Sana unveils third-gen ocean-retrieved cannabis tubes to propel pre-mass production circularity

08 Dec 2020 --- Sana Packaging, an environmentally sustainable cannabis packaging manufacturer, is releasing the third edition of its pre-roll tubes, made entirely from reclaimed ocean plastic.

The new pre-roll tube, dubbed Sana Ocean Tube 116, is created with 25 percent less material than its previous designs, enabling a 30 percent cost saving for customers.

The company says its circular cannabis packaging presents an important example to a rapidly growing industry producing an increasing amount of waste. 

“The US cannabis industry already produces billions of units of packaging waste per year. With that said, it’s hard to truly quantify the magnitude of how much cannabis packaging waste is being created due to the lack of data,” James Eichner, co-founder and CSO of Sana Packaging, tells PackagingInsights. 

Eichner outlines the three main drivers in Sana’s “love for working in cannabis from a packaging perspective.”

1. Cannabis is an emerging industry with diverse packaging needs, making it possible for a sustainable packaging brand like Sana to thrive.
2. The cannabis industry has an exceptionally high willingness to pay for sustainable packaging materials than more traditional industries.
3. The cannabis industry provides a unique opportunity to implement sustainable and circular packaging practices from the grassroots level.

Sana Ocean Tube 116 is the third edition of the company’s 100% ocean retrieved cannabis tubes.While statistics on packaging in the nascent cannabis industry have not yet been properly compiled, Eichner points to data elsewhere in the packaging landscape as an admonishment to the industry. 

“The US has created over 8.3 billion metric tons of plastic since we began mass-producing plastics in the 1950s. Only nine percent has been recycled. In contrast, 79 percent ended up in landfills or our natural environment.”

Going circular in the cannabis industry
Cannabis packaging created by Sana has so far removed over 58 tons of waste from the ocean, says Eichner. 

The company is currently working on metrics regarding improved shoreline and energy savings compared to virgin plastic use. 

On average, reclaimed plastic results in roughly 80 percent lower energy output than plastics, according to Sana Packaging.

“Ultimately, our goal at Sana Packaging is to move cannabis packaging away from a linear ‘take-make-dispose’ economic model,” says Eichner. 

“We want to move towards a circular economy model that’s meant to eliminate waste and pollution, keep products and materials in use and regenerate our natural systems.”James Eichner (left) and Ron Basak-Smith, co-founders of Sana Packaging.

Sana’s reclaimed ocean packs 
“We source our reclaimed ocean plastic in partnership with Oceanworks, a global marketplace for reclaimed ocean materials. One of the largest value-adds Oceanworks provides is the verification that we’re sourcing pure materials,” continues Eichner.

“This ensures the reclaimed ocean plastics we source can re-enter the proper waste streams at the end of their useful lives.”

All the ocean materials used are certified by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and are either made from HDPE or PP. 

“Reclaimed ocean plastic” is defined by Sana as including any plastic waste collected in any community within 50 km of the shoreline or in waterways or rivers that would eventually lead to the ocean. 

Material washed up on North American shorelines, adjacent areas of the coastline or the high seas are also used. 

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation estimates by 2050 there will be more plastic in the oceans than fish. 

By Louis Gore-Langton