If you're interested, we would love to send you a copy of the study that details all the resources that go into the creation of a pulp carton - it's quite interesting to compare that volume of resources with the already-existing water bottles and soda bottles that are used to form our 100% post-consumer recycled cartons! If this is of interest, please send us an email at [email protected] Thank you for the feedback, we'll be happy to pass it along!
March 29, 2020
I'm very very impressed with your plastic cartons especially the see through plastic inside cover for the eggs. No need to touch the eggs to see if they're broken! Especially with this virus going around
March 30, 2020
We're happy to hear you love our cartons, Ben! Finding the right carton design has always been important to us, and keeping our eggs as safe as possible is one of our highest priorities. We appreciate you sharing your review with us and we hope you and your loved ones remain safe and healthy (and stocked with delicious organic eggs!).
March 22, 2020
The world is awash in plastic, new and recycled. I would appreciate if you could offer an option that used molded paper products. Providing organic eggs in plastic is not a good option. I choose to only purchase eggs in molded paper which is still believe is more eco friendly. You might want to update your thinking and offer that option.
March 23, 2020
Thanks so much for sharing your feedback, John. While we're all used to seeing molded pulp cartons as the traditional egg carton, the study we based our decision on found that our recycled plastic cartons actually have a lower environmental impact than recycled molded pulp cartons. Those pulp cartons require more resources and energy to manufacture than ours, which is one of the biggest reasons for their increased climate footprint. Of course, we're always on the search for the most durable and sustainable packaging option, but for now we're proud to be using recycled plastic that helps remove unwanted plastic from landfills and waterways.
March 18, 2020
I think you should do a new analysis for your packaging now, for 2020. Our recycling programs are not what they used to be. Recycled, paper pulp would win this today. We love your eggs, we hate your plastic package, even if not made from virgin plastic. Please update with the times so that we can continue to support your farm.
Hi Rebecca! We really appreciate the feedback about our packaging and will make sure to let our team know your thoughts about updating the information. We still feel that our cartons are superior in terms of the life cycle analysis, even if the information is not from 2020. While composting recycled, paper pulp is a fantastic way to significantly reduce waste, it's not as widespread as many might think. Folks in cities and urban areas often don't have access to either in-home or professional composting, and are much more likely to have easy access to recycling. Although most molded paper pulp cartons are biodegradable, they won't break down in a landfill due to the lack of oxygen, so the number of pulp cartons that do eventually biodegrade is much lower than many of us perceive it to be. Unfortunately, this means that landfills really are just a place to store garbage, not for it to decompose. So regardless of the pulp or plastic packaging, the waste remains in the ground. Here are some insightful articles on that topic in case you are interested in reading more: https://www.thoughtco.com/do-biodegradable-items-really-break-down-1204144 https://www.livescience.com/32786-what-happens-inside-a-landfill.html As we carry on with our constant research and testing of alternative options in search of the most sustainable and earth-friendly choice for our cartons, we thank you sincerely for reaching out to us with your concerns.
March 12, 2020
Many recycling companies’ guidelines are changing. My local county recycling center no longer accepts the #1 plastics, so that means plastic egg cartons and clamshell food containers now must go to the landfill. We love your eggs, but hate the idea of preserving the cartons for ages in landfills. Will you reconsider recyclable paper cartons?
March 13, 2020
Hi Bobbie, Thank you for the feedback, we appreciate hearing your thoughts. We know that it’s our responsibility as a company to educate consumers when it comes to recycling, which is why we’ve started a takeback program for folks who don’t have access to a recycling center that accepts #1 plastics. We use this program as an opportunity to open up the conversation and further ensure that our cartons aren’t ending up in the waste stream. We've set aside some barn storage space here at our home farm for these takeback cartons, and once we have enough, they'll be taken up to our carton manufacturer's facilities to be melted and molded into new cartons and other product packaging. We welcome you to send us a message so we can get one of these prepaid labels to you if of interest. Please know that we'll be glad to pass your feedback along to our team, as it helps us to decide future packaging needs. Please don't hesitate to reach out anytime.
March 15, 2020
Great! Please let me know who to contact to get the details to participate. I’m happy to save the cartons to ship back. Thank you!
March 16, 2020
Sounds great Bobbie! Feel free to drop us a line at: [email protected] and we can get you the details on this. We do ask for a minimum of 10 cartons, that way it is less of a carbon footprint when mailing. We look forward to getting your cartons back!
March 04, 2020
Nice post, thank you
Thanks so much for reading our blog, Donald!
March 02, 2020
No Plastic is my goal and this means no more P&G eggs. You had a good run with us just can't do the plastic if avoidable.
Hi John, we're sorry to hear our eggs aren't a good fit for you and your family anymore. We're glad to hear you're taking the planet into consideration when you visit your grocery store, and we're proud to say we use recycled plastic cartons as we believe this is the best option for both people and the planet. With our recycled plastic cartons, waste is actually being diverted away from the landfill and the oceans and instead being made into new products - we think that's pretty great! If you'd like to chat more about this extremely important issue, feel free to send us an email and [email protected]
February 27, 2020
I compost. Do you have a package for that? No oil, no footprint.? REDUCE, reuse, (I wish I knew hyperprint), recycle....
No footprint? Do your homework. Here in Australia 1.6million cardboard cartons are used each day. Given the pulp used in these cardboard cartons is at the very last stages of it life cycle i.e. the fibres are too short to effectively be recycled again, these 1.6 million cartons each day will decompose either in home gardens or landfill, amounting to tonnes of methane (a greenhouse gas) being put back into the atmosphere. You need to look at the problem holistically. By using RPET you are helping clean up the environment and preventing virgin plastic from being made. We have enough plastic on the planet that we should never have to make virgin plastic again, if we just recycled what we have.
We're so glad to hear about your dedication to environmental sustainability, Jennifer! We applaud you for composting at home, which we agree is a great way to reuse "waste" products into something new and useful. While our cartons are not compostable, they are recyclable as a #1 recycled plastic product and we also encourage our customers to reuse them for other household purposes - they make great seed starting trays! We've also launched our Take Back program to ensure as many cartons as possible are being recycled. You can find more about this exciting program on our sustainability page here: https://peteandgerrys.com/about/sustainability.
February 23, 2020
Hi - Thank you for the above explanation -and also for humanely raising your chickens - but I am wondering now that China is no longer taking most of the U.S.'s recycled plastics,whether plastic is still the best option? Our city lets us put cardboard including egg cartons in our green yard waste and compost bins. Wouldn't cardboard be better for the environment whether composted or put in the blue recycle bins?
February 24, 2020
That's a great question, Deborah! We launched our takeback program in response to the ever-changing policies and practices in both the national and international recycling industries. For those who live in states that no longer recycle plastic, our program is a way to ensure that your empty cartons are being responsibly recycled once you’ve enjoyed the eggs inside of them. You can learn more about our takeback program here: http://bit.ly/2ONaCT0. It's also worth mentioning that, even when our cartons are not being recycled, they were still found to have a lower environmental impact over their entire lifespan when compared with other carton options. Feel free to send us a message at [email protected] if you'd like more information about the study we used to choose our current carton!
Have you looked into hemp packaging? https://ministryofhemp.com/blog/hemp-packaging/
Hi Vincent! We appreciate the suggestion and will pass this link onto our team. You can rest assured we're always looking at the newest research and testing of alternative options in search of the most sustainable and earth-friendly choice for our cartons, including hemp!
February 17, 2020
Like your other customers below, I write to vote for paper cartons. I'm partial to your product because your hens are free range and your eggs are organic, but given a choice at the grocery store, I'll always buy the organic eggs offered in paper cartons.
February 18, 2020
Hi Valerie, we appreciate your dedication to sustainability and earth-friendly decisions in the grocery aisle. We feel proud to be using our rPET cartons that help divert plastic from the landfill, and we can assure you we're always looking for more ways to lower our carbon footprint as a company. Please feel free to reach out to us at [email protected] if you have any further questions we can answer for you.
February 15, 2020
I read that now we can purchase egg cartons and bring them back to the store to buy new eggs. Is this still a project? I live in New York City so hope the program is running here and would like to know which stores allow it. Thank you.
Hi Ed, we're so happy to hear you're excited about our reusable egg cartons! We are currently testing a reusable egg carton program in several Vermont and New Hampshire stores and hope to have these available in more stores soon. Keep checking our website and social media pages for updates!
February 12, 2020
Sorry but your research failed. Your egg cartons suck. Flimsy and don't protect the eggs as good as they should. You do sell very good eggs. Please get better cartons
Hello John. Thank you for the feedback. We're very sorry to hear our cartons are not doing their job to keep your eggs safe. We would be glad to look into this further and we're happy to pass along your feedback to our team as we explore other packaging possibilities. Please feel free to reach out to us at [email protected]
February 11, 2020
I love your organic and certified humane designations, and the quality and taste of your eggs! However, I would like to see the eggs sold in more natural, environmentally sustainable packaging. While I appreciate the analysis you shared from 2012, my hope is that progress has been made in the years since then in developing better alternatives to plastic. And even if there are no new packages, I would like you to reevaluate your analysis as it has come to light that recycling facilities are not always able to recycle plastic anymore. Meanwhile, as a consumer, I will sadly have to cut back on my Pete and Gerry’s purchases.
Hi Stacie, thanks so much for sharing your dedication to the planet as well as good food! We agree that the current recycling system is growing more complicated, which is why we launched our Take Back Program last year. Under this program, we will happily pay postage for you to send your used egg cartons back to us so we can return them to our carton manufacturer to be made into new recycled plastic products. This way, we're continuing the work of keeping plastic out of the landfills and oceans. We encourage you to visit our sustainability page here to learn more: http://bit.ly/2ONaCT0
I have saved about fifty of your plastic egg cartons. Would you reuse them if I sent them to you free of charge? [email protected] .com
Hi Judith, that's quite a collection! We would happily take them back, through our newly launched Take Back Program. You can read more about that program here: http://bit.ly/2ONaCT0. All you need to get started is send us an email at [email protected] with your address and we'll send you a prepaid shipping label! We look forward to partnering with you to ensure these cartons stay out of the landfill 🙂
February 08, 2020
I noticed some time last year that suddenly your eggs started appearing in pulp containers instead of the clear plastic containers that they used to be in. (ie, instead of the recyclable plastic containers that your website had previously explained had been chosen due to the results from the environmental-impact study the Canadian research company had done to compare the different types of containers). Then, recently I saw that you had returned to using the plastic containers. Why did you switch to the pulp containers last year, only to return to the plastic containers this year? It doesn't seem to make sense if you already were using the product that the research results showed was the better product.
February 10, 2020
Hi Beth, thanks so much for reaching out about this. The cartons you mentioned finding last year were our hybrid paper/pulp cartons. While we do stand confidently behind our choice to use recycled plastic for our cartons, we launched these paper/pulp cartons last year as part of a pilot program trial in select grocery stores across the country. Due to some issues with egg breakage and the durability of the carton, we’ve decided to return to our trifold rPET cartons, which do a much better job of protecting the integrity of our eggs. This carton trial was to present an option for consumers who are striving to eliminate plastic in their purchases. Unfortunately, they just didn't work out for our customers or for us. We're proud to say our rPET cartons are still an incredibly earth-friendly option that removes plastic from landfills and our oceans!
January 18, 2020
what about using Really Recycled egg cartons? Customers return used egg cartons back to Pete and Gerrys, which will in turn be recycled into Pete and Gerry egg cartons.
January 20, 2020
That's a great idea - so great, in fact, that we have actually already started offering this solution through our Carton Take Back Program! We launched our takeback program in response to the ever-changing policies and practices in both the national and international recycling industries. For those who live in states that no longer recycle plastic, our program is a way to ensure that your empty cartons are being responsibly recycled once you’ve enjoyed the eggs inside of them. You can read more about this program here: http://bit.ly/2ueamFk.
January 01, 2020
Paper, or a form there of, has been around for a very long time. Plastic has not. Do the math... it’s a no brainer to me. There is no recycling where I live anymore and it all goes to the landfull and/ or gets burned. Your containers are not getting molded into plastic toys, trust me. I live on 8 acres and could throw a wood pulp egg carton over the hill or smash it flat and use it to mulch. And I actually ended up with a dented egg in one of your cartons just the other day. With cardboard I can easily lift the lid and examine all my eggs without doing some three handed gymnastics move to open the P&G carton. If there is anything I’m sure about it’s that this all boils down to the bottom $$$$ line for profit.
January 02, 2020
Hello Lake, We appreciate your concern for the environment. We are doing our part to ensure we offer our customers avenues to recycle those cartons again through initiatives like our Take Back program, as regardless of the material our carton is made from, a landfill's anaerobic environment is not designed to allow any materials to properly break down. The global environment around waste management and recycling is changing quickly these days, and we will continue to try out different materials and improvements to our current cartons in light of those changes. We're happy to replace that batch of eggs for you if you'd like to send us an email to: [email protected] Thank you again for reaching out to us and I will be sure to pass all your thoughts along to the rest of my team.
December 22, 2019
my wife stopped buying your eggs after watching a recycling scam documentary on netflix. now I have no eggs this am , she has to go to another store! uggh. please stop using plastic! only 9% is actually recycled and they say cartons like these never get recycled. so angry with this corrupt system and corrupt corporate nightmare we are in. They lied to us all
December 26, 2019
Hi Josh, thank you for the feedback. While our cartons are made from recycled plastic to begin with, we can certainly understand the predicament. We're happy to pass along your feedback to our team as we explore other packaging possibilities. Thanks!
December 21, 2019
I am so sorry to have to change from P&G's to a company with non-plastic containers. I cannot buy plastic when I know it no longer is a viable source in the recycling stream. So sorry because I really like your company and product.
Thank you for the feedback, Hanne. While our cartons are made from recycled plastic to begin with, we can certainly understand and respect your choice. If you're interested in our take back program, please don't hesitate to reach out to us. We're happy to pass along your feedback to our team as we explore other packaging possibilities. Thanks!
December 18, 2019
It's not clear on your "sustainability" webpage what you do with the cartons you recieve from your "Take Back Program." Are you reusing them? Or do you just send them to be melted down into "new" plastic products? I stopped buying your eggs because they're in plastic. I would consider buying them again if you had a reuse program for the cartons, but not if it's just more fossil fuels and rig-a-ma-roll to recycle them wherever you're located.
December 20, 2019
Hi Seth, thanks for writing. We've set aside some barn storage space here at our home farm for these cartons, and once we have enough, they'll be taken up to our carton manufacturer's facilities to be melted and molded into new cartons and other packaging. Unfortunately due to food safety guidelines, we're not able to reuse the cartons, but we do feel good knowing they will be made into other items once recycled again. Please let us know if we can answer any additional questions for you.
December 15, 2019
Pete and Gerry, I read your narrative about Quantis helping you decide on a recycled plastic used in your egg transportation. That is better than single use plastic, but even your plastic can be (or should be) recycled. Can you tell us where we can recycle your egg cartons? We live in Sullivan County, NH and Hannaford is the near us to of grocery shopping. But they only recycle their bags and plastic wrap. So for the time being, your plastic cartons are ending up in large "hopper" in Sunapee, on its way to a landfill somewhere. We still buy your eggs. What your chicken eat and how they are raised means a superior product.
December 16, 2019
Thank you so much for your thoughtful comment, Andrew. Our cartons are a #1 plastic, so they can be recycled at any local recycling center (or via curbside recycling) that accepts #1 plastics. However, if you don't have access to such a facility, our Take Back program is a great option. You can learn more about the program and how to participate here: https://www.peteandgerrys.com/about/sustainability.
December 07, 2019
Pete and Gerry, you are doing a great thing. You have a great concept and made the best business decision based on the results of the study. I applaud the investment you made on that. You can’t please all the people all the time, but your true followers will understand your intent. LOVE your product! Nancy
December 09, 2019
Hi Nancy! Thank you for taking the time to warm our hearts with your words of support. We'll continue to raise the bar on humane, socially responsible farming practices. Thanks for your support!
December 05, 2019
As someone who learned too late that their local waste management branch simply burned all of the single stream recycling material because it was no longer affordable to resell it, this is not an adequate answer, this plastic will end up in the environment and be there for hundreds of years. You admit that plastic manufacturing has a larger carbon footprint than pulp and added to that is the fact that for many people, proper recycling is not available for plastics. At least the paper pulp container would breakdown in a reasonable time frame. We can open a pulp package to look at the eggs inside, they don't need to be visible at all times.
We appreciate your concern for the environment, Mike, and the base fact that we feel is vital to our decision to use plastic is that all the plastic you mention not breaking down is exactly what we are taking out of the waste stream and putting back to good use. We also are doing our part to ensure we offer our customers avenues to recycle those cartons again through initiatives like our Take Back program, as regardless of the material our carton is made from, a landfill's anaerobic environment is not designed to allow any materials to properly break down. The global environment around waste management and recycling is changing quickly these days, and we will continue to try out different materials and improvements to our current cartons in light of those changes. Thank you again for reaching out to us and I will be sure to pass all your thoughts along to the rest of my team.
December 04, 2019
Good morning! Although I find you put forward a fact based and researched argument, I am personally on a mission to reduce my plastic use as much as physically possible. I do agree with some of the other comments regarding paper or pulp cartons as this material most certainly biodegrades in a landfill in no time at all. Your eggs are my favorite on the market. Please keep an open mind to change your packaging as your company is obviously socially and environmentally conscious. Thank you.
Thank you for the feedback, Nikki. We commend you on doing your part to help reduce single use plastics. We certainly hope there will be a time when we're unable to source recycled cartons for our cartons. In the meantime, we feel good that they are being put to good use rather than just being added to the landfill. We'll be most glad to pass your feedback along and thank you for taking the time to reach out!
December 03, 2019
My county recycles these types of cartons.. They are not readily recyclable here.. we will be buying ours in cardboard
We're sorry to hear that you've been unable to recycle our cartons, Pam. We understand that not every location may be able to recycle, so we're doing our part to help this along by offering prepaid labels to get these cartons back. If this is something that you may be interested in, please don't hesitate to connect with us: [email protected] Thank you very much for the feedback, we'll make sure to pass it along to our team.
As you well know In many communities in our country, plastic recycling has essentially gone away due to the fact that plastics often can not be sold to manufactures for repurposing, and so end up in land fills or worse. In the North East ( our example is Maine) for example the number of places that go to such manufacturing has dropped to the point that many transfer stations do NOT accept these cartons no matter how necessary this may be to the need to lessen the total carbon issue. I would personally like to keep buying your eggs, and do reluctantly when local eggs near us are not available. They have been our go-to choice. I know many who feels this way and avoid yours an other products with this packaging based on the plastics alone. We would love to have a choice, even if it were just one size of your eggs ( large for example ). This being paper pulp. Thank you for reading. Althea McGirr
Hello Althea, Thank you for reaching out to us about this important issue, and for sharing your concerns. We understand there is an excess of plastic in our world today, and in addition to a great deal of other research and thought we have put into the selection of our carton, one of the aspects we do feel good about is that we are actually helping to put that surplus of plastic already produced back to good use.. We also feel it is important to touch on the reality of how our waste system works and the function of landfills in that system. Landfills are not actually designed to allow proper biodegradation, because they are compacted and thus create an anaerobic environment. Unfortunately, this means they're really just a place to store garbage, not for it to decompose. So regardless of the paper or plastic packaging, the waste remains in the ground. Here are some insightful articles on that topic in case you are interested in reading more: https://www.thoughtco.com/do-biodegradable-items-really-break-down-1204144 https://www.livescience.com/32786-what-happens-inside-a-landfill.html Given this fact, we are again encouraged to pull some of that waste back out of those landfills and find a use for it as our egg cartons, to at least do our part in keeping it out of those landfills a little longer and preventing the production of any new materials, such as new paper cartons, that would only add to that surplus of stored trash. We also know that it’s our responsibility as a company to educate consumers when it comes to recycling, which is why we’ve started a Take Back program for folks who don’t have access to a recycling center that accepts #1 plastics. We use this program as an opportunity to open up the conversation and further ensure that our cartons aren’t ending up in the waste stream. We've set aside some barn storage space here at our home farm for these Take Back cartons, and once we have enough, they'll be taken up to our carton manufacturer's facilities to be melted and molded into new cartons and other product packaging. If this may be of interest to you, please feel free to connect with us and we can send a prepaid label to you to get the cartons back. Thank you again for the valuable feedback and for reaching out to us. We will make sure to pass it along to our team as well.
November 26, 2019
I don't buy the pro plastic comments. You are still using plastic and while it can be recycled, it isn't recycled very often and as you know, ends up in the Great Hawaiian Garbage Patch. Do the right thing and go to recycled paper. Or hey, what about hemp? Sorry but I wouldn't ever buy plastic packaged eggs! There is nothing I like about them. What's wrong with opening the carton to check for cracked eggs? I suspect that you are using plastic to save a .01. I believe that most people wouldn't read your site and see plastic and walk on by. So think about it. In another comment you say the paper cartons will end up in a landfill too. Well I will take my chances on that. Somehow it doesn't sound too bad for the environment. Think about it. No PLASTIC!
November 30, 2019
Thank you for the feedback, Lance. While our cartons are made from recycled plastic to begin with, we can certainly understand the predicament. We're happy to pass along your feedback to our team as we explore other packaging possibilities. Thanks!
November 21, 2019
I find your plasic egg cartons to be invaluable for starting seedlings. The little egg cups are the perfect size for those water-expandable soil pellets.
We're so glad to hear that you've found a great way to repurpose our cartons, Lucy! We have heard from other consumers that they do make wonderful mini greenhouses to start seedlings. Thanks for sharing the love!
November 19, 2019
I don't buy it. With countries not buying are plastic anymore, these WILL go into the landfill. Paper pulp cartons PLEASE!
HI Sharon, thanks for taking the time to reach out! We're happy to pass along your feedback to our team as we explore other packaging possibilities. Thanks!
November 15, 2019
Your eggs are excellent, but I only buy them when the other brand - in fiberboard containers - is out of stock. Recyclable or not, the idea of “plastic” is a turnoff. At the very least you should not “carton made from recycled plastic” or similar. And tri-fold! That’s at least 1/3 too much plastic, or at least so it seems. (I read the explanation, but I’m not fully convinced. At least I feel better about it now.) Thanks again for a value driven company.
Hi Rick! We appreciate your thoughts and will be glad to pass them along to our team. We appreciate you taking the time to reach out!
November 13, 2019
Our municipal recycling center won't take plastics that don't have a number stamped in them. Can your containers be made with a recycling number and symbol?
Hi Jennifer! We're proud to say that our cartons are made from recycled water bottles that can be recycled again. The inside of the carton has some contoured cups, and you should see a #1 symbol printed near them. Please let us know if you don't see it, we'd be happy to help locate it. Thanks for the question!
Your cartons cannot be recycled in Nashville recycling. I run a company here, The Good Fill (thegoodfill.co) and part of what we do is educate consumers on what is recyclable locally. Your cartons have and will continues to be trashed in this fast growing city as well as others. What you failed to look into during the process was recycling numbers. City recycling centers are increasingly not accepting clamshell packaging.
HI Megan! We appreciate the feedback about our cartons and are sad to hear that they don't seem to be recyclable where you are. They're actually a #1 plastic and we do have a stamp on the inside of the middle portion that is contoured in the shape of the egg. We understand that not every location may be able to recycle, so we're doing our part to help this along by offering prepaid labels to get these cartons back. If this is something that you recycling center may be interested in, please don't hesitate to connect with us: [email protected] Thank you very much for the feedback, we'll make sure to pass it along to our team.
November 10, 2019
I appreciate your efforts to practice conservation. As a master naturalist, this is important to me on many levels. Trashing the only planet we have is not only selfish & self serving, but pretty stupid.
Hello Jack. we're so thankful for your kind words and support. As a Certified B Corp, we believe it is our duty to help bring change, awareness, and support for regenerative practices whenever possible. Thanks for the feedback, we'll make sure to pass it along!
There is no option for recycling plastic in Eugene Oregon. I purchased your eggs without really looking at the packaging. I was disappointed when I realized that it was plastic. I will not be able to buy them again.
Hello Julia, we're very sorry to hear that you're unable to recycle your cartons in Eugene. Did you know that we offer a take back program? We'd be happy to get these cartons back from you and pay to do so. You can find out more on our sustainability page: https://fal.cn/3569P Thank you for the feedback, we're happy to pass it along to our team.
November 06, 2019
What I care about and have not seen so far is: do you practice egg washing? Are you thinking about avoiding corn in feed?Is your diet mix guaranteed to be GMO free? Are hens vaccinated? In short, are your products legal in UK?
Thanks for your great questions, Sunol. We do, and are required by the FDA’s food safety requirements to use a light, organic-approved soap to wash our egg shells. After the eggs are washed, they are sanitized with a mild chlorine solution. Our feed ingredients are all USDA Certified Organic, which means they are indeed free from GMOs. Though we have explored some alternatives to corn, it's the most effective and sustainable option we've found so far. Finally, we do vaccinate our hens; all of our hens are vaccinated for Salmonella Enteritidis as chicks at small family pullet farms before they arrive at our farms.
November 01, 2019
Good eggs and I appreciate the recyclability of the box, but dear God it's unpleasant to handle. All sharp edges and horrible to the touch! It even sounds awful as I use it! I'm sorry, but this package is so unpleasant to use, I can't buy your eggs!
We're so sorry to hear that your experience with our cartons has been unpleasant, Jan. We're always testing out different designs and materials, so we'll pass your feedback along to the rest of the team to take into consideration for future iterations of our cartons. Thank you very much taking the time to share it with us.
October 26, 2019
Your packaging is too good to dispose of - any way we can bring them back to you - I will have about a dozen per month
November 27, 2019
Hello Myra, Although our cartons are made from the most widely recycled type of plastic, we're aware that some municipalities have adopted stricter recycling policies in recent months, sometimes banning all plastics from recycling centers. Luckily, we have a solution that we’d like to share with you: our takeback program. We launched our takeback program in response to the ever-changing policies and practices in both the national and international recycling industries. For those who live in states that no longer recycle plastic, our program is a way to ensure that your empty cartons are being responsibly recycled once you’ve enjoyed the eggs inside of them. Here’s how it works: simply store your empty cartons until you've collected at least ten. The more you collect, the better! Transportation has a carbon footprint too, and shipping back larger batches at a time helps keep that footprint low. Once you have a hefty carton collection, "nest" them in a recycled box, then let us know your name, mailing address, and the number of cartons you'll be mailing back to us. We'll email you a prepaid label to print out and attach to your box. Then, simply drop your box off at a US post office and go about your day knowing that you've done a good deed for our environment. We've set aside some barn storage space here at our home farm for the cartons returned to us via this program, and once we have enough, they'll be taken up to our carton manufacturer's facilities to be melted and molded into new cartons and other product packaging. We appreciate your efforts to do your part in caring for our environment, and if you have any questions or if you’d like to learn more about our earth-friendly cartons, please don’t hesitate to let us know.
September 23, 2019
I am 100% in favor of organic eggs from chickens as naturally raised as possible. However, I am not sure I buy that your plastic containers are better for the environment. We recycle everything possible. Many plastics are rejected and if people toss them in the trash they are one more plastic waiting for the end of time with the styrofoam. Pulp breaks down wherever it goes. Think about it.
September 25, 2019
You bring up some great points, Christine! Unfortunately, although most paper pulp cartons can be composted in a professional facility or even in your own backyard, the reality is that many of them will end up in a landfill. As you know, our waste system is far from perfect: the majority of our landfills are not designed or able to biodegrade because they’re compact and anaerobic environments. In other words, their function in our society, at this current moment at least, is to store garbage rather than break it down. If you're interested, we would love to send you a copy of the study that details all the resources that go into the creation of a pulp carton - it's quite interesting to compare that volume of resources with the already-existing water bottles and soda bottles that are used to form our 100% post-consumer recycled cartons! If this is of interest, please send us an email at [email protected]
September 20, 2019
Being as most facilities no longer accept this type of plastic for recycling, is there consideration to find another packaging solution? It pains me to throw this into the regular garbage can!
Great question, Tracy! We're constantly researching and exploring other options, always in search of the most earth-friendly materials for our cartons. It sounds like our carton takeback program might be of interest to you, and we encourage you to check out all the details here: https://www.peteandgerrys.com/about/sustainability.
September 18, 2019
I visited your website to read about how your plastic cartons had a smaller carbon footprint compared to pulp cartons. After reading about your farming practices and seeing in the video how good those hens have it, I was committed to supporting you even if I couldn’t recycle your packaging where I live, but I am so happy to hear that I get to eat your eggs and recycle too! Thanks for considering the change in packaging. I hope it pays off with an increase in sales.
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts with us, Carrie, as feedback on our packaging and any innovations or changes we consider is obviously a vital part of any decision we make. I hope you have found your way over to our Sustainability page under the "About Us" section of our website to learn more about our efforts on that front, and if you are ever in need of a label to participate in our takeback program, you know where to find us!
Pete and Gerry, and to everyone else involved in this special farm, Thank you. I LOVE LOVE LOVE your eggs. I had been raising 6 chickens of my own for the past few years and became hooked on fresh eggs. Unfortunately, our experiment in raising backyard chickens here in Portland, Oregon had some negative affects, (RATS, lots of Rats!)that eventually resulted in rehoming our hens and repurposing the coop. The quality of our store bought eggs took a dive. That is, until we found yours. I love that your farm is organic and most of all, I love that the chickens are free range! Fabulous! Now about that packaging. Like many who have commented, I was disturbed by the plastic. Then I read about your research findings and am sold. Plastic is bad. On that point most agree. But you have found a way to recycle plastic so that it does not end up in oceans and landfills. And then you recycle again. I am so impressed. I was planning on asking about how to return your cartons to you, because Portland does not recycle these types of containers, but then I read a question that addresses that issue. So there is a way to directly recycle the containers to your farm. You guys rock! I am telling all my friends about you. Thank you so much for your due diligence!
We're the ones who should be thanking you, Maureen, for not only caring so deeply about organic and humane farming practices, but also for taking the time to become so informed about these environmental issues. We are so touched by your support and kind words, and we will always do our best to keep up the good work for our amazing customers like you!
If only we could trust the recycler bins in the local markets to actually get the cartons to a bona fide recycler! For most of us they go into a black hole and god knows where they come out. I guess some detective work is necessary.
We couldn't agree with you more, John, that the current situation around recycling across the globe is certainly regrettable. The one thing we can do to try to make it better is providing our takeback program and making sure that at least those cartons we can get our hands on are handled responsibly, while also attempting to pull some of those soda and water bottles back out of the waste steam to produce our cartons. Thank you for caring and sharing your concerns.
September 15, 2019
I was happy our store had your eggs in pulp and paper cartons. Hope it is a permanent switch. We much prefer the pulp over the plastic.
September 16, 2019
We're so glad to hear you found one of our trial paper and pulp cartons, Michael! We're doing a few runs of new trial packaging at select stores across the country in response to the passionate consumer feedback we have received involving concerns about plastic use in general. As our customers' concerns are incredibly important to us, we hope to hear both the positive and negative reactions to the trial packaging, as it will be vital to consider all that feedback when making our final decision on whether or not to switch to one of the trial cartons permanently in the future. Thank you so much for being part of that conversation, and I will be sure to share your thoughts with the rest of my team!
September 08, 2019
I love your eggs and I really appreciate your research into the most environmentally friendly and useful packaging. I’ve been buying your eggs for years and I love everything about them. I live in Lancaster, New Hampshire, and the town is unfortunately unable to recycle these egg cartons due to the equipment they have. Is your farm able to take used egg cartons for reuse?
September 09, 2019
We're so sorry to hear you can't recycle those cartons locally, but we absolutely can take them back here at the farm for no cost to you through our new takeback program. You can find all the information on how to participate here on our sustainability website: https://www.peteandgerrys.com/about/sustainability. Feel free to email us at [email protected] if you have any questions or are ready for a shipment!
September 06, 2019
The carton of eggs I bought does not have a date stating last date to use the eggs. August 30 was a sell by this date. It is 5 days past this date. The eggs have been refrigerated since I bought them. So are they still OK to use?
We're so sorry for any confusion, Carroll. If your carton does have a "sell by" date stamped on the side, then you have up to 15 days to consume those eggs before they would be considered expired. We hope this helps, but please don't hesitate to send us an email at [email protected] with any questions!
I'm so happy that you changed to pulp! Well done for doing the due diligence and working out what was best.
Hi Kate! We're so glad to hear that you found one of our paper cartons recently. We're doing a run of some new, trial packaging at select stores nationwide. We are trying out these paper cartons, because we received so much passionate feedback from consumers over the year asking us to switch our packaging for various environmental reasons. Consumer feedback is incredibly valuable to us, so as we're running this trial packaging, we hope to hear positive and negative feedback from our consumers so that we can make a decision about our cartons going forward. We'll make sure to pass your feedback along!
September 04, 2019
Can I bring Pete & Gerry's empty egg cartoons to a recycling location? Where would those recycling stations be located? Note: Plastic egg cartons can be recycled ONCE in the school art room. They make great containers for paints.
September 05, 2019
HI Andy. Thanks for reaching out. Our cartons are considered a #1 plastic, so any recycling center near you that handles #1 plastic can recycle our cartons. If you use a Zero Sort service for garbage and recycling pick up, you should be able to put the cartons in the blue recycle bin (please make sure the plastic is clean) If you find you have trouble, please don't hesitate to reach out, we're able to send a prepaid label if needed. Thanks!
August 28, 2019
I have read your reasoning for the packaging that you use but I will not be buying your product because of the packaging.
Hi Beatrice. Thanks for taking the time to provide your feedback. We'll make sure to pass it along to our team!
August 19, 2019
i visited your site to understand why you were using the plastic containers. Sounds like you did your homework. It would be really nice if there was a way to reuse the container. It appears to be expensive to make. Also, i understand that most plastics are ending up in landfill these days since China and other countries are no longer buying recycled plastic from us.
August 20, 2019
Hello Ric, Thank you for the feedback, we appreciate hearing your thoughts. Please know that we'll be glad to pass your feedback along to our team, as it helps us to decide future packaging needs. We wish we were able to reuse them as well, but because of strict food packaging guidelines, we're unable to sanitize them here at our farms for reuse. We have heard some great ideas from other consumers on how they are reusing the cartons. From mini greenhouses to start spring seedlings, to donations to local art programs, as well as containers to hold jewelry, we have received some great suggestions. We welcome any suggestions you may have as well. Please don't hesitate to reach out anytime.
August 14, 2019
My husband and I are "o-l-d" and have had free-range hens (and one rooster) for several years, replacing as needed. The yolks on our eggs are nearly orange! Your fine production of eggs - matches and sometimes surpasses ours in color. Also, they are delicious! I have not found any other organic, store egg that comes near to your eggs. There is a difference in taste, nutrition, quality when farming is done right. Thank you very much for "old-school" values that still teach today.
August 15, 2019
Margaret, you just made our day. We're thrilled to hear that our eggs even compare to the ones that your own free range hens lay! It's an honor to be your first choice when you need an extra dozen or two from the grocery store. Thank you for treating your flock like family and for supporting our partner farmers, who do the same with theirs!
August 13, 2019
Great to see that you've taken the time to research the best carton option. Two suggestions.. Consider making packaging notation showing how earth friendly it is, and say Please recycle this carton. Because many people avoid eggs sold in plastic and, Maybe rethink your suggestion to take home eggs in recycled canvas bag, see interesting article.. https://qz.com/1585027/when-it-comes-to-climate-change-cotton-totes-might-be-worse-than-plastic/amp/
Thanks for the feedback, Sue! We'll definitely pass this feedback on to our team for future packaging needs. Thank you for taking the time to reach out.
August 12, 2019
Our town only accepts 1, 2, and 5 plastic reycle items. Where do I find the number on the egg carton?
Hi Peggy! Great news! Our cartons are considered a #1 plastic and they are the most widely recycled. Depending on the carton manufacturer, the #1 stamp should be near where the eggs are, just outside of the plastic cup, on the bottom section that the egg is in. Please let us know if you don't find it, we're happy to help!
August 06, 2019
You have great tasting eggs and we search out organic products for our consumption, but your cartons really bug me. We winter in Mexico and see plastic trash everywhere. I told my wife that I was going to send the cartons back to you, to be spiteful, but I had to chuckle when I saw your take back program. Excellent tactic. LOL. It would cost us the equivalent of a dozen eggs to send them back to you. Your study is all well and good, and in Louisville, CO, Boulder County, we are required to pay for recycle bins that get picked up every two weeks, however, the plastic is ending up in landfills, because no one wants it, as there is so much plastic that cannot be recycled and not enough manufacturers (cocacola co.) committed to recycle them. At least the pulp cartons can be burned as kindling or turned into insulation or other paper products. Styrofoam is out of the question. Plus your eggs consume a lot of energy to be shipped from NH to CO so I am wondering how much of the $6 price tag we are paying for a dozen is transportation costs? I like the idea of some others here that they drop off the cartons to local egg producers, but then... maybe we should just buy locally, anyway. Your concepts and marketing are commendable, but, I told Becky not to buy P&G until we see biodegradable pulp cartons. Right now the value isn't there, but what price health?
August 03, 2019
Most places don’t recycle the plastic egg carton you use. I recycle the paper pulp cartons and will only buy those. I will do whatever I can to reduce plastic.
Hi Shelley! Thank you for the feedback, we appreciate hearing your thoughts. We know that it’s our responsibility as a company to educate consumers when it comes to recycling, which is why we’ve started a takeback program for folks who don’t have access to a recycling center that accepts #1 plastics. We use this program as an opportunity to open up the conversation and further ensure that our cartons aren’t ending up in the waste stream. We've set aside some barn storage space here at our home farm for these takeback cartons, and once we have enough, they'll be taken up to our carton manufacturer's facilities to be melted and molded into new cartons and other product packaging. Please know that we'll be glad to pass your feedback along to our team, as it helps us to decide future packaging needs. Please don't hesitate to reach out anytime.
July 27, 2019
I appreciate your efforts in addressing the recycling problem. However, I fear that most of your packing is winding up in the Pacific Garbage Patch or landfills. Since China is no longer taking recycling, communities collecting the recycling are just dumping the plastic with the rest of the household garbage. Even if China was still collecting plastic, what is the environmental impact of shipping plastic and how environmentally responsible are they with the plastic collected and recycled? Perhaps the solution is when designing an environmentally package also asking what is the impact in the REAL world. While it is great to believe your packages are being recycled, I fear you will find most of them in the Pacific Garbage Patch or in landfills. I feel more comfortable buying eggs in a recycled molded pulp container as this has a better chance of being recycled and does decompose.
July 29, 2019
Hi Diana, Thank you very much for the feedback about our cartons. We really value hearing from our consumers about what they do like or don't like about our current packaging choice. We understand there is an excess of plastic in our world today, and in addition to a great deal of other research and thought we have put into the selection of our carton, one of the aspects we do feel good about is that we are actually helping to put that surplus of plastic already produced back to good use. It's our understanding that landfills are not actually designed to allow proper biodegradation, because they are compacted and thus create an anaerobic environment. Unfortunately, this means they're really just a place to store garbage, not for it to decompose. So regardless of the paper or plastic packaging, the waste remains in the ground. Here are some insightful articles on that topic in case you are interested in reading more: https://www.thoughtco.com/do-biodegradable-items-really-break-down-1204144 https://www.livescience.com/32786-what-happens-inside-a-landfill.html Given this information, we are again encouraged to pull some of that waste back out of those landfills and find a use for it as our egg cartons, to at least do our part in keeping it out of those landfills a little longer and preventing the production of any new materials, such as new paper cartons, that would only add to that surplus of stored trash. We also know that it’s our responsibility as a company to educate consumers when it comes to recycling, which is why we’ve started a takeback program for folks who don’t have access to a recycling center that accepts #1 plastics. We use this program as an opportunity to open up the conversation and further ensure that our cartons aren’t ending up in the waste stream. We've set aside some barn storage space here at our home farm for these takeback cartons, and once we have enough, they'll be taken up to our carton manufacturer's facilities to be melted and molded into new cartons and other product packaging. We are so grateful for your willingness to talk about what is important to you when you purchase eggs and your consideration for our great Earth. Please know that we'll be glad to pass your feedback along to our team, as it helps us to decide future packaging needs. Please don't hesitate to reach out anytime.
July 01, 2019
You need to stamp the recycling code number into your plastic cartons. Our recycling center will not take anything if they cannot see the code in the plastic itself.
Hi Nelson. Thank you for reaching out. Our cartons are typically stamped on the inside of one of the egg cups with the "1" and symbol. It may be a bit difficult to see depending on the lighting. Please let us know if you have trouble recycling the cartons or finding the code, we're happy to help! Our email address is: [email protected]
June 29, 2019
Regarding the recycling problem. I’m happy you have gone to great lengths to find the most eco friendly packaging. I recycle when I can and have been for 45 years. I have 2 friends who have chickens; I give them empty egg cartons so they can use them to share or sell eggs to others.
June 30, 2019
Thank you for doing your part to recycle and reuse, Marlene!
June 21, 2019
I respect that your company was thoughtful enough to hire an environmental impact research company to put together a "Comparative Environmental Life Cycle Assessment of Egg Cartons." I appreciate that you offer to send shipping labels to facilitate return of your plastic cartons as well. You obviously have put time, effort, and money into an attempt to lessen the carbon footprint that your business and its' products create. I would like to note however, that the study was done in 2012. While not ancient, in terms of science it is a very old study. Perhaps physicians should utilize studies from 2012 to treat patients even though newer evidence-based information is available? In a dynamic environment, it is important to utilize best-practice methods that are informed by current evidence. While the take back program is a noble idea, what weight is given to the fuel consumption and emissions generated in returning them to you, and then you returning them to a recycler? Has your company continued to look for more eco-friendly packaging options? Has the decrease in availability of recycling programs changed the metric? How many return labels were issued through the take-back program in each of the last 5 years? Is this take-back program displayed on your packaging? Jesse Laflamme (above) claims "we feel as though we’ve arrived at the best possible solution we can for the time being." However, feelings are not science, science continues to change, and perhaps it is time to re-investigate if your use of plastic packaging should continue. Perhaps your company should pressure your carton manufacturer to redesign the carton to eliminate the "third-lid" while keeping your product safe. Perhaps a re-vamp of the label to advertise the take-back program? Just some thoughts...
Hi Eric! Thank you for your thoughtful feedback. It's true that the study was done a few years ago, but we do believe the science remains relevant and that we're keeping up with the current research and trends out on the market. We appreciate your suggestion to consider conducting another research study in the near future. We have just launched our take-back program rather recently, but we love the idea of investigating the efficacy of the program and recognize that there is an environmental impact to returning the cartons (which is why we ask that they're sent back in bulk). We will continue to make efforts to market our take-back program going forward. We're also working on redesigning our packaging and seeing what innovations we can make to it in order to be the best environmental stewards. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for your feedback and suggestions. We'll certainly keep them in mind going forward.
But areas are refusing to accept plastic now that China won't take it.
Hi Ms. M! We hear your concerns. This is why we have started our take-back program to make sure our cartons go to a facility where they will be responsibly recycled. Our customers can send us their cartons back, if their area of the country doesn't accept number 1 plastics. Thank you for your concern for our environment!
June 19, 2019
Hi, If I request a label and return my cartons to you, what will you do with them? I'm curious if it would be anything better than taking them to my local recycler.
Hi Laura! Thanks for reaching out to us and thank you for recycling your cartons! If you're able to recycle them where you are, that's wonderful. If you would prefer that we recycle them for you, we're absolutely happy to send a prepaid label to you. We have a relationship with a company that takes our cartons to be recycled as well. Feel free to drop us a line if we can answer any other questions: [email protected] Thanks!
June 14, 2019
Where can we recycle your cartons currently? It is labeled #1 and currently our recycling hauler does not take this in Eugene OR. Are you aware of places that will take this plastic in my area? I gladly save and recycle the #2,4 and 5 containers for periodic collections in Eugene and would do the same for your product and share the information with friends so that they might purchase your product as well. Thanks.
Hi Marilyn! We're sorry to hear that you're not able to recycle some of the containers you've been saving. If you'd like to send us an email to: [email protected] and let us know how many cartons you have, we'll be glad to send you a prepaid label to get them back so that we can recycle them. As for recycling them near you, if you have zero sort recycling, our cartons are considered a #1 plastic, so you should be able to recycle them with other #1 items. #1 is the most widely recycled plastic there is. We'd be glad to give your recycling center a call and see what we can find out for you. Feel free to send us an email. Thanks for reaching out!
After conducting our own research and removing some of your study’s absurd assumptions such as all of your plastic cartons will be recycled locally, when in fact the vast majority won’t be recycled at all, anywhere and a large percentage of those that are recycled will be shipped over seas for recycling where environmental controls will be questionable at best and shipping requirements change the energy consumption and environmental impact significantly. Your result oriented study was looking for a positive reason for your use of plastic over a paper product, your study does not appear to have been comprehensive and completely objective, but rather merely looking for evidence that supports the conclusion you were looking for. We have decided to switch egg suppliers after several years of using your good quality eggs unless and until you switch your packaging. We also believe you should publish you complete study on your website.
Hi! Thanks for the feedback. We're happy to pass this on to our team. The study was actually completed by Quantis, a third-party research company. We would be happy to send a copy to you if you have not seen it. Please send us a message to: [email protected] and we'll be glad to send it to you. We're actually working on putting the study on the website and hope to have that available soon. Thanks!
June 11, 2019
Thank you! Was concerned about the packaging. Concern allayed! Cheers
June 12, 2019
You're so very welcome, Johann. We're glad we could ease your concerns and instill more confidence in our company.
June 09, 2019
What do the chickens eat? Do you feed them corn and soy? I have a gluten allergy. I am looking for eggs that are grain free and no GMO‘s or anabiotic‘s of course. pasture raised eggs! I have purchased your eggs but not sure exactly what you feed them so that’s why this is my question?
June 10, 2019
Hi Alta! Excellent question. Our Certified Humane Free Range hens spend most of their days foraging outdoors for bugs and tasty greens, but unlike cows or sheep, they are not ruminants and cannot subsist solely on the organic pasture that’s available to them. That’s why we provide our hens with a supplementary feed containing USDA Certified Organic corn and soy. The soy is a great source of additional protein, while the corn provides carbohydrates. There is also a wide range of other beneficial nutrients and minerals in our feed that help to keep the hens healthy, like electrolytes and sodium bicarbonate. Although gluten is not contained in soy, corn, or the wheat midds that the chickens occasionally eat, we unfortunately cannot guarantee that the feed is completely gluten-free. Our feed ingredients can change slightly depending on flock age and time of year, and the ingredients will sometimes include small amounts of barley and/or rye. Though we have not heard of any gluten allergies or sensitivities being triggered by the consumption of our eggs, we encourage you to contact your healthcare provider if you have any concerns of this nature.
No matter how you justify it, at the end of the day, we are still putting a plastic carton into a landfill. I can't do that.
Hi David! We agree that throwing things in the landfill is never the answer. You can recycle our cartons, because they are a number 1 plastic. Since our cartons are made of plastic that already exists, we think we're making a good choice. We thank you for your feedback!
our recycle won't take 1's so it goes in the landfill. pulp, perhaps in future made of biodegradable hemp will be better....loved the eggs, good shells so the birds are getting proper calcium I conjecture. wish the cartons were a biodegradable.
Hi Mary. That's an excellent idea. We're sorry to hear about your recycling facility refusing to take #1s. We'd be happy to take the cartons off your hand and send you a label to ship them back--just send us an email at [email protected] Thanks again for your candid feedback.
June 08, 2019
I wonder what a life-cycle analysis of reuse, rather than recycling, of your cartons would show. Since much of the plastic will end up in the ocean regardless of your efforts to encourage recycling, reuse might be a better option. It would require developing a program with stores to provide for customers returning the containers (possibly with a deposit on purchase and refund on return) and shipping the containers back. It would also require some type of quality control to ensure that the containers are clean enough to safely reuse. Thanks for doing what you already do for the quality of your product and for your concern for the environment. (I just saw Steven Y’s comment and your response. I’ll have to study it more, but I’m sending my comment anyway 🙂)
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and suggestions, Al! Unfortunately, reuse of our containers is prohibited as part of the food safety standards we have to adhere to as you noted. We certainly are always continuing to search for ways to innovate and testing out other options while still following those laws, and it would be wonderful if we can find a new process such as you described that would work in the future. Given we produce no plastic materials for our cartons and only use what is already out in the world, we feel good that we are keeping that plastic in useful rotation and out of the landfull as long as possible, and again we will continue to look for other options in the future that we feel offer an even better solution.
June 07, 2019
I appreciate the thought you put into packaging. I appreciate your responsiveness to comments, and the aim of your Takeback Program. But at such large scales of egg production there are no good options for packaging manufacturing and waste stream impacts on the environment, only best of the worst. Our modern packaging culture needs to be reformed, environmental education improved and packaging needs to shift to truly environmentally friendly options. Although your environmental cost analysis of carton options is important, as many have pointed out the reality is that PET egg carton recycling is ineffective. It is not available to most and not realistic to expect individual consumers to make the extra effort to return cartons through your Takeback Program on a meaningful scale. Such realistic assumptions need to be included when analyzing the comparative environmental costs of different packaging materials and determining future packaging. Also it is unclear if the harm to ecosystems and the environment including aquatic systems by improperly disposed plastics and the effects of microbeads and other plastic contaminants are included in the analysis. You state that recycled PET is clearly a better environmental choice than recycled pulp for egg cartons. But aside from the claim that pulp does not biodegrade in anaerobic landfill environments I did not see further information. An up front accounting of all the different life cycle impacts of RPET vs RMP would be clarifying. A link on your website to the Quantis report would be convenient.
Hi Steven! Thank you so much for taking the time to learn more about our decision to use our plastic packaging, because we understand what an important issue this is, and how it can certainly seem like a counter-intuitive conclusion. The study is quite lengthy, but we'd be happy to send it your way. Simply send us an email at [email protected] and we'll attach it as a file. We believe at this time that access to recycling is much greater than composting--most people are even less likely to compost than they are to recycle. When it is universally accessible then that will certainly weigh more on our decision. Because our cartons are made from 100% recycled materials (essentially soda and water bottles that were headed to the landfill), we have a fairly minimal manufacturing process that is required to get from recycled bottles to carton, because we aren’t using virgin plastic materials which require much more extensive manufacturing. This same extensive manufacturing is required even if you are starting with virgin paper or pulp materials as well and this small carbon footprint (thus less CO2 in the atmosphere) has led to our choice to use these cartons. Regarding the changing environment around plastic recycling across the globe, we are always taking steps to constantly re-evaluate and improve our packaging based on what is happening in the world around us and any new innovations that may become available. We feel that we’re making a good choice in reusing materials that are already headed for the landfill, and we’re proud to have made that decision based on research and real data. We certainly understand and respect the commitment you have made to the environment, and recognize your concerns, but we also hope that with the explanation above you can still feel that our eggs can function as a part of that commitment. Lastly, I’d like to invite you to provide any additional feedback you may have on this form which we created in response to concerns just like yours, to consolidate consumer insights to pass along to our packaging team and inform further innovation: http://fal.cn/PGOfeedback. Thank you again for your feedback!
Thanks for your response and the opportunity to provide feedback further in the link you provided. Great that you have this blog, and that you are striving for better solutions. But you did not adequately respond to my main points. As I said I do not view the Takeback program (or other) initiatives for the consumer to recycle PET cartons as realistic, so that should be devalued in your comparative evaluation. It is more of a vision than a result. In contrast, pulp (paper) cartons are more readily recycled. But mostly, as I said, your blog leaves consumers somewhat in the dark how RPET compares to recycled pulp cartons. There is simply your claim that RPET is "superior" in terms of smaller life cycle impacts, except in its manufacture (seems an important distinction), and that pulp cartons (also) do not decompose in anaerobic landfill environments. How about providing a summary of the comparative results up front, in this blog? It could be a link if you think it would be too distracting. That would be more informative and transparent than leaving us guessing, or having to acquire and read the underlying report. That can always be a next step. On the other hand I do appreciate that you are using recycled plastic as the source for your egg cartons. Although that is a can of worms too, for example it would seem to increase demand for plastic products. I also wonder if the tri-fold RPET cartons are really superior from a marketing perspective. They seem to alienate consumers like me who are skeptical about RPET vs paper cartons. I understand the points about being able to see the eggs through the plastic, and how it may better protect the eggs. But are those pivotal features in making the RPET vs pulp decision? Again, a summary as I suggest could make it easier for consumers to evaluate such choices.
Hi Steven. Thank you for your honest, thoughtful reply. The take-back program is something we are currently piloting, and we haven't done a study where we fully take that program into consideration. It is already growing and has been successful in the first few months. Thank you for your suggestion to add another blog post bringing down the science more in depth. We believe in being transparent and forthcoming as possible with our information, so again, we'd be happy to send you the lengthy study if you provide us with an email. The few pages I would refer you to would be the chart on page 5, and the conclusion write up on pages 47-48. I’ll also just start by letting you know when you look at the study, our style of carton is referred to as “Eco 13” or “Eco 14.” There have also been many studies showing how much excess plastic exists in the world, so we believe we're making good use of it keeping the RPET out of the landfill. Thank you again for your thoughtful comments and we'll be sure to keep your points in mind as we continue with carton redesign.
June 03, 2019
Only 25% of recycling is actually recycled. I understand your perspective regarding using recycled plastic however, it's really pointless if the package I once again buy as plastic doesn't get recycled. I'd like to support your company but I'll stick to buying the packaging that decomposes naturally.
Hi Nancy. Thank you for taking the time to read our post. We do think that limiting our carbon emissions is of paramount importance in this day and age when pulp takes so much more energy to produce. Unfortunately, if those pulp cartons aren't recycled properly or thrown into the landfill they actually will not decompose. In an anaerobic landfill, the molded paper is unable to break down without oxygen and the carton suffers a similar fate to the plastic one. We are proponents of recycling, and we hope to see more facilities making a push to truly recycle all materials. This is also why we offer our take-back program to recycle our cartons responsibly. Thank you for sharing your perspective.
June 02, 2019
CANNOT PUT BACK INTO RECYCLING STREAM BECAUSE: only plastic bottles can be put back. Recyclers stopped taking plastic egg cartons and vegetable tubs so they go right into the garbage and and polluting, polluting, polluting!!! So GO TO PAPER CARTONS TO RECYCLE PLEASE!!!
Hi Gloria. We understand your frustration. It's unfortunate to hear that some recyclers have stopped taking our cartons. We do offer our take-back program for those who would like their egg cartons to be recycled responsibly. We know that recycling programs can vary in their structure and protocols around recycling. We hope that more facilities will adopt responsible practices. Thank you again for your feedback!
May 31, 2019
I just can’t get over buying that amount of plastic each week.
Hi Heather. We understand your concerns. We think that by recycling them into the appropriate bins, you're doing the responsible thing for our environment. There are also great ways to up-cycle and reuse the cartons yourself! We have some ideas for growing seedlings in our cartons on our blog.
May 30, 2019
We are kidding ourselves if we believe in the “recycling” system here in the US. We need to have packaging that wil decompose in the ground. Nobody wants recycling anymore. It is a sad hoax on us. I love your products and efforts! Thank you! https://www.cbsnews.com/news/why-americas-recycling-industry-is-in-the-dumps/
Hi Carolyn. You're definitely right that the current recycling system in the U.S. needs to be vastly improved. We hope cities like San Francisco will continue to lead the way with their innovative ideas and inspire the rest of the country to adopt similar practices. As more research and innovation arises, we will certainly continue to strive to improve our carton design.
May 26, 2019
My town (Kittery, Maine) is no longer recycling PET containers other than drink bottles. Do you have a suggestion (other than buying eggs in paper pulp)? I have enjoyed your eggs for five years and don't want to change.
May 28, 2019
Hi there, Neil! That is an excellent question. We do have our take-back program up and running, so we'd be more than happy to take the RPET containers off your hands. Could you send us an email at [email protected]? Once you do that, we can send you more information and a shipping label. Thanks!
May 19, 2019
How do I know these plastic containers are actually being recycled?
May 20, 2019
Great question, Nancy. The most important step to take to ensure that your recyclables are actually being recycled is to make sure they're clean before bringing them to your local transfer station. As for our takeback cartons (which you may have read about in the comments here), we are storing them in an empty barn and will be bringing them up to our carton manufacturer's facilities ourselves to ensure that they're being recycled in a responsible way.
May 18, 2019
I do everything I can to recycle as much as possible. My question how do I recycle your cartons? With other plastics, metal etc? Thanks
Hi Todd. Thanks for the question, it's a great one. Our cartons are considered a #1 plastic. The way you recycle in your community may be different than another person's way. Do you have trash and recycling pick up curbside or do you take your items to the recycling center? Typically our cartons can be recycled with any type of other plastic with the same #1 number on it. Usually plastics are sorted by number, but some places have 'zero sort' facilities where everything is put in one container and they sort it for you. Water bottles, juice containers, salad containers, etc. These are examples of #1 plastic. It may be best to contact your local town/city office and ask to speak to the waste management or recycling center. They can point you in the right direction. We're happy to help you find yours if you'd like to send us an email at: [email protected] Thanks for the great question!
May 17, 2019
I think the trifold cartons have three issues (one is not addressed by other commenters): the cartons vary quite a bit as to how thick the plastic is. Some are reasonably stiff, but some are so thin and flexible that on more than one occasion I came close to spilling all the eggs out onto the floor trying to open it without setting it on the counter first. The issues already mentioned are, some entire regions have no recycling at all, so you have only the advantage of the first cycle from soda bottles (wherever you get them, not my area.) The other is the added hassle of the inner cover. For ease of handling, water resistance, and low weight, I think the styrofoam is best. It may not break down in a landfill, but it burns great. Your eggs have shells twice as tough as common eggs, so much added protection comes from your flock.
Thanks for the feedback, Stan. You're right, there can be a little variance on the plastic thickness, it all depends on what is being recycled and remade into the cartons. So sorry o hear that you've had this issue. As for recycling availability, we do understand that some locations are not able to do so, which is why we're glad to have introduced a take-back program. We will actually pay the shipping to get the cartons back, so that we can recycle them. Thank you for sharing your thoughts, and if you'd like to hear more about the program or have any other questions, please do let us know!
May 13, 2019
please let me know the best way and where to recycle your egg packaging.
May 14, 2019
Thanks for your question, Elizabeth! Our containers are made out of the most widely recycled plastic material (#1 plastic), so you should just be able to take them to your local recycling center. If for some reason they wouldn't accept them, you can always mail them back to us through our takeback program, which you can learn more about by emailing us at [email protected] Used cartons also make great organizational containers for things like ornaments and desk supplies, paint palettes for kids, and even craft project supplies like you'll see in our Instagram posts.
April 29, 2019
This is a really great resource!So much useful information and handy tips, thank you =) [url]admissionessayservices.xyz[/url]
April 30, 2019
Of course, Darrell! Thank you so much for taking the time to read through all this information and we appreciate you sharing your thoughts as well!
Hello Again, A thought about your take back program. How about finding a way to sterilize and re-use your take back containers that are in perfect condition upon return.
That is a great idea, Ken, but unfortunately, FDA and USDA food safety rules ban us from reusing our cartons in that manner. The reason our takeback program is permitted is because those cartons are fully melted and re-molded into new cartons and other product packaging. If you have any other questions, please let us know, and thanks again for your comments!
While I agree with your concept of using RPET in your new cartons removing used Virgin PET From the waste stream, I see this as problematic on two fronts. The first one is that in providing a market for used virgin PET, you are just adding to the excuses manufacturers can quote when using virgin PET to contain their products. The second problem I have is that overall, only about 10% of recyclable collected are actually recycled into new products. With china no longer collecting outside plastic and the USA being the major consumer of worldwide plastics, the chain is broken. Unfortunately, the carbon trapped in plastic are accumulating in our oceans, in the air (even in Greenland and the Antarctic) as microparticles. I believe that Pulp containers are a better choice. Paper products come from a renewable resource - trees - that keep peoples in our forest areas employed and can be sustainable through proper forst management practices. Additionally, through composting, the carbon that captured in paper can be recycled back into plants and the earth soil. Sad to say, your plastic packaging has eliminated your products from my grocery choices.
We're sorry to hear that, Ken, and while we do still feel that we have chosen our cartons for the right reasons in consideration of both our customers and the planet, we respect your decision and hope you are able to find what you are looking for in the egg aisle. I will be sure to share your feedback with my team.
April 27, 2019
This is a huge concern of mine! Thanks for the effort and info
Our pleasure, Natalie! We saw your other comment about our takeback program as well. Please email us at [email protected] and we'll get you set up!
April 24, 2019
Confirming that the "Tri-Fold PET" that you talked about is actually made from R-PET and not regular/virgin PET
April 25, 2019
That's correct, SS. Our tri-fold cartons are made from RPET, but since virgin PET tri-fold cartons are a fairly common option in the egg aisle, we made sure that they were represented in the life cycle analysis as well (and as expected, they have a higher carbon footprint than post-consumer PET). We hope that helps clarify those terms!
April 06, 2019
Hello, I love your eggs but wanted to know if your egg cartons have BPA in the plastic?
April 08, 2019
Great question, Mary! Our cartons are made from #1 plastic and they do not have any BPA in them. If you have any other questions, please let us know!
April 05, 2019
Plastic is not accepted in all curbside recycling pick up programs, therefore for those communities your cartons go straight to a landfill. Please consider using a more sustainable environmentally-friendly packaging. I love your eggs and I'd like to continue to eat them. Thank you and have a great day!
That's a great point, Patricia, and we recognize that not all of our customers have access to recycling which is why we have started a Takeback Program where consumers can mail their cartons back to us free of charge. We then gather them up once we have a large quantity and take them back to our carton manufacturer to be melted down and turned into new recycled packaging. Thank you for sharing your thoughts, and if you'd like to hear more about the program or have any other questions, please do let us know!
Please let me know how I can return the carton to you! Since China has stopped taking our recyclables, they are piling up at our shores etc.
April 04, 2019
What is happening with the egg cartons being sent back to you? What do you recycle them into? Just curious.
Great question, Julie! We've set aside some barn storage space here at our home farm for these takeback cartons, and once we have enough, they'll be taken up to our carton manufacturer's facilities to be melted and molded into new cartons and other product packaging. If you have any other questions, please feel free to let us know!
March 30, 2019
All well and good but as I understand it your store display cartons are made from 100% recycled plastics. However, they themselves are not biodegradable. Love your eggs but aren't in love with your packaging, especially the triple fold idea on the eggs. Isn't that alone using 30-50% more plastic just to do that little trick? (not to mention old fumble fingers here struggling to get it open).
April 02, 2019
You're absolutely right, Wayne: our cartons are made from 100% post-consumer recycled plastic, and while they aren't biodegradable, they can be recycled again and again. Our intention for the double top design was to create a carton that does an even better job of protecting the eggs than molded paper pulp or Polystyrene. Here's a tip for opening our cartons that might help: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWU1UhcUYuI. Please let us know if we can answer any follow-up questions!
March 23, 2019
I love your eggs and buy them from Kroger in South east Michigan. Something to promote about your cartons would be the double protection you have. A picture is great too. I am sharing my egg cartons with farmers to recycle. They really like them. These cartons support the eggs really well. Your picture should reflect this double protection factor.
March 26, 2019
You are absolutely right, Jennifer, and thank you so much for sharing your thoughts. We do definitely talk about our cartons offering some extra protection for our eggs as that is of course a consideration in addition to the environmental impact, but I will pass your suggestion along to my team that we do a better job of highlighting that trait in pictures. We really appreciate your feedback and the initiative you are taking to put our empty cartons to good use!
March 19, 2019
I certainly applaud you for going to the trouble and cost to research your packaging material. Would it be possible to see a copy of the research? You are making quite a few claims and I would like to see the data that supports them. Delicious eggs!
March 20, 2019
Hello Ed. Thank you for taking the time to reach out. We're absolutely happy to email a copy of the study. Please send us an email to: [email protected] and we'll get it right out to you. Thanks!
March 17, 2019
Oregon has limited their recycling to very few items which bums all of us who care about the earth out! So your cartons end up in the garbage. Wish there was another option. Your eggs are the best! The $2 price increase has made it harder for me on fixed income to warrant buying. I will though when I feel my budget can handle it!
Thanks for sharing your concerns with us, Bonnie, and we hear you. We have started a Takeback Program as Taylor mentioned below, that allows customers to send us their used cartons for proper recycling at no cost to them, so please email us at [email protected] if you’re interested in learning more, and we’d be happy to get you set up for a shipment. Also, we haven’t actually increased our prices, but as we sell our eggs wholesale, it is the stores they are purchased at who determine the final pricing, and likely where that $2 came from. We do like to provide some great coupons and promotions to give back to our wonderful customers to offset the higher cost of our eggs, and we invite you to check those out here: https://www.peteandgerrys.com/offers-promotions.
March 15, 2019
Wow I came here to email you about my plastic concern. I was feeling so conflicted buying your eggs in the seemingly excessive, folding, plastic package. But I'm thankful to see you've looked into it so heavily, and even being an B Corp makes me want to support your company. At some stores I've seen the "loose egg" style, where you can bring your own carton and get eggs from a big basket... not that I expect Safeway or big chains to adopt this, but what if??? I would love to see that as an option to entirely wipe out the need for individual packages for consumers.
March 16, 2019
Hi Hannah! We appreciate that you took the time to read up on our practices and our choice to use RPET cartons. We know it's not a perfect solution, but we're proud of the stance we've taken to ensure recycling these water bottles that would otherwise end up in the environment. Your suggestion of offering a "loose egg" style is a good one, and something we'll be sure to consider for future offerings. Thank you for the feedback!
May 10, 2019
I had the same thought as Hannah regarding supplying small local stores with eggs in bulk where we could bring a basket or carton that we reuse to buy eggs. Have you considered creating a channel to facilitate this?
Absolutely, Cynthia! We're actually looking into a bulk offering with reusable cartons locally. This is something that's nearly impossible to do on a national scale, but that doesn't mean we won't try. We'll definitely share any updates and learnings from our trials!
March 10, 2019
I appreciate the work you put in to developing the most environmentally friendly container for your eggs. I think it's getting clearer that little of our recycled materials are actually getting recycled, especially with China apparently no longer taking our recycling. In one of the comment threads below, you mentioned a "take back" program. Have you implemented this, and how would it work. Thank you.
March 11, 2019
Thank you for your thoughtful comment, Taber. Our takeback program is in full swing and will have an official spot on our website very soon! To participate, we ask consumers to save up at least 10 cartons (the more the better, as this helps keep the transportation footprint low) and package them in a recycled box or mailer. From there, we can calculate the weight of your package and email you a prepaid label to affix to the package. The package can be mailed at your local post office or blue box, and once we receive it, we'll put your cartons in the storage space that we've set aside in one of our empty barns. Once the barn is full, we'll bring the entire load of cartons up north to our carton manufacturer, where the cartons will be melted back down and reformed into new cartons and other packaging. Feel free to send us an email at [email protected] if you'd like to participate!
March 08, 2019
Interesting comments on packaging. I reviewed your life cycle analysis information and as a person with experience in such studies, you are doing the right thing with your packaging choice (recyclers out there, you must learn to accept life cycle analysis of materials management). However, I beg you to change the wording about the cartons being recyclable! The cartons MAY be recyclable in some communities, so please encourage your customers to check for available recycling options on your website. Every city and county has different programs and these cartons likely should not go in "commingled" recycling carts. Thank you!
Thank you so much for taking the time to look through that study, Cathy, as it is certainly not a light read given we wanted to be very thorough in our analysis. We always appreciate when we can hear from informed customers who are passionate about issues such as recycling, and I will be sure to pass your recommendations along to the rest of my team. Since we also recognize that access to recycling of our cartons can be an issue for some consumers, we are also in the process of launching a Takeback Program that will allow customers to send the cartons back to us at no charge to them. We will then be able to take responsibility for making sure they end up where they should be, and we encourage you to look out for more on that in the coming months. Thank you, again, for your thoughtful feedback!
March 05, 2019
I don't see anything on the egg carton that claims it is recyclable. Why is that? Thanks.
March 06, 2019
Hi Julie! There is indeed a recycling mark, but it can be difficult to see. On most cartons, it is pressed in to the center of one of the rounded plastic egg cups that protect the top of the eggs once you have opened the smooth carton piece that has the label attached to it. Hopefully that helps, and if you have any other questions, please let us know!
March 02, 2019
Wow, what a thread - this shows to me that compassionate and articulate people love your high quality eggs, your company and the decisions you have to make to create and deliver your product. Good people all around! Not to discount any of the arguments here, but I'd encourage folks to empower themselves to find a suitable use for these cartons, and share these solutions with the world. No solution is perfect, and none of us righteous, we all have a footprint. (We are eating animal products, delivered by trucks.)
We completely agree, Chris. It's truly wonderful to see the care and thought that our consumers put into the products they choose to purchase. Needless to say we feel incredibly lucky to have such compassionate people rooting for us. Thank you so much for your thoughtful comment.
March 01, 2019
It might be necessary to revisit your study now that China is no longer taking our recycled plastic. Most plastic... even what is taken to the recycling centers is now going to the landfills. The world is changing... we need to all be on board. Your business model is appreciated. If only more producers would choose to adopt sustainable practices...
Hi Bev! We completely acknowledge that the issue of recycling is an ever changing and progressing conversation and we are absolutely reevaluating our role in being environmentally conscious based on those changes. In response to concerns from customers just like you, we've created a form to gather all customer feedback to inform future packaging innovation and we would love to have you let us know any additional thoughts, suggestions, or concerns you have there: http://fal.cn/PGOfeedback. Thanks again for reaching out to us, and we look forward to passing your feedback along to our packaging team.
February 24, 2019
I feel better knowing that I can put these egg cartons in the recycling. But I still think cardboard would be better.
February 25, 2019
We hear you, Jenine. If you'd like to peruse our life cycle analysis, we'd love to send you a copy of it! Just email us at [email protected] if that's of interest. And if you have any specific questions about our decision to use RPET instead of paper, please let us know.
Thanks for sharing this information. I came to your website for this specific question. Love your eggs. I am trying to eliminate plastic from my day to day. Not a perfect solution as you say and unfortunately many towns don't really recycle any more. The cardboard could at least be composted but I have not done any research into how each option is made. Could you give more information on why the molded pulp worse than the plastic? Maybe share some specific data from you study. I hope better solutions are around the corner.
Hi Joanne, absolutely! Do you mind sending us an email at [email protected]? We'd love to send you a copy of the study and direct you to the specific findings and data that ultimately influenced our decision to use RPET the most.
February 20, 2019
I don't think you really answered the question why your RPET container is better than molded pulp. And frankly there is a question if all the plastic we put into recycle cans for pickup actually get recycled. Also your tri- fold egg carton increases the need for plastic by 1/3. Not the direction I want to go in trying to be environmentally conscious. I've accepted I need to pay more for organic eggs, but I think I need to be more focused on getting my eggs from the local farmer to assuage my environment guilt and continue the best nutrition. But until I decide on my local source I will continue with Pete and Gerry. Your comments are welcome
February 22, 2019
Hi Joan, we're sorry that our explanation about our choice to use the RPET container was not clear here. Essentially, we did a study with Quantis, an independent research company, and have found that RPET cartons have a much smaller carbon footprint throughout their life-cycle. Our RPET egg cartons approach “carbon neutral” and generate significantly less environmental impact than comparable plastic cartons. If you send us an email at [email protected] we'd be happy to send you the entire study report. This style of packaging is also sturdier than those made from other materials, so our cartons can be packed more tightly and efficiently in our transport trucks, producing fewer fuel emissions to get to their respective store locations. We know it's on us as a company to encourage our consumers to recycle, which is why we created our take-back program to help consumers without access to #1 recycling to dispose of their cartons responsibly. Unfortunately, our waste system is far from perfect: the majority of our landfills are not designed or able to biodegrade because they’re compact and anaerobic environments. In other words, their function in our society, at this current moment at least, is to store garbage rather than break it down. This is why we're so passionate about having our cartons recycled. We hope this explanation helps clarify our stance!
February 18, 2019
Thank you so much for going the trouble to research the best possible way to package your eggs. It sounds tough that our recycling containers (all recycles) have no where to go. There has to be a better way. Thank you again for trying to help our precious environment!
I think you can try harder to be eliminate the plastic packaging
Thanks for the kind words, Judy. It was important to us to base our decision on research, and we're glad to know that it matters to you, too!
February 11, 2019
I bought eggs this morning and the only reason I didn’t choose your eggs was the plastic carton. I wanted to see if that was addressed on your website and if fact it was. I’m still a little unclear as to if the cardboard or plastic is better. As you mention plastic has a bad impression on many so why do you use it? Yes I understand it’s made from recycled plastics but wouldn’t it be easier to stop using plastic at all?
February 12, 2019
Thank you for the thoughtful questions, Micah. The conclusion we drew from our independent study was that in terms of carbon footprint and emissions, RPET cartons are more earth-friendly. So although plastic is often seen in a negative light, the reality is that 100% post-consumer recycled packaging like ours is actually helping to reduce the amount of plastic that's in the waste stream, primarily by using water bottles that are already in circulation. We hope this helps explain our decision more clearly!
Can you ask me why entire countries only use Pulp packaging? I will never buy your Organic eggs unless they are in a pulp carton. Did you know Eggs in Australia only come in Pulp packaging? Sorry but you are off the mark with the statement that your Plastic packaging isn't any more harmful to the planet than Pulp. Do you realize most American's don't recycle.
February 09, 2019
You changed your packaging while China was still taking our “clams” can your cartons still be recycled on the west coast?
Hi Laura! Thanks for reaching out to us. I'm actually out on the west coast, and I can tell you confidently that in my area, #1 RPET cartons are accepted out here in the zero sort recycling program. There may be some exceptions to this rule, depending on your location, but even so, we've introduced a take-back program - we pay to have the cartons shipped to us from our consumers, and have it recycled. It's a new pilot program we have started in 2019 and so far has been working well. If this may be of interest, we'd love to hear from you, feel free to drop us a line and we can get you the information: [email protected]
I'm on the East coast but I'm interested and would support a mail-back to you of your egg cartons. Until I get settled on this plastic problem I will reach out a local farmer's eggs instead of Pete and Gerry, unfortunately
Hi Joan! We launched a takeback program late last year (we plan on posting all the details front and center on our website this year) that allows consumers - especially those without local access to recycling - to store their cartons and mail them back to us in bulk. We've set aside some barn storage space here at our home farm for these takeback cartons, and once we have enough, they'll be taken up to our carton manufacturer's facilities to be melted and molded into new cartons and other product packaging. Beyond this program, we'll continue to educate and encourage these thoughtful and crucial practices whenever possible. Please feel free to drop us a line when you have some cartons ready to send and we'll be glad to get a prepaid label to you. Thanks for supporting our small family farms on all coasts.
I save my cartons and take them to the Amish farmers for packaging their eggs to sell at farmers market.
That's a great idea and a great way to reuse the cartons! Thanks for the tip, Mary!
February 07, 2019
Hi, I wanted to comment on the egg carton - I noticed there were several broken eggs in the cartons in the store so I made certain that I got an carton without broken ones. In spite of that, when I go home, one of the eggs had broken. The carton is just too flimsy on the bottom. So I can appreciate your decision in terms of recycling but I will avoid that type of carton from now on.
Hi Karen. Thank you for taking the time to reach out to us. We're very sorry to hear about the broken eggs in your carton. We find we actually have less broken eggs in these cartons overall, but understand that sometimes things can happen once the eggs leave the farm. We'd be glad to look into this issue and replace the eggs for you. Would you be able to send us a message to: [email protected] ? If you happen to have the specific carton information on the side of the packaging that includes the use by date, letters and numbers alongside it, it would be most helpful. Thank you for letting us know about this, we'll watch for your message.
February 02, 2019
Thanks for the explanation about the cartons. I was about to complain.
February 04, 2019
Our pleasure, Larry. We're always here to help if you have questions or concerns, so please don't hesitate to reach out any time!
January 20, 2019
why couldn't we drop off the cartons at the stores & have your delivery trucks pickup empties, when delivering eggs, to be taken to your facilities, cleaned & sanitized & reused by you?
January 21, 2019
Hi Karen, Great question! The network of deliveries tends to be a bit more complicated than that--there are transfers and distribution along the way making the transfer process full of transition points. The FDA has very strict guidelines on sanitation and washing of cartons, which would also make it impossible for us to reuse the cartons. However, we are unrolling a new take-back program where consumers can mail us their cartons back directly so that we can responsibly recycle them. Thank you for sharing your ideas!
As an egg eating consumer, I can't thank you enough for your responsible approach to the researching and choosing of packaging. As a budding permaculturist, I just tore up my first cardboard egg container and tossed it into my composter. I'm on the verge of adding worm composting to my list. I'm wondering if cardboard egg cartons could be feasibly added to yard waste. Now that China stopped buying US recyclables in the past year, it seems all the more important to remove recyclables from the food chain unless they can be re-recycled. Time for some more American innovation to replace the role of the Chinese.
Hi Susan, Thank you for providing your unique and thoughtful perspective! We absolutely believe in research and science-backed approaches to our choices that have environmental impacts. It's on us as a company to educate our consumers and to push the U.S. to find innovative ways to recycle items, whether they're plastic or not, so that we can become better environmental stewards.
January 16, 2019
Life Cycle Analysis does not currently take into account the impact of plastics in the ocean, or the common end-of-life scenario in which these containers are shipped abroad for recycling and end up burning in open dumps. Nor are they currently able to account for new research showing that plastics in the environment emit methane. Also, most recycling programs around the US, including in eco-friendly Portland Oregon, are not currently taking this type of molded plastic container for recycling. I appreciate the dedication to find the most truly environmental option for your products, but a deeper look at LCA shows that this is not yet an accurate assessment for today's realities. I hope that you will continue to investigate and push for reusable packaging options, at which point I will surely seek out your products! Would you be willing to share the Quantis report? Thank you.
Hi there! We'd be glad to email this to you. Would you mind sending us an email to: [email protected] ? We'd be glad to send the study your way. Thanks!
January 03, 2019
While "paper" cartons would be better, they also create a LOT of trash. I like your idea of having the cartons returned and what will you then do with them? Recycling only postpones the problem rather than solving or improving on it. What's really needed is a way that you (and others) can RE-FILL those plastic cartons/containers. The problem with plastic is not that it lasts forever but that we have decided a Forever Product can only be used ONE time - call me crazy, but this makes no sense. Why not use the plastic carton or container for the same product again and again and ...? But, maybe the real question is not "why not" but "how" - as in how could we go from single use to infinite use of a single carton rather than single use of infinite cartons???. Until that happens, another option might be to offer your eggs on reusable bulk palettes and we could supply our own take-home containers..
Seems to me that the problem with this would be getting the cartons back to P&G's.
January 15, 2019
Paper cartons can be given to friends and neighbors who raise chickens. Nobody I know who raises chickens will accept these weildy plastic cartons for their own eggs - therefore there is no re-use option for these. I find it very hard to believe that a plastic carton with 1/3 as much volume as a paper carton made from recycled materials has less environmental impact -- I will not be buying Pete and Gerrys eggs until they start coming in the recycled paper/pulp cartons that 1) can be reused realistically 2) can go into the backyard compost as well as recycling, and 3) easily recycle.
Thank you for taking the time to reach out to us here and via email, Cassandra. We understand that the usage of plastic in our society has hit an all-time high. It seems to be everywhere. Juice, soda and water companies are some of the biggest culprits in manufacturing this new plastic. As you probably see on a daily basis, much of this plastic gets put right into the landfill after use. It's a real shame and it's something that we think should not be happening. Which is why we're chosen to repurpose, reuse and recycle this plastic that's out there and have it remade into our current egg cartons. Because we're not using new plastic, we're doing our part to keep what is already out there out of the landfills. We realize it's not a perfect long term solution, but we feel it is responsible for the time being. We also understand that folks that use our cartons may not have the resources to recycle our cartons in their towns, so we have taken it a step further - we pay to have the cartons shipped to us from our consumer, and have it recycled. It's a new pilot program we have started in 2019 and so far has been working well. More details to come soon via this website!
If consumers could bring your containers back to stores (maybe in multiples of 5 or 10 cartons), could the truck that delivers eggs bring those containers back to P&G? The customers who buy your eggs and write on here are the type to do that, I think.
January 04, 2019
We completely agree, Jan - reusable cartons would be a huge game changer for the egg industry. Unfortunately, USDA and FDA regulations ban us from reusing our cartons at this time. Because our eggs are sold at supermarkets and grocery stores all over the country, we have not found a way to suite the needs of every customer (for example, those who would prefer their eggs packaged in a container rather than sold in bulk style), but we really appreciate the suggestions and will certainly add your ideas to our conversations!
Sorry, I should have read further. It seems the FDA/ USDA ought to change its rules on reusing egg cartons. Since eggs come in their own natural packaging (shells that we don't eat), reused cartons present no health hazards.
January 22, 2019
There's definitely potential for change when it comes to those regulations, Allison! Of course, we always want to ensure that we're following the safest practices possible, so we hope that a sustainable and safe system for reusing cartons can be found someday.
January 02, 2019
I like your eggs, your intention to do the 'right thing' with packaging, and the effort you take to explain your process and decision to use recycled plastic. I live in (Eugene) Oregon. Though in general we are environmentally conscious, the rules and access to recycling vary depending on size of population/ garbage haulers mandates- and contracts available with those entities who want/ can process our 'recyclables'. For many years, Lane County was a leader in recycling options and methods/access. For most of us, it was as easy as putting a mix of most anything that had a recycle symbol on it into a large curb-side container once or twice a month- Glass in a separate curbside container 'Garbage'- anything else that went to landfill also a separate container-typically opposite weeks. Nice and pretty effective. There was no hard and fast laws/rules that the locals had to follow, just make it easy and most people did a pretty good job. The reason I'm writing is that things have changed, as I'm afraid they will more than we are likely prepared for. China- our largest resource for off loading our 'recyclables' no longer wants our waste. It is no longer economically feasible for them to ship our waste, convert it and resell it to us. In my opinion it was a stupid way for the world to do business in the first place... Since the United States has not figured out how to make a buck off of recycling- and the 'powers that be' remain in control of markets that produce/buy/ sell/ single use packaging- we are facing a potential environmental of even greater proportions as the proverbial 'hens come to roost'- Sorry- I had too... Please keep your business minds open to even better 'Best Practices'? Please consider that recycled paper product cartons or something equally likely to actually compose in a reasonable amount of time with minimal environmental impact might be the 'right thing' to do. I am neither a scientist, business expert or final authority on what is right for the world. I am only one man with an opinion and the desire to what's right. Again, I applaud your efforts to make the lives of the animals we consume more humane and the choices consumers have in purchasing healthy, reasonably priced food.
We completely understand your concerns, Carl. So much so that we're launching a takeback program for this very reason; to ensure that our cartons get recycled in places that no longer can do so. Though we're still finalizing the program, we might be able to help you out if you have any of our cartons laying around. Do you mind sending us an email at [email protected]? We know it's not a perfect long-term solution in a changing world, but we're doing our best to keep abreast of this unfolding issue. We will surely take your kind and informative discussion to heart. Thank you for the feedback!
This is the exact wording of Nellie’s eggs statements on their website to support their use of plastic. But like so many of the comments on your site saying folks want you to go to compostable paper pulp, I also advocate this change. I live in Key West Fl and we are very vulnerable to plastics killing our reefs and coral. And China is Not recycling our plastics any longer. Please review this more recent article on plastics clogging rivers around the world: Plastic 'berg chokes Indonesian river A crisis of plastic waste in Indonesia has become so acute that the army has been called in to help. www.bbc.com Therefore I can no longer in good conscience buy your eggs, but instead will purchase free range organic eggs in paper cartons. Please change your practices for your kids, grandkids, and the magnificent streams, lakes and oceans and all their creatures.
Hi Diane, we thank you for writing. Nellie's is our sister brand of eggs, and we share the same mission, hence the same message. We know it's not a perfect solution in a changing world, but we're doing our best to keep abreast of this unfolding issue. Because our cartons are made from recycled materials rather than new plastic, we do feel that some blame should be placed on these companies that are making the plastic to begin with. If they didn't create it, we would not be able to use it for our cartons. We do have some good news on this forefront. We have introduced a recycling program for consumers who are unable to recycle the cartons in their communities. Please send us a message at [email protected] and we'd be glad to get that information to you and get those cartons back. We are thankful for your message.
November 29, 2018
Please send me your third party study on the comparison between RPET and paper pulp use. I have found many such studies do not take the full life-cycles of plastics into account, that they are not infinitely recyclable, nor first-time recycled plastic's tendency to end up as fleece clothing, TREX deck flooring, or other unlikely and difficult-to-be-recycled items. Nor do studies go into the need to control air pollution and all the energy that involves, along the way. Our recycling used to be sent to China. Now our county is struggling to figure out what to do with it and we have to pay for the "service." I can and do compost paper pulp in my back yard, which becomes nutrition for the planet. I appreciate your intentions, work and products, but do not want to buy more plastic, regardless of what is wrapped inside.
November 30, 2018
November 27, 2018
Why not reuse the sale package that se could bring back to thé store
November 28, 2018
That's a great suggestion! Unfortunately, food safety regulations prevent us from reusing our cartons, so although we wish we could, it isn't possible at this time.
November 21, 2018
I believe that my recycling service in Portland, Oregon would consider these containers to be clamshells and would tell me to put them in the trash...not the recycling. Which would make recycled pulp a better choice for mine and most recycling areas. Even if they were to go in the recycling stream, we keep hearing recently that most of the plastics end up in landfills in China or elsewhere. What do I do?
November 22, 2018
We completely understand your predicament, Matthew. We're launching a takeback program for this very reason; to ensure that our cartons get recycled. Though we're still finalizing the program, we might be able to help you out if you have any of our cartons laying around. Do you mind sending us an email at [email protected]?
November 16, 2018
Thank you for taking the time to clear the confusion regarding plastic vs cardboard, styrofoam, and PET plastic, and to look for RPET (Recycled PET) instead.
November 17, 2018
Our pleasure, Dolores. As a B Corp, we wanted to base our decision on research. Thank you for taking the time to read about what we found!
November 11, 2018
You have not provided any real evidence or explanation why RPET is better for the environment than molded pulp. The latter uses no chemicals, creates a market for recycled cardboard, and is biodegradable. That seems a lot better and until you convince me otherwise I will avoid buying your eggs
November 12, 2018
Hi Robert, we would be more than happy to send you a copy of our third-party study. Do you mind sending us an email at [email protected]?
November 07, 2018
Thank you! I visited your site to find out why on the plastic cartons as well. As I love and buy your eggs and was a bit stymied by the packaging, now I know. Nice website too. Nancy Zi, gold beach oregon
November 08, 2018
Hi Nancy! We're so glad we could help to provide some information on our packaging and are delighted to hear that you are enjoying the website. Thanks for supporting our small family farms in Gold Beach, it's a lovely town, I've been there!
You can add our county to your list of areas that will not accept your cartons for recycling. We have been saving them waiting for your mail back program to start but might soon have to look elsewhere for our eggs. Seeing the amount of plastic piling up after a few months brings home the negative aspect of the plastic. Our preference would be paper pulp.
Hi Mike, we're still finalizing some logistics for the program but might be able to work something out for you this week so that we can take those cartons off your hands. Do you mind sending us an email at [email protected]?
November 05, 2018
This answered my question about the packaging. I'd like to add that I was surprised when I cracked open the first egg. I didn't expect such a fresh egg from the grocery store. I have raised chickens myself, and shop farmers markets. Your eggs are right up there with those.
Hi Susan! We're so delighted to hear that you are enjoying our eggs and that you took the time to reach out to us here. We're thankful to have earned your praise and will let our small family farmers know how much their hard work is appreciated!
October 18, 2018
Thanks for this article! My town has also just switched to recycling by shape and not number (only plastic bottles with the openings smaller than the bottom, odd) and I'm trying to figure out how to adjust my buying habits so I don't have to throw out any plastic. I would be THRILLED with a take-back program. Please keep us updated.
October 19, 2018
We absolutely will, Casie!
October 10, 2018
Portland OR Metro recycles plastic by shape NOT by number now, so it sounds like a NO according to this link. https://www.oregonmetro.gov/tools-living/garbage-and-recycling/recycling-home/plastic-recycling
October 12, 2018
Thank you for letting us know about this, Alyssa. Though it sounds like your local recycling center will no longer take our cartons, all is not lost: we're in the process of a developing a "take back" program that will allow folks like you to save and mail their cartons back to us (free of charge) to be recycled. We'll certainly keep our consumers in the loop as we finalize the logistics, but it sounds like this program might be of use to you. Please let us know if we can answer any questions in the meantime.
October 08, 2018
I’m glad you explained about your cartons. I was very upset when my daughter bought your eggs because of the plastic I suggest you put that information on the very top of your egg cartons. These days people In the San Francisco Bay area are really trying to not buy anything in plastic so having an explanation right in front will help you guys. By the way the eggs are delicious. Most people would probably not go to your website to find out the truth so I’m hoping this will be helpful.
We're really glad that the explanation helped you understand our decision, Rita. Thank you for taking the time to read about our cartons! We appreciate your feedback and will definitely look into including more information right on the paper inserts in the future.
October 02, 2018
It'd be nice if we could have access to the actual report so as to see the assumptions and calculations.
October 05, 2018
many plastics can no longer be recycled here In Eugene, Oregon. Can your container be?
Hey Kevin, our cartons are considered a #1 plastic which is one of the most widely accepted types. If your local recycling facility accepts #1 plastics, then they should indeed accept our cartons. If you'd like us to give them a call, please feel free to drop us a line at [email protected] - we're happy to confirm with them!
We would be happy to send a copy of the study your way, Tad! If you don't mind sending us an email at [email protected], we'll get that right out to you.
October 01, 2018
Not sure about something - you refer to the pulp cartons ending up in anaerobic landfills which I agree is a problem. Can’t you recycle the pulp ones with the mixed paper? If I have an option to buy eggs in cardboard boxes I always prefer it because I can recycle them that way (tearing off any parts that might be sullied by broken eggs, etc).
Absolutely, Karoline! Both pulp cartons and our RPET cartons can and should be recycled. However, in the event that either type of carton ends up in a landfill, neither will decompose over time. Though this is something we wish could be avoided 100% of the time, it does happen, and creates a lose-lose situation for the pulp carton with a higher carbon footprint. We hope this helps clarify!
September 30, 2018
You are probably right, at least for the average person. However, I treasure pulp cartons as we recycle them immediately. During the winter, they are used to kindle the fireplace. In the summer, they start the charcoal in the grill. I buy your product exclusively when I shop in town, but when I do my monthly major trip (to Trader Joe) I stock up on eggs in the pulp cartons. (one concession, I think that your eggs are better!) I also wanted to tell you about my other 2 gripes. I prefer X-large or jumbo eggs. Yours are rare and hard to find. Today our local market had X-L's on sale and I bought 6 dozen. (I use 2-3 dozen/week). Occasionally (once out of 3 dozen, I find eggs with pock mark fractures that look as though they are possibly from processing machinery. I do not use them as as prefer my eggs soft boiled.
We hear you, Gregory! Pulp cartons have many uses, and we completely understand why some folks might prefer them. Lots of our consumers have found that our cartons make really great storage containers for everything from holiday ornaments to office supplies, and they're perfect mini windowsill greenhouses. If there's anything we can do to get our extra large and jumbo eggs into more stores in your area, just give us a shout at [email protected] - we'd love to help!
I am very glad you sent us the email today linking to the article about WHY you use the plastic cartons. It is something that I've wondered about (because it did seem inconsistent with your values). I am glad to know the rationale behind using plastic. I'm pleased that you did commission a comparative environmental impact study for the different types of egg cartons. (I made a point of checking the carton for the recycling # when I first started buying your eggs, & I make a point of recycling them). And of course I selected your eggs in the first place because I feel assured of how the chicks are raised that are the sources of your eggs.
We're so glad that you found your way here, Beth. It sounds like you're a very environmentally-conscious and informed consumer, and we're so grateful for folks like you who encourage others to be the same way. Thank you for taking the time to read about all the research and thought that went into our carton design!
I will only buy your eggs and if the market has none left for the day, I come back later when they are back in stock. They are the best tasting eggs I have had in a long time. My great grandfather raised chickens and back then we never knew what an issue that raising them free range with a good diet would be...it was the norm for him. The yolks are golden, not yellow, and I taste no aftertaste I can tell the difference I make sure to recycle your packaging, but I feel compelled to let you know that on two occasions I found eggs that were cracked within the package. It did not deter me from buying again as the taste is that remarkable. I love your eggs and gladly have paid more for them. They make an excellent omelette and scrambled they are light and fluffy.
Thank you so much for the kind words, Jennifer. It truly means the world to us that you go to such great lengths to purchase our eggs at your local market. We're so sorry that you found a few cracked eggs, as we designed our cartons with this very issue in mind. If you don't mind sending us an email at [email protected] we would love to send you a few coupons to replace that carton!
September 29, 2018
I love your eggs, but was concerned about the plastic cartons. I am very happy to see that you have spent so much time and effort to address packaging. We are in a crisis with plastic recycling, as many of your commenters have noted, and of course it is the current hot topic in the news. Until we as a society can move beyond our addiction to plastic we must do our best to minimize its use. Can you re-use the plastic cartons? I would be very happy to send you a box of my used ones every few months or so if you will re-use them vs. recycle them. I do not trust that #1 clamshells will actually be recycled anywhere in the near future.
Hi Kim! Thanks for your thoughtful comment. For sanitation reasons, we unfortunately cannot reuse our cartons, but they can definitely be recycled and made into new products. We know that it's on all of us as individuals to recycle, and we believe it's our responsibility to continue educating consumers and encouraging everyone to take that extra step when it comes to our packaging (and all recyclable materials).
September 22, 2018
Your eggs are the best I've been able to buy since I raised my own years ago. We can no longer recycle any plastic, however, that is not #1 or #2. Your containers now go in the land fill. Please consider using pulp-paper. Whoops! Found the #1 finally. Sorry. Still like the thought of the paper pulp containers. Wonderful eggs!
September 24, 2018
Hi Elizabeth! It sounds like because they're a #1 plastic, your local recycling facility will indeed accept them (apologies if the #1 symbol was a bit difficult to find!). We appreciate the love and great feedback!
September 19, 2018
I am more concerned with chemicals and microbeads ending up in the ocean & water sources, than the carbon footprint. Seems like we can find a better carton option.
Hi Beth! We understand where you're coming from, but we do think that considering our carbon footprint is very important when looking at overall environmental impact of our cartons. We're committed to limiting carbon dioxide emissions because of the serious threats that climate change poses. It is also critical to keep chemicals and microbeads out of our oceans as well as our water sources, so we hope to continue to encourage all consumers to properly dispose of our cartons by recycling them. We're committed to innovative package design and will continue to research how to make the best packaging for our eggs.
I appreciate the information, but the assumption is that your packaging will be recycled once it gets to a facility. The numbers don’t bear this out. A minimal amount of the plastic put in to home recycling ever actually gets recycled. I would still by your eggs more often if they were in pulp packaging.
Hi Liz, thank you for taking the time to comment. Yes, we use 100% post-consumer recycled plastic to create our cartons, which puts the plastic surplus to good use. When they arrive at the facility, these number one plastics can be recycled with little trouble. Unfortunately, pulp packaging will not biodegrade in a landfill either and most consumers do not have the ability to properly dispose of those types of packages so that they will actually biodegrade. Our hope is that consumers will recycle their cartons and they will be properly dealt with at the facility.
September 04, 2018
Where can I recycle these? My local place won’t accept them. I don’t feel good chucking these into landfills. So, I’m not going to purchase any more of your eggs until I hear from you that there’s a place I can recycle the cartons.
Hi Michele, we're so sorry to hear that your local recycling facility will not accept #1 plastics. We're in the process of a "take back" program that will allow folks like you to mail their cartons back to us (free of charge) to be recycled. We'll certainly keep our consumers in the loop as we finalize the logistics, but it sounds like this program might be of use to you. We've also found that there can be some confusion out there regarding the type of plastic that our cartons are made from, and some recycling facilities that do accept #1 plastics simply don't realize that ours are in that category. If it helps, we would be more than happy to give your local recycling facility a call to see if this is the case. Feel free to send us an email at [email protected] if this sounds like it might be helpful.
I think mailing my cartons to you is not sustainable. GHG emissions for trucking a few egg cartons? My recycling facility will no longer accept "clamshell" plastics even if they are #1. You need to change your packaging ASAP. Your assumptions based on the study you site may have been true when China was still accepting this plastic but they don't now! Paper cartons please! Until you change I will have to buy another brand.
Hi Janelle, we hear you on this issue. We do think that the take-back program could be successful if many customers are saving the cartons and mailing them in occasionally. We believe that reducing our carbon footprint is the most important thing we can do to protect our environment. Most recycling facilities do accept our #1 plastics and we're sorry to hear that yours presently does not. Unfortunately, "biodegradable" cartons made of molded paper do not decompose any more effectively in a landfill than our plastic cartons. Thank you for your honest feedback and we'll continue to pay attention to all relevant research and design information to improve our cartons.
September 02, 2018
Thanks... I almost stopped buying your eggs until I read the info on your packaging and went to your website to learn more. I like that you are reviewing new information as well.
Thank you for your understanding and support, Nancy. We firmly believe in educating ourselves on this ever-changing issue whenever possible!
August 28, 2018
I’m not convinced that RPET is better. Of course if the plastic can be recycled forever, it would be a good thing. But, my understanding is that bad assumptions in LCA studies (life cycle assessment) can lead to misleading results. For example, did the study assume a 100% recycling rate? What if the actual rate were less? What if some percentage of the plastic waste winds up in landfills, but some in the ocean or tossed on the side of the road, etc.
That's a really important point, Steve. We'd love to send you a copy of the study so that you can look further into any assumptions made and let us know how we could incorporate more possible outcomes into our thinking. We do want to point out that even though molded paper cartons are typically biodegradable, it's a common misconception that they'll biodegrade in an anaerobic landfill environment. So although we would never want to see our cartons end up in a landfill, if they do, they are unfortunately no worse off than paper cartons in that same landfill. We hope this information has helped clarify our decision, and please let us know if you'd like us to send that study your way!
August 15, 2018
Amazing! Just this morning while cooking breakfast I wondered "Why plastic, Pete and Gerry?" And 3 minutes later I had my answer! Thank you for staying connected with consumers and for caring about our environment. Great eggs, great packaging, never a broken egg 👌
August 17, 2018
This is awesome, Maria. We're glad that you found the information to be helpful and easy to find, and thanks for the great feedback on our eggs and cartons alike!
We can't recycle any plastic except #2 now, at least here in Maine. Our transfer station says it has to do with China refusing the plastics they used to buy from us. I agree with the superiority of the see-through plastic for supermarket eggs, but what effect does it have on your analysis of environmental impact now that the plastic cartons are going into the waste stream?
Thanks for your comment, Carolyn. While there have certainly been some major recent changes when it comes to materials that can be exported to China, #1 plastics are still being recycled all over the country (and the world!), and we are working to ensure that our cartons are not ending up in the waste stream. We're in the very beginnings of starting a partnership with a "take back" program that will allow consumers to mail in their cartons free of charge so that they can be recycled. This will allow consumers all over the country - even those without access to a recycling center - to ensure that the cartons they purchase are being recycled and even upcycled in a closed-loop system. We'll have much more information in the coming months, but for now, we'd love to share some ideas for upcycling our cartons that our consumers have shared with us. At home, our cartons make great paint palettes, ornament storage, or even compartments for storing nails/screws, office supplies, or jewelry. Preschool programs and elementary schools sometimes use them for arts and crafts projects and storage. If you have a local farmer's market, egg farmers will sometimes repurpose our cartons (with the paper inserts removed, of course) to sell their own eggs. And finally, although they aren't biodegradable and shouldn't be planted directly into the ground, our cartons make fantastic mini windowsill greenhouses for seed starting. These are by no means long-term solutions, but we hope they'll help.
August 14, 2018
Well the containers suck and I have stopped buying your eggs because they always always always break in those stupid containers!
We're so sorry that you're not a big fan of our cartons, Abilene. We've found that they tend to protect the eggs better than molded paper pulp or Polystyrene, but we also know that cracked or broken eggs can happen now and then. We'd be more than happy to replace any cartons that you've been dissatisfied with if you don't mind sending us an email at [email protected]
July 30, 2018
Why did you decide not to use recycled molded pulp, if that had the lowest impact? I've been so glad to have access to free range organic eggs in my local supermarket, thanks to you guys, and I appreciate your explanations but am not clear on this part.
July 31, 2018
That's a great question, Margit! Ultimately, we decided that reusing the plastic that's already in circulation rather than letting it end up in landfills was the most responsible thing to do. It also came down to carton design and ease of use - we love that folks are able to flip the carton over (without worrying about the eggs jostling around, thanks to the tri-fold design) to check for cracked eggs before buying. Plus, the design and material tends to protect the eggs a bit better than others. We also love being able to showcase our farm families right on the carton, which we wouldn't be able to do as easily with paper pulp. We put a lot of thought and research into the choice, and we've been pleased with the outcome and positive feedback from consumers, but we're always open to change and improvement! We hope this explanation helps, and please don't hesitate to reach out any time with questions. Thank you for the support!
July 26, 2018
I recently bought a carton of eggs which says good until july 28th. How long will they last past that date?
July 27, 2018
Hi LeAnne, thanks for the question. The date on our cartons is typically a "use by" date, so we can't recommend that you consume our eggs beyond that date, as we can't guarantee their freshness. However, there's a clever trick that will give you a pretty good idea of how fresh expired eggs really are. If you fill a bowl with water and gently place the eggs in the water, you should be able to see if the eggs float or sink. If they float, you're better off tossing them; that's the sign of an older egg. If they sink, that's a pretty good indication that they're still fresh. We hope this helps!
January 17, 2018
April 19, 2019
