PPC Celebrates National Paperboard Packaging Week

This year's inaugural National Paperboard Packaging Week (to be held April 20–26) focuses on the inherent sustainability of paperboard packaging. Members of the Paperboard Packaging Council (PPC) throughout the U.S. and Canada are celebrating the week by partnering with schools from their local communities to plant trees as part of the PPC's innovative TICCIT (Trees Into Cartons Cartons Into Trees) program.

TICCIT, pronounced "ticket," is an outreach and education program highlighting the natural renewability and sustainability of paperboard packaging. At the center of TICCIT is a mainstay of the typical school day: the milk carton. As part of TICCIT, milk cartons will be collected out of schools’ waste streams and re-used for planting new trees. Seeds and saplings will be planted in the cartons, using the cartons to provide protection and a natural "water funnel" for the new trees.

"TICCIT is a great way to celebrate the first-ever National Paperboard Packaging Week," said Ben Markens, PPC president. "The program creates a hands-on experience that illustrates the sustainable benefits of paperboard packaging in a fun, interactive way for our members and the students."

Although it is the pilot year for the TICCIT program, PPC members have created a solid series of events in local communities throughout the U.S. and Canada.

"As always, our members have worked really hard and their effort will make this first year of TICCIT a success," Markens said. "TICCIT programs of all sizes will bring our members closer to their communities while extending the positive messages of paperboard packaging. We can’t ask for more than that."

Once all events are completed, participating PPC members plan to assemble a "best practices" report to facilitate even greater success next year. Highlights from this year’s programs will be available soon at www.ppcnet.org.