How we take sustainability into account in our packaging designs
Reduce, reuse, recycle
When optimising packaging, material usage, reuse and recycling play a key role. The ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’ approach addresses these three areas. The aim is to use materials in line with actual needs, to reuse packaging as many times as possible, and to consider how it can be recycled after use.
We also follow this approach. Our aim is to find the optimal packaging solution for your products using tailor-made concepts. We would be happy to show you the options available for reducing material usage, reusing packaging multiple times and taking its recyclability into account.
Avoid over-packaging
Reduce
When optimising packaging, the right quality and quantity of material are key factors, alongside the material itself. A thorough packaging check often provides starting points for saving material without having to compromise on quality and protection. The principle is: as much as necessary, but as little as possible.
There is potential here:
Adjusting the size
Find the optimum ratio between as few packaging variants as possible and the smallest possible packaging for each product.
Change of material
Switching from plastic to paper can be one way of reducing the use of plastic in your packaging. However, the choice of material should always be tailored to the product and its intended use. Depending on the application, for example, air cushions may require less material than paper-based cushioning solutions.
Customisation of quality
When goods are shipped on pallets, stretch film is the material of choice. But did you know that with stretch film, a lot of μ does not always mean a lot of performance? High-performance films often offer more protection with less material.
Adjustment of the packaging machines
Sometimes a smaller paper cushion or one less wrap on the pallet is enough to protect your products reliably.
Using reusable packaging
Reuse
Reusable packaging is a good way to utilise packaging more efficiently. This can mean that you use the packaging several times in the same process or use it for other purposes. In the same process, this requires a closed loop in which the packaging is returned, possibly recycled and reused. For other uses, the stability of the packaging is crucial, such as for wooden crates or paper cushions.
We can analyse your processes and show you where you can use reusable packaging sensibly. There are often more options than you think.
Use recyclable packaging and utilise recycled materials
Recycle
The recycling approach becomes important when packaging can no longer be reused. As this is bound to happen sooner or later with all packaging, it makes sense to consider disposal even before the product is first used. You can choose products made from recycled materials or those that can be recycled again – often both options are available.
Single-material solutions can make it easier to sort materials by type, thereby creating favourable conditions for recycling. Depending on the material, the quality retained during reprocessing may vary to a greater or lesser extent.
