Calmond Valley Launches Sustainable Packaging Initiative

A Commitment to Responsible Packaging

Packaging is often the last thing buyers think about when sourcing almonds — but at Calmond Valley, it's something we've been rethinking from the ground up. Today, we're proud to announce the full rollout of our Sustainable Packaging Initiative, a multi-year program that transforms how we package and ship almonds to buyers around the world.

The initiative reduces our reliance on virgin plastic by 60%, introduces certified compostable liner bags for retail-ready packs, and transitions our bulk export packaging to materials containing a minimum of 40% post-consumer recycled content.

Why Packaging Matters

The almond industry ships hundreds of thousands of tonnes of product globally each year, much of it wrapped in multi-layer plastic films, polypropylene woven bags, and shrink-wrapped pallets. These materials are functional, but they generate significant waste at every stage of the supply chain — from our facility to the importer's warehouse to the end retailer.

As buyers in Europe, Japan, and North America face tightening regulations on single-use plastics and packaging waste, we recognized an opportunity to get ahead of these requirements — and to offer our customers packaging solutions that align with their own sustainability commitments.

What We've Changed

Our packaging transformation covers several key areas:

• Bulk Export Bags — Transitioning from virgin polypropylene to woven bags incorporating 40–50% recycled fiber content, with kraft paper liner options available.
• Retail-Ready Inner Packs — Replacing conventional PE bags with PLA-based compostable bags certified to EN 13432 and ASTM D6400 standards.
• Pallet Wrapping — Moving from standard stretch film to recycled-content stretch wrap, reducing plastic per pallet by over 30%.
• Labels and Print Materials — Switching to water-based inks and FSC-certified paper across all export documentation and labeling.

Supplier and Partner Collaboration

This initiative didn't happen in isolation. We worked with our packaging suppliers to co-develop materials that meet our performance requirements without compromising on sustainability. Almond bags must protect against moisture, pests, and oxidation over long shipping journeys — no small engineering challenge when moving away from conventional plastics.

We've also engaged our logistics partners to optimize pallet configurations, reducing the total number of pallets per shipment and lowering the packaging material required per tonne of almonds shipped.

Buyer Benefits

Beyond the environmental impact, our sustainable packaging delivers tangible benefits to buyers:

• Compliance documentation for EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) requirements
• Reduced packaging disposal costs for importers and distributors
• Consumer-ready packaging that supports on-shelf sustainability messaging
• Full traceability of packaging material origins and certification status

Our Next Steps

By the end of next year, we aim to achieve 80% plastic-free packaging across all product lines. We're currently trialing fully recyclable metallized paper pouches for premium gift and specialty retail formats, and exploring closed-loop packaging return programs with select European partners.

Sustainable packaging is not just a box to check — it's a signal to buyers, retailers, and end consumers that Calmond Valley takes its environmental responsibility seriously at every point in the supply chain. We invite our partners to join us on this journey.