Fillmore Container is Committed to a Sustainable Future

Fillmore Container is committed to a sustainable future for our customers, community, and planet. We prioritize environmentally friendly practices in every aspect of our operations, from packaging materials and processes to product sourcing, even water runoff & land management. By making conscious choices, we aim to contribute positively to the world and inspire our customers to do the same.

Solar Power

Our most recent and significant sustainability initiative is the completion of a full solar array on our rooftop. When we began planning our new facility several years ago, we were grateful to have had the opportunity to work closely with the engineers at ProDC to ensure our structure was built to handle the extra weight of a solar installation. Thanks to the team at US Solar Development, we successfully activated the first phase of the array in June 2022, followed by the second phase in the summer of 2024. Today, our 1,292 panels make up 31,000 square feet of 627 kW solar harvesting surface. It produces more than twice the energy our operations require, making a substantial contribution to our commitment to environmental stewardship.

During the sunniest months, the panels also serve as shade on our metal roof, helping to reduce the rate at which our warehouse needs to turn on the A.C., further reducing our energy use.

Electric In-House Fleet

To reduce our emissions and protect our facility’s air quality, our entire fleet of forklifts and tow motors are powered by electricity. They can be charged during non-peak time and are well maintained and serviced regularly to ensure that they continue to operate safely and effectively as well as provide a healthier working environment for our staff.

Green Packaging:

Biodegradable Peanuts made In-House for us and for you!

In 2014, we made the choice to invest in the machinery to manufacture our own plant-based packing peanuts in-house. This is the loose fill our team uses for cushioning items in the ground orders they pack. That decision has allowed us to drastically reduce our carbon footprint by eliminating the need for regular deliveries of plastic-packaged peanuts, to an occasional delivery of the very compact raw materials that we now use to make our own packing peanuts. This strategic move helped us reduce packaging waste, streamline our operations, and enabled us to offer these earth-friendly packing peanuts to our customers. While we do encourage our customers to re-use the peanuts they receive with their orders, the plant-based peanuts are completely biodegradable & compostable and are easy to dispose of when needed. These are available in large cartons for shipping or in our traditional bags for our pick-up customers.

Re-Purposed Cardboard Cushioning

In 2023, we continued to expand our sustainable practices by investing in machinery that transforms clean cardboard into accordion-cut cushioning. This material is not only used in-house but is also available for purchase. Our top-grade cardboard cushioning (consistent width & weight) is packed in re-purposed cartons for purchase, and the lower grade (inconsistent width & weight) is for our internal use. We are taking a proactive step towards a more sustainable future by diverting significant pounds of perfectly clean corrugated cardboard from the recycling stream.

The cardboard re-purposing & re-using has allowed us to reduce the frequency of recycling pick-ups.

Recycled, Recyclable & Re-Used Packaging

All the boxes used to package your ground packages are recyclable, and many are re-used. We prioritize reusing boxes whenever we can. While some boxes may not meet UPS standards for shipping, they find new life in our operations. Because we want to make sure your order gets to you intact our Fillmore Container-branded boxes are constructed of durable corrugated cardboard that exceeds UPS standards. In addition, the cartons we bring in for shipping and bulk product repacking contain recycled materials.

For palletized orders, we sort and re-use slip sheets and slip covers from inbound bulk products. This practice enables us to divert tons of corrugate, plastic sheets, and cardboard from the dumpster each year. Our accordion cut cushioning is used to help keep jugs of fragrance and Diffusol from shifting in the loose fill packaging.

We also use re-purpose boxes that aren’t ideal for shipping and re-use air pillows and paper cushioning, along with our in-house accordion cut cushioning to pack small items for pick-up orders safely. These items accumulate from samples we receive and from our team, who divert the materials from their home refuse. (It’s shocking how much packaging the typical household receives in a year!)

Fragrance Oil and Diffusol™ Containers

We are committed to a sustainable future even after our products have left our facility! The amber glass we use for our fragrances and Diffusol™ diffuser base are both recyclable or reusable if cleaned. The jugs we use for larger quantities of oils and diffuser base are made of HDPE and are also recyclable. The glass and the plastic containers can be reused for holding smaller amounts of fragrances for smaller projects or to hold your custom blends that you’ve formulated.

To clean these containers, remove as much of the initial fragrance as possible by letting the container sit upside down on absorbent material like paper towels or newspaper. After you’ve removed as much oil as you can, carefully pour some isopropyl alcohol into the jar/jug (enough to cover the surface), cap it tightly, and gently shake it to cover the inside surface. Then, unscrew the lid and allow the contents to drip onto absorbent material again. Wipe down the lid, and any drips and allow it to dry out. Once it’s dry, it can be used again for a related purpose.

Riparian Buffer and Water Retention

We have two water retention zones to encourage rainwater to enter into the water table. Both of these have native plants, shrubs and trees along with a special grass mix designed for success in these areas. The small stream that cuts through our property is lined with a riparian buffer and a zone that is only mowed a couple of times a year to encourage growth and to minimize habitat disturbances. Plantings all around the property were chosen with pollinators and berry eaters in mind.

Fillmore Container is committed to a sustainable future by making positive impacts on the environment. Through our sustainable practices, from using solar power to manufacturing biodegradable packing peanuts, we strive to reduce our carbon footprint and minimize waste. We encourage our customers to join us in this journey by reusing and recycling packaging materials whenever possible. Together, we can create a more sustainable future for ourselves and future generations.