Coco-Zen - Fair Trade Certified Chocolate Truffles

Planet & People: Recycling 101

Recycling Coco-Zen Packaging
We've gotten a few questions on how our packaging should be recycled. So, below we've put together a few guidelines that should be applicable in most US cities and communities with recycling programs.

PAPER:

	The hang tags and new label "sleeves" should be removed from the tins and placed with other paper recyclables.
	Corrugated cardboard boxes (shipment boxes & Bulk Truffle boxes) should be broken down and placed with other paper recyclables. Be sure that there are NO FOOD particles or any soiling from the chocolates, as this makes the cardboard not recyclable.
	Glassine candy cups, sheets and pads are the thin brown pieces of paper used inside most of our tins and boxes to protect the truffles (Truffles-To-go, Truffles-To-Give, Party Favors, Bulk Truffles). Because these come into direct contact with the chocolates, most are likely soiled by the chocolate and cannot be recycled. If NOT soiled, they can be recycled with other paper. Glassine paper is, however, biodegradable. So the ideal method is to compost – soiled or not. *Did you know that paper CANNOT be recycled if it is soiled (contaminated) with food. All those pizza boxes and stained coffee cups you've been putting in the recycle bin – NOT RECYCLABLE!!

CLEAR CELLULOSE BAGS:

The clear cellulose bags used for our Chocolate-On-A-Stick, Chocolate Disks and other seasonal items are both biodegradable and recyclable - these are NOT plastic bags. Cellulose is the primary component of plant cell walls – completely natural and nontoxic. Either compost the bag or wash out any food particles and recycle with other PAPER.

*Do NOT recycle the cellulose bags with plastic.

METAL:
We designed our containers to be reusable and hope that most of you will choose to do so, as this is the the more planet friendly choice. However, if you choose to recycle:

	Truffles-To-Go, Everyday Truffles and Party Favor tins are actually steel cans. These cans can be recycled with your other metal recyclables. Simply remove the paper sleeves (recycle with paper), and be sure to rinse out any food particles.
	Truffles-To-Give tiffens are made of stainless steel which is 100% recyclable. Please check with your community's recycling program to see if stainless steel needs to be separated out from other recyclable metals. Most likely you will not need to, but there are exceptions in some places. Again you should first rinse out any food particles before recycling.

For more information on recycling various materials, visit our Resources & Links page.

Go Back