AE Global, a provider of packaging solutions, has extended its collaboration with rePurpose Global to offer a sustainability programme.

The initiative aims to reduce packaging costs and also fund the cleanup of ocean-bound plastic.

This collaboration enables AE Global to provide customers with certified 'Plastic Negative' or 'Plastic Neutral' packaging solutions, aligning with the growing consumer demand for eco-friendly products and helping to build brand trust.

The Plastic Neutral certification ensures that for every package produced by AE Global, an equivalent amount of plastic is removed from the environment by rePurpose Global.

On the other hand, the Plastic Negative certification signifies that more than double the plastic used in the packaging is retrieved from nature.

Prior to formalising this partnership, rePurpose Global had already recovered 383,932lbs of ocean-bound plastic with funding from AE Global, which is comparable to eliminating nearly 9.6 million plastic bottles from the environment.

The partnership also introduces Talk Trash, a communication platform powered by Small Circle, to allow AE Global's customers to showcase their environmental impact.

Through Talk Trash, brands can leverage marketing tools and feature Plastic Negative or Plastic Neutral seals on their packaging to demonstrate their commitment to sustainability credibly.

The collaboration between AE Global and rePurpose Global reportedly offers a scalable and replicable model for businesses looking to address the plastic crisis without compromising on operational efficiency.

AE Global's vertically integrated supply chain ensures that these eco-conscious packaging solutions remain cost-effective, customisable, and widely accessible across various industries.

AE Global managing partner Mike Forenza said: “Our customers care about impact. Partnering with rePurpose Global allows us to confidently guide our packaging customers to a sustainability strategy that is verifiable, scalable, and affordable.

“As a third-party user of rePurpose Global’s services for two years, we’ve seen the impressive work they do first-hand. Now as RePurpose Global’s official packaging partner, we’re eager to get more businesses involved in the winnable fight against the plastic in our waterways and oceans.”

AE Global recently merged with Acorn East to enhance its industrial packaging capabilities.