Sustainable packaging closes the loop on plastic waste

More and more Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) companies and retailers have made sustainable development a strategic priority and announced new commitments to address both climate change and plastic waste. Particularly, single-use packaging is in the spotlight. According to the third annual Checking Out On Plastics report, almost 900,000 tonnes of plastic packaging had passed through the tills of the 10 biggest UK retailers.

Producers, industrials, retailers rethink their packaging systems by removing single-use ones and know that in the longer run, a ‘closed loop’ recycling system is infinitely more environmentally sustainable than single-use alternatives. According to Lansink’s Ladder, reuse is the best option, after prevention. The future is in reuse and it needs to be a big part of how grocery retailers do business, experts say.

In this context, the players in the fruit and vegetable market are increasingly turning to Euro Pool System – from producers to distributors, to use of reusable folding trays for transporting fresh products – what is in line with companies’ sustainable development policies.

The figures speak for themselves. Euro Pool System has shown continuous growth in recent decades. In 2009, the number of rotations amounted to 600 million, rising to almost than 1.3 billion trays issued in 2020 . To manage with this growth, the Euro Pool Group has 71 service centres all over Europe, most recently, EPS opened the first UK washing site in Tamworth, West Midlands.

On average, trays last more than seven years and are reused fifty to one hundred times for the same purpose. The same cannot be said of cardboard, for example, which is only suitable for single use.

When Euro Pool System’s trays reach the end of their life, they are always recycled. Euro Pool System trays are made in HDPE that is 100% recyclable. The recycling process of trays is relatively simple compared with that of other waste streams as confirmed by Eric Morssinkhof of Morssinkhof of Rymoplast Group: “Recycling plastic trays is relatively easy, but this is certainly not the case for other flows.”

The recycling company first grinds the trays into granules. They are dusted, demineralised, rinsed, packed in bigbags and resold to injection moulding companies. They turn them into new trays but also big boxes or rubbish containers, for example. Recycling is done by colour: green, blue and black. “The lighter the colour, the better the sales possibilities.” Furthermore, the food safety of the material is also essential.

Sustainability isn’t only about reducing the burden on the environment; it also means reducing damage to the produce and less waste. According to a study by research institute Fraunhofer, with single-use packaging, about 4% of the produce gets damaged on the way to the consumer. Plastic transport packaging cuts this figure back to just 0.1% One of the main objectives is ‘reducing losses and waste in fruits and vegetables food systems’.

“We want to make sure that fruits and vegetables arrive at their destination safely and undamaged,” explained Alvaro Molina, UK Country Manager.

In addition, this standard packaging is also vital to optimise transport within the chain. The Foldable trays ensure maximum efficiency as they take up 86% less volume on return trips. The standard packaging makes it possible to automate logistics processes throughout the entire supply chain.

“In addition to lower CO2 emissions and less waste in the chain, the circular system also offers efficiency in the logistics process for producers and the supermarket sector. We share the same determination to act without delay in the preservation the natural resources, which is one of the biggest challenges of today. Use more sustainable solutions is more vital than ever and go further than simply meeting standards,” concludes Molina.

Sustainable packaging closes the loop on plastic waste

More and more Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) companies and retailers have made sustainable development a strategic priority and announced new commitments to address both climate change and plastic waste. Particularly, single-use packaging is in the spotlight. According to the third annual Checking Out On Plastics report, almost 900,000 tonnes of plastic packaging had passed through the tills of the 10 biggest UK retailers.

Producers, industrials, retailers rethink their packaging systems by removing single-use ones and know that in the longer run, a ‘closed loop’ recycling system is infinitely more environmentally sustainable than single-use alternatives. According to Lansink’s Ladder, reuse is the best option, after prevention. The future is in reuse and it needs to be a big part of how grocery retailers do business, experts say.

In this context, the players in the fruit and vegetable market are increasingly turning to Euro Pool System – from producers to distributors, to use of reusable folding trays for transporting fresh products – what is in line with companies’ sustainable development policies.

The figures speak for themselves. Euro Pool System has shown continuous growth in recent decades. In 2009, the number of rotations amounted to 600 million, rising to almost than 1.3 billion trays issued in 2020 . To manage with this growth, the Euro Pool Group has 71 service centres all over Europe, most recently, EPS opened the first UK washing site in Tamworth, West Midlands.

On average, trays last more than seven years and are reused fifty to one hundred times for the same purpose. The same cannot be said of cardboard, for example, which is only suitable for single use.

When Euro Pool System’s trays reach the end of their life, they are always recycled. Euro Pool System trays are made in HDPE that is 100% recyclable. The recycling process of trays is relatively simple compared with that of other waste streams as confirmed by Eric Morssinkhof of Morssinkhof of Rymoplast Group: “Recycling plastic trays is relatively easy, but this is certainly not the case for other flows.”

The recycling company first grinds the trays into granules. They are dusted, demineralised, rinsed, packed in bigbags and resold to injection moulding companies. They turn them into new trays but also big boxes or rubbish containers, for example. Recycling is done by colour: green, blue and black. “The lighter the colour, the better the sales possibilities.” Furthermore, the food safety of the material is also essential.

Sustainability isn’t only about reducing the burden on the environment; it also means reducing damage to the produce and less waste. According to a study by research institute Fraunhofer, with single-use packaging, about 4% of the produce gets damaged on the way to the consumer. Plastic transport packaging cuts this figure back to just 0.1% One of the main objectives is ‘reducing losses and waste in fruits and vegetables food systems’.

“We want to make sure that fruits and vegetables arrive at their destination safely and undamaged,” explained Alvaro Molina, UK Country Manager.

In addition, this standard packaging is also vital to optimise transport within the chain. The Foldable trays ensure maximum efficiency as they take up 86% less volume on return trips. The standard packaging makes it possible to automate logistics processes throughout the entire supply chain.

“In addition to lower CO2 emissions and less waste in the chain, the circular system also offers efficiency in the logistics process for producers and the supermarket sector. We share the same determination to act without delay in the preservation the natural resources, which is one of the biggest challenges of today. Use more sustainable solutions is more vital than ever and go further than simply meeting standards,” concludes Molina.

Danish medical products company expands logistics centre

Abena is making use of TGW expertise in expanding its logistics centre. At its headquarters in southern Denmark, the manufacturer of health and medical products is installing an energy-efficient conveyor system for cartons, trays and soft packages (polybags). The facility is scheduled to open by summer 2021.

Founded in the town of Aabenraa in 1953, today Abena is one of the leading manufacturers of health and medical supplies. The family-owned business operates production locations in Denmark, Sweden and France and supplies hospitals, nursing homes and end customers in more than 80 countries.

To put the foundation for future growth in place, Abena is expanding its existing logistics centre by adding an energy-efficient conveyor system network. TGW KingDrive unites the individual functional areas, transporting cartons, trays and soft packages – and does so quickly, efficiently and reliably. The innovative technology uses gearbox-free, maintenance-free motorised rollers and combines high performance with a long service life and low Total Cost of Ownership.

In collaboration with Abena, TGW has developed a customised concept for making optimal use of the available floor space. “We couldn’t be more pleased to support the customer and the cooperation to create the solution jointly with Ole Cordes, Head of Technical Operations and Support,” emphasises Hans Gjers, Business Development Manager at TGW Scandinavia.

Abena also takes advantage of TGW’s service expertise. The Lifetime Services contract includes a maintenance and spare parts package and ensures maximum system availability during ongoing operation.

Danish medical products company expands logistics centre

Abena is making use of TGW expertise in expanding its logistics centre. At its headquarters in southern Denmark, the manufacturer of health and medical products is installing an energy-efficient conveyor system for cartons, trays and soft packages (polybags). The facility is scheduled to open by summer 2021.

Founded in the town of Aabenraa in 1953, today Abena is one of the leading manufacturers of health and medical supplies. The family-owned business operates production locations in Denmark, Sweden and France and supplies hospitals, nursing homes and end customers in more than 80 countries.

To put the foundation for future growth in place, Abena is expanding its existing logistics centre by adding an energy-efficient conveyor system network. TGW KingDrive unites the individual functional areas, transporting cartons, trays and soft packages – and does so quickly, efficiently and reliably. The innovative technology uses gearbox-free, maintenance-free motorised rollers and combines high performance with a long service life and low Total Cost of Ownership.

In collaboration with Abena, TGW has developed a customised concept for making optimal use of the available floor space. “We couldn’t be more pleased to support the customer and the cooperation to create the solution jointly with Ole Cordes, Head of Technical Operations and Support,” emphasises Hans Gjers, Business Development Manager at TGW Scandinavia.

Abena also takes advantage of TGW’s service expertise. The Lifetime Services contract includes a maintenance and spare parts package and ensures maximum system availability during ongoing operation.

Lifting accessories company expands its range

LIFTEUROP, a Luxembourger manufacturer of lifting accessories, has expanded its product range thanks to a partnership with Belgian company Power Limit.

“We are a SME from Liège, active for more than 36 years in the design and development of products for the load limitation, lifting and weighing sector,” says Fernand Humblet, founder and director of Power Limit.

“We are constantly adapting to market developments by offering not only standard solutions, but also customised products to meet specific needs. The entire manufacturing process is carried out in our premises with an exclusively local workforce. We do not subcontract any work, which allows us to be very reactive to customer requests,” adds Humblet.

In addition to the products listed in its General Catalogue, LIFTEUROP can now provide its customers with tensile force measuring shackles, dynamometers and tensiometers to measure the forces in wire ropes and lashing straps.

These devices provide operators with accurate and reliable numerical data for safe lifting.

Concerning the partnership with LIFTEUROP, Humblet says: “We have a common desire for customer satisfaction. The collaboration with LIFTEUROP is a collaboration of confidence, which allows us to answer the needs quickly and professionally. Our products are already represented worldwide on the tensiometry market. Today, we need a representative who ensures a worldwide presence of our new range of dynamometers thanks to its communication tools and its team of experts. This collaboration with LIFTEUROP will be for us a springboard to be also recognized on the dynamometry market.”

The technical expertise and the professionalism of the LIFTEUROP team are also highly appreciated by Power Limit. “LIFTEUROP has a team of technical and commercial experts who are reactive and have put in place the necessary communication and information tools to quickly inform the customer. We specialise in designing force management solutions and consider LIFTEUROP to be a dynamic company that represents our product line well. LIFTEUROP is able to provide professional technical advice to customers in an increasingly competitive market,” concludes Humblet.

Founded in 2010 and located in Wiltz, LIFTEUROP produces and distributes high quality lifting equipment and accessories of the STAS brand, flagship of the French lifting industry guaranteeing the safety of goods and people since 1953. Certified ISO 9001, 14001, ISO 27001 and RSE, LIFTEUROP is integrated in the lifting division of ALIPA Group, a Luxembourg specialist in industrial packaging and lifting, which counts about 150 employees.

 

Lifting accessories company expands its range

LIFTEUROP, a Luxembourger manufacturer of lifting accessories, has expanded its product range thanks to a partnership with Belgian company Power Limit.

“We are a SME from Liège, active for more than 36 years in the design and development of products for the load limitation, lifting and weighing sector,” says Fernand Humblet, founder and director of Power Limit.

“We are constantly adapting to market developments by offering not only standard solutions, but also customised products to meet specific needs. The entire manufacturing process is carried out in our premises with an exclusively local workforce. We do not subcontract any work, which allows us to be very reactive to customer requests,” adds Humblet.

In addition to the products listed in its General Catalogue, LIFTEUROP can now provide its customers with tensile force measuring shackles, dynamometers and tensiometers to measure the forces in wire ropes and lashing straps.

These devices provide operators with accurate and reliable numerical data for safe lifting.

Concerning the partnership with LIFTEUROP, Humblet says: “We have a common desire for customer satisfaction. The collaboration with LIFTEUROP is a collaboration of confidence, which allows us to answer the needs quickly and professionally. Our products are already represented worldwide on the tensiometry market. Today, we need a representative who ensures a worldwide presence of our new range of dynamometers thanks to its communication tools and its team of experts. This collaboration with LIFTEUROP will be for us a springboard to be also recognized on the dynamometry market.”

The technical expertise and the professionalism of the LIFTEUROP team are also highly appreciated by Power Limit. “LIFTEUROP has a team of technical and commercial experts who are reactive and have put in place the necessary communication and information tools to quickly inform the customer. We specialise in designing force management solutions and consider LIFTEUROP to be a dynamic company that represents our product line well. LIFTEUROP is able to provide professional technical advice to customers in an increasingly competitive market,” concludes Humblet.

Founded in 2010 and located in Wiltz, LIFTEUROP produces and distributes high quality lifting equipment and accessories of the STAS brand, flagship of the French lifting industry guaranteeing the safety of goods and people since 1953. Certified ISO 9001, 14001, ISO 27001 and RSE, LIFTEUROP is integrated in the lifting division of ALIPA Group, a Luxembourg specialist in industrial packaging and lifting, which counts about 150 employees.

 

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