In an effort to save on packing costs and materials, Hormel Foods Corp. announced new packaging projects aimed to reduce the amount of shipping materials and waste use each year.

Such projects continue a movement that saw the company reduce project packaging by 5.2 million pounds in 2008.

“Our new initiatives build on about 40 packaging reduction projects completed in 2008 and reflect the way we continuously look for means to improve the packaging of our products and reduce our environmental footprint,” said Daniel S. Miller, research and development manager of packaging development at Hormel Foods. “In this process, we work with our suppliers to find innovative solutions.”

In Jennie-O Turkey Store, Hormel projects annual paperboard savings of more than 175,000 pounds by adjusting the room in burger cartons.

By eliminating a paper sleeve on Lloyd’s barbecue tubs, Hormel will save more than 660,000 pounds of paper fiber each year. That will eliminate enough solid waste to fill 22 garbage trucks.

By reducing the thickness of Hormel bacon bits jars, the company expects to save on 411,000 pounds of materials.

Hormel’s microwavable meals Compleats will be shipped in reconfigured boxes, resulting in 23 percent decrease in corrugate packaging materials. That’s an annual material savings of 1.2 million pounds. Another change, which includes adjusting the size of carton flaps, resulted in saving more than 980 million pounds of solid waste.

Redesigned packaging on Hormel party trays eliminated the need for shrink wrap, which will save about 100,000 pounds each year. Smaller corrugated cases will save more than 174,000 pounds of materials each year.

Canned food products will be shipped more efficiently, reducing the number of pallets needed each year by 14,573.

Shipping boxes for pork ribs, buts and bone-in were changed to save 2.4 million pounds of corrugated materials.

By using smaller boxes to ship pepperoni, Hormel can ship more product on each pallet. This will reduce the number of pallets used and save about 188,000 pounds of wood fiber and 49,000 pounds of corrugated each year.