Evergreen Packaging® Launches National School Garden Contest; Promotes STEM-Based Learning, Awards more than $22,000 in Prizes

"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," says 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 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 percent 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 over 68 million U.S. households where facilities exist.

Visit www.carton2garden.com for additional details and official contest rules. A list of last year's winners can be found here, and past participants' experiences are highlighted in a new, shareable video.   

About Evergreen Packaging^®

Evergreen Packaging is a global leader in creating fiber-based packaging solutions customized to deliver product freshness and brand distinction. Evergreen Packaging is a vertically integrated packaging company, delivering total solutions of barrier paperboard, technical expertise, equipment and service.

Evergreen Packaging cartons have the eco-friendly attributes consumers want: more than 70 percent of the carton is made from paper derived from a renewable resource: trees. Cartons are also recyclable for an increasing number of households. In addition, our cartons are made with renewable energy – over 50% of the energy used to make the paper in our cartons comes from biomass.

About KidsGardening.org

Beginning with 50 youth garden grants in 1982, KidsGardening.org has reached an estimated 1.5 children and contributed close to $4.4 million dollars in funding to youth gardening initiatives across the U.S.  The national non-profit creates opportunities for kids to learn through the garden, engaging their natural curiosity and wonder by providing inspiration, know-how, networking opportunities, and top-rated curriculum and educational resources.  Believing that learning through gardening creates generations of kids connected to their food and community and engaged in nurturing a healthy planet, KidsGardening.org strives to make sure every child has the opportunity to learn and grow in a garden

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161110/437856

SOURCE Evergreen Packaging

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