Network member Logistik developed an eco-friendly and Innovation Award-winning milkweed insulation material to update an existing Northern Parka in Canada Post’s wardrobe, a solution that was both more high-performance and environmentally friendly than the synthetic insulation previously used.

Vegeto, which is the brand name for the milkweed insulation, is a 100% plant-based solution and provides a top-quality alternative to animal or synthetic materials. While many have previously tried to implement its use, milkweed remains uncommon on a large scale due to the expertise needed to produce it.

The milkweed plant, from which the key fiber is drawn, is an important part of Canada’s  native and natural vegetation and is the sole host plant for Monarch butterfly caterpillars. Using Vegeto therefore not only reduces the use of synthetic and animal materials but also enhances the environmental conditions for the struggling monarch butterfly.

The Northern parka design had already been trialed, approved and adopted by the Canada Post employees. Following a very successful field trial on the milkweed insulation with a hundred mail carriers, Canada Post decided to offer the new material option to its entire workforce. It also chose to display a logo identifying the milkweed material on its parkas to communicate the innovation to the public.

The entry process for the 2024 Innovation Awards as well as NAUMD’s other recognition programs will open late fall.  Check the website and keep reading The Pulse for updates.