Eden Foods Garners ‘Friends of Glass’ Packaging Award

Eden Foods has received a “Friend of Glass” award from the Glass Packaging Institute (GPI) in the Best Friend of Glass category The award was revealed during Recycle Glass Month in September.

“Through the Friends of Glass recognition, GPI honors those companies, organizations, and individuals making significant and innovative efforts to promote or participate in glass container recycling for bottle-to-bottle use,” noted the Washington-based institute. The categories in which the awards are given are Website, Hospitality, Industry, Legislator, Community or Organization, and Best Friend of Glass -- this last designation bestowed on companies that "demonstrate loyalty to and promote the benefits of using and recycling glass."

The award recognized Eden’s decision this year to package its organic crushed tomatoes and sauces in protective amber glass. The items are the only tomatoes in the United States to be offered in such packaging, which protects the flavor and nutrients from light damage. Clinton, Mich.-based Eden switched to amber glass to avoid the bisphenol-A (BPA) content often found in canned tomatoes.

Glass packaging is also used for all Eden organic fruit sauces, butters and juices; condiments; soy sauces; and oils and vinegars. Following exhaustive research, the company selected glass as the most environmentally friendly and pragmatic of all packaging materials.