Two longstanding packaging companies announced a partnership to reduce plastic use in the produce industry. Boston-based Arrowfarms has made a commitment to using Kwik Lok’s plant-based Eco-Lok bag closure on its poly bags, reducing the amount of petroleum-based plastic used in packaging.

Yakima, WA-based Kwik Lok released its Eco-Lok product earlier this year, utilizes a resin made from renewable plant-based carbohydrates like corn and potatoes. It emits fewer greenhouse gases in production compared to traditional closures and reduces the amount of petroleum-based plastic used overall.

“We are very excited to be one of the first companies to adopt the new Eco-Lok,” said Jaina Cipriano of Arrowfarms. “This is a very important step for us into a more sustainable future.”

The new Eco-Lok product is formulated with a plant-based biopolymer called NuPlastiQ that requires up to 20 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions to produce than standard plastic bag closures. Eco-Lok maintains the qualities of existing Kwik Lok plastic closures — they are printable, reusable and metal detector compatible.

“Arrowfarms and Kwik Lok have been working together for decades,” Cipriano said. “We are excited to partner with another long standing, family-owned company that cares as deeply as we do about reducing plastics and supporting sustainability in the industry.”

Arrowfarms plans to achieve its plastics reduction goals by working with long-time suppliers like Kwik Lok to find innovative solutions. In addition to making the switch to the Eco-Lok, Arrowfarms is using less plastic by reducing the thickness and size of its full wrap onion bags and introducing the option for a NuPlastiQ poly bag.

To achieve its own sustainability goals, Kwik Lok is working to reduce its portfolio-wide energy usage by 20 percent by 2025 and has already saved more than 1 million kWh in energy since completing building renovations and operational upgrades in 2015. In addition to the Eco-Lok product, Kwik Lok has also developed Kwik Link, which replaces plastic bags and other packaging to bind produce together using a simple elastic tie. When used with an Eco-Lok this form of packaging is a very environmentally friendly choice for the produce industry. Kwik Lok has also released the 912 Laser Printer, which eliminates the use of ink, solvents and other waste.