NORCROSS, GA – Unisource Worldwide, Inc. one of the leading distributors of paper, packaging and facility supplies in North America, has won a 2009 Greener Packaging Award for its environmentally-friendly sustainable packaging product.

Unisource and its customer, Green Toys, Inc., of San Francisco, CA, partnered to create a 100 percent recyclable corrugated box packaging for a range of toys.  Green Toys makes a line of classic children's toys constructed from recycled plastic and other environmentally-friendly materials.  The company is dedicated to manufacturing toys that reduce fossil fuel use and lessen greenhouse gas emissions, improving the overall health and happiness of the planet.

"It is an honor to be selected as a winner of a 2009 Greener Packaging Award and a testament to our capabilities that we were able to provide a sustainable packaging solution that fit the criteria set forth by our customer," said Tom Pitera, President of Strategic Solutions for Unisource.  "Green Toys is committed to providing environmentally sound toy products to the marketplace and we are happy that our partnership is being recognized by the industry."

The toys – including tea sets, trucks, sandbox play sets, and jump ropes, to name a few – are made from 100 percent recycled milk containers.  Unisource created 100 percent recyclable corrugated boxes and plastic-free inserts to package the toys.  Neither the toys nor the packaging contain traceable amounts of phthalates or external coatings.

The package designs by Unisource require a minimal material footprint and use recycled board and soy-based inks.  By optimizing shipping-cube efficiencies and working with a local core packaging materials supplier, Unisource also was able to minimize shipping costs and distances, further reducing the overall carbon footprint. The easy-to-assemble and easy-to-open packaging, made from 100 percent recyclable kraft corrugated e-flute board, is earth-friendly and recycling bin-ready.

The Greener Package Awards, presented by Greener Package, a knowledge exchange for sustainable packaging, are North America's only independent, neutral, sustainable packaging awards competition not affiliated with any supplier or company.