Photo: Trulieve
One of the biggest challenges facing the cannabis industry in the realm of sustainability is the amount of packaging waste created by the regulated sales of cannabis products. The juxtaposition of sustainability and security creates a waste crisis in most regulated cannabis markets due to the incredible amount of secure cannabis packaging that is dumped into landfills after a single use.
While some states prohibit the recycling of cannabis packaging by the effect of their secure waste disposal and packaging/product return regulations, there is a strong need for this service in the industry in order to help counteract the impact that cannabis operators can have on the climate and the planet.
Research is somewhat thin, but according to an MIC publication, “American industry insiders say they sell over a billion units of product every year, which likely translates to thousands of tons of plastic packaging.” Even more important, due to safety requirements, the type of packaging used often weighs four to 30 times its contents. A single gram of cannabis has been found to be packaged in 70 grams of plastic packaging.
Trulieve Cannabis Corp., a co-founding member of the Sustainable Cannabis Coalition (SCC), is unique in its commitment to honoring the planet we all call home. In 2021, Trulieve identified joining SCC as an opportunity to help create a space for cannabis industry leaders to come together to showcase best practices and encourage peers to elevate the importance of sustainability within their own organizations. Trulieve also released a groundbreaking Sustainability Review in 2020 which led to its inaugural Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) report in 2021, the first of its kind in the cannabis space. Trulieve also hosts its own internal ESG Committee, as well as a Corporate Environmental Responsibility Subcommittee, and recently hired a new Director of ESG and Diversity Equity and Inclusion.
The TruRecycle Program
Born from these efforts, the Trulieve team identified a major gap in the Florida market, where the company has more than 110 dispensaries (as of March 31, 2022): a secure channel through which patients could recycle used medical cannabis product packaging. With the help of expert Operational and Compliance Departments, Trulieve identified a renowned global partner and began discussions of how to best implement such a program. After months of discussion and the successful submission and granting of a variance from the Florida Department of Health, Trulieve was able to implement a groundbreaking packaging recycling program, TruRecycle, in the massive 700,000+ patient market in the Sunshine State. Through this unprecedent effort in the cannabis industry, Trulieve has helped to recycle almost 5,000 pounds of packaging recycling waste since the program’s inception.
The TruRecycle program allows patients to return select container types to any Trulieve dispensary location in the State of Florida, so long as they are empty, clean, free of labels, and clear of residue. Patients return packages in-store and staff are available to help guide them through the process. Once returned, packages remain in Zero Waste Boxes at the dispensaries until they are shipped to Trulieve’s recycling partner. Even during shipment, the program utilizes a UPS Carbon Neutral shipping partner to offset carbon emissions. Both store staff and patients have reported that the process is simple, user-friendly, and efficient.
According to company representatives, the goals for the program are simple. Trulieve strides to make a positive impact on the environment and lead by example, giving patients access to important programs and improving corporate environmental responsibility initiatives, all while engaging employees and elevating the brand experience.
Trulieve is actively engaged in research and communication with regulators around the country to implement similar programs in other jurisdictions outside of Florida. If cannabis packaging recycling is prohibited in effect by your jurisdiction’s regulations, it is probably time to advocate for a reasonable and responsible policy change or variance to those requirements. SCC can provide resources to aid you in accomplishing these goals to allow for this important change.