Evergreen Packaging, Memphis, Tenn., USA, with support from KidsGardening.org, as launched the third annual Carton 2 Garden contest, a nation-wide competition inviting PreK-12 students to repurpose milk and juice cartons to build creative gardens or enhance their schools' existing garden. The Carton 2 Garden Program facilitates hands-on teaching, and offers schools that demonstrate the best use of cartons in a school garden the chance to win one of 14 prizes with a grand prize valued at $5,000. This initiative underscores Evergreen Packaging's commitment to promoting sustainable practices, fresh products, and helping people make choices that benefit their healthy lifestyle goals. 

 

 

"Hundreds of schools across the country have already participated in the Carton 2 Garden Program, providing thousands of students hands-on experience with gardening, creativity, and sustainability that inspires impactful learning and healthy lifestyle choices," said Katie Simmons, marketing manager at Evergreen Packaging. "By partnering with KidsGardening.org we're able to provide students with gardening advice, learning materials, and comprehensive entry kits that tie into STEM-based learning and help promote recycling, sustainable packaging, and a focus on fresh foods and beverages."

Schools can compete to win prize packages, valued up to $5,000, by repurposing empty milk and juice cartons in their school gardens, which will be judged based on creativity and sustainability. One grand prize winner ($5,000); three specialty prize winners ($2,500 each), one each for STEM learning, Health & Nutrition and Sustainability; five elementary school winners ($1,000 each); and five middle or high school winners ($1,000 each) will be chosen. The deadline for submissions is April 12, 2017.   

"This contest really brings out the best in students and teachers around the country," said Kids gardening Executive Director Emily Shipman. "It's such a pleasure to see the entries grow more innovative each year, integrating sustainability, STEM, and nutrition education with garden-based learning. We're impressed with the continued creativity and resourcefulness of the Carton 2 Garden participants and are grateful to Evergreen for rewarding these efforts." 

This program also reminds eco-aware consumers to seek out responsible packaging choices like cartons, which come from a renewable resource. Evergreen Packaging's FreshHouse™ cartons are made from more than 70% paper, which comes from trees from forests where responsible forestry practices are used and overall growth exceeds harvest. FreshHouse cartons help ensure product freshness by protecting flavor, nutrients, and vitamins, and cartons are recyclable for more than 68 million U.S. households where facilities exist. 

 

Additional details and official contest rules are available online, as is a list of last year's winners http://carton2garden.com/inspiration/contest-winners.