Operating Officer,
Mark Barnett with the
Tru-Green envelopes
Award-winning procurement and fulfilment company The Consortium is pioneering a radical new envelope – produced from bananas.
The Wiltshire-based organisation, which has a long-running commitment to sustainability and the
environment, has developed the Tru-Green envelope using natural crop fibres.
It is developing Tru-Green with inventor Prakash Korde, whose company Valueform specialises in
producing packaging and other items from biodegradable plant materials for launch onto the UK market
in the summer.
Tru-Green has several features which help the environment, at the same time benefiting poor
and rural communities in developing countries, including:
- Crop fibre padding made from jute, the growing and harvesting of which provides income to thousands
of people in north-east India and involves minimal processing; by contrast, current padded envelopes use
plastic padding made from plastic granules produced from an ever depleting source – oil
- Designs which lend themselves to using other crop fibres and plant waste found in many poorer regions of the world - providing employment where most needed; by contrast, the current plastic padded envelopes on the market go to land fill and because the plastic is joined to the paper, cannot be separated for proper recycling
Mark Barnett, Chief Operating Officer at The Consortium, which employs 250 people and turns over £40 million
at its 100,000 sq ft office and warehouse complex in Trowbridge, says the new envelope is currently being tested.
“In our search to find products that are truly different and offer a really innovative approach to being
sustainable we came across a company looking for a partner to develop a new line of envelopes,” says Mr Barnett,
who is a leading authority on sustainable development through his involvement with the UN’s Global Compact.
“The main criterion is to have a design that is made from biodegradable and compostible materials that are,
where possible, renewed by nature. Minimal processing of these materials to make the end product is the other
important aim to save on energy costs.
“In the life cycle of the product from raw material to manufacturing, subsequent despatch to customer and its
post use disposal, our aim is to minimise transport costs to reduce carbon emissions. In fact, while the product
is currently being manufactured overseas, there is potential to work with farmers in the UK who produce waste
natural crop fibres, which will make the whole process even more sustainable by removing the need to transport
it long distances.
“We expect the fulfilment of the above will lead to a truly green product - hence the brand name ‘Tru-Green.’
The Consortium has a multi-million pound web business and an established position as the UK market leader in
schools supplies.
It is currently using its successful ‘Buying Made Easy’ formula to target the UK’s care homes, with its new
specially focused care catalogue. The 350-page catalogue features more than 3,500 care products, such as
disposable gloves and aprons, living aids, stationery and art and craft materials.