Resource efficiency: responsible packaging
A responsible treatment of natural resources is an objective that shapes our actions and encourages us to ensure that not only our products, but also their packaging, transport and any assistive devices, as well as cardboard packaging meet sustainability criteria. To this end, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of our packaging in 2015, and identified any need for optimisation. We used seven analysis criteria for evaluating the packaging we use – function, materiality, volume, risk potential, customer relevance, feasibility, and cost implications. We investigated these, and used funnel analysis to determine the possibilities for optimising the different types of packaging, and which ones were best according to our requirements. All these results were then considered in drawing up our 2015 Packaging Directive. We tightened the guidelines especially for our Non Food packaging – with the clear objective of optimally combining environmental and functional requirements without compromising quality.
So the idea is to harmonise functional aspects, such as protecting the product and providing information to consumers, with environmental objectives. This includes waste-avoiding, resource-saving, environment-friendly design, fair and environmentally sound manufacturing, and recyclability of materials. Accordingly, we now develop new packaging and adapt existing ones based on six guidelines:
Use as little packaging material as possible, and as much as necessary
1. Reusable before disposable
2. Recycled materials before virgin fibre
3. Certified before non-certified materials
4. Mono-materials before composites
5. Create value-add through innovative design of the packaging
a) Reusability
b) use in a different context (innovative use and design of packaging)
Our guiding principles for resource conservation
