Greiner Packaging UK & Ireland is taking bold steps to reduce the environmental impact of plastic packaging with a focus on carbon footprint, recycling, and sustainability. The company has introduced new initiatives to help businesses and consumers better understand the CO2e impact of packaging, ensuring that their claims are not only credible but backed by independent certifications.
Sustainability and Innovation Manager, Rachel Sheldon, emphasised the importance of combining ecological responsibility with economic success. She stated, “For the last few years, we have been working hard and investing heavily to ensure we are manufacturing the most sustainable packaging solutions, and providing the relevant third-party certifications to back up every claim that we make.”
One of the standout features of Greiner’s latest offerings is its Sustainability Passport for most plastic packaging products. These passports, which provide cradle-to-gate CO2e values, have been verified by TÜV Austria, making them compliant with the ISO14067:2018 standard for carbon footprint measurement. This transparency allows businesses to understand the environmental impact of their packaging, ensuring informed decisions are made across the supply chain.
In addition to CO2e footprint transparency, Greiner Packaging has made significant strides in using recycled materials. All their PET packaging is certified for its post-consumer recycled content by the Sustainable Certifications Group (SCG), which independently verifies that the packaging contains 30% or more recycled PET. This certification is critical for businesses seeking to avoid the UK’s Plastic Packaging Tax, which applies to packaging containing less than 30% recycled material. The partnership with SCG also helps companies avoid potential prosecution by HMRC for non-compliance with recycling regulations.
Greiner’s commitment to sustainability extends beyond carbon and recycling concerns. The company also made a landmark achievement in food safety standards. Two years ago, Greiner became the first UK manufacturer to gain approval from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) for its decontamination process, which allows them to recycle post-consumer PET into food contact materials. This process ensures compliance with EU Regulation 2022/1616, further enhancing the sustainability of their products in the food industry.
In its efforts to lead by example, Greiner Packaging is also an active participant in several industry initiatives, including being a founding member of the UK Plastics Pact and a member of RECOUP, which is the official auditor for rigid plastic packaging in the UK. These collaborations highlight Greiner’s commitment to driving the industry forward towards a circular economy, where recycling and reuse are key components.
Rachel Sheldon also noted Greiner’s ongoing investment in innovation, citing the K3® cardboard-plastic innovation introduced in 2007 as one example. This innovation remains a part of their broader goal to create sustainable packaging solutions that meet the needs of both the environment and businesses.
With a focus on environmental responsibility and rigorous third-party certifications, Greiner Packaging is paving the way for more sustainable and transparent packaging practices in the UK. By offering clear, verifiable data on the environmental impact of their products, the company is setting a high standard for the industry to follow.