Thinking about the next generation

For us, sustainability means that ecological, economic and social goals are implemented simultaneously and on an equal footing. We define our own values with foresight. In doing so, we take into account possible conflicts of objectives between environmentally conscious actions and the quality of all products and services. For good recycling, the choice of material must be taken into account when designing the packaging. The purer the material used, the better it can be recycled.

Hope Monomaterial

Mono-material packaging is packaging that consists of only one material, i.e. is "single-sort". For recycling, it is best to use only one type of material. This makes the process much easier, as less energy is needed to break down or separate the different materials.

In addition, the higher efficiency means that recycling is much cheaper and faster. Statistical data suggests that consumer demand for single-material packaging will increase by 3.9 percent annually through 2025. This means that pressure on brands to switch and close the loop could increase.

Examples of monomaterials

Depending on the protection requirements and intended use, mono-material solutions are already often used today. For example, constructive protective packaging made of corrugated board or honeycomb board. However, there is also pure plastic packaging, for example made of polypropylene (PP).

A directly printed film bag made of 100 percent polypropylene (PP) is considered mono-material packaging and is also 100 percent recyclable. Other practical examples are "to-go trays" - plastic trays made of pure polypropylene (PP) are also 100 percent recyclable.

A forward-looking principle for the realization of efficient cycles is the monomaterial design concept. Here, not only the packaging but also the product is made from a single material that can be easily recycled and fed back into the production and utilization cycle. Numerous examples prove that such an approach is possible.

In 2019, for example, industrial designer Alexia von Salomon presented a toothbrush in which all components, from the bristles to the handle, are made of the same plastic. As a result, this brush can be recycled again and again. This is an important milestone, considering that every year around 20,000 tons of used toothbrushes end up in landfills - in the USA alone.

A few years ago, you may not have heard of the term monomaterial as "single-material packaging." Today, it's considered the answer to a circular economy.

Increasing demand for packaging solutions made from a single material

Sustainability can be achieved by not taking and using more raw materials from nature than can grow back. Accordingly, resource conservation plays a decisive role in the implementation of sustainability goals. When raw material consumption is reduced, recycling automatically comes into play. After all, sustainability and recycling complement each other perfectly.

By recycling raw materials, fewer "fresh" resources are needed - this not only ensures more sustainable production, but also protects the environment. One of the most important packaging trends addresses this very issue: flexible monomaterial packaging.

Let's face it, consumers today are becoming increasingly aware of the problems with recycling plastics - and they want a solution! Soon, products made from mixed plastics could be as taboo as single-use plastic bags. Improving recyclability is no longer a nice-to-have extra, it's a consumer expectation from companies.

Resource recovery through recycling

Whether packaging is environmentally friendly or not depends on many factors. In principle, the aim is to conserve valuable resources. The recycling process is one way of breathing "new life" into valuable resources.

Monomaterial packaging, which consists of only one material, is easily allocated by the sorting plants and can thus be fed into the recycling loop without any problems. The material that has already been recycled is thus available again as a "raw material" for new materials and in this way helps to conserve the use of natural resources.

Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an increasing societal shift away from non-sustainable products took place. 60 percent of consumers say they want to make greener choices when shopping - including choosing products with more sustainable packaging decide. Against this background, it is important for us as a company to manufacture sustainable packaging solutions for products.

In addition, promoting a circular economy can bring other significant business benefits. Not only can you reduce your environmental footprint, but you can also cut business costs by up to 15 percent. Plus, investing in recyclable packaging can help reduce supply chain risks. So, it's clear that better recyclability is not only good for the environment, but also good for business.

Monomaterials are increasingly preferred because they allow you to meet your sustainability goals. Sustainable solutions can be just as powerful as standard solutions.

The thing with sustainability

We are continuously developing in all relevant areas of activity and aligning our company to resource conservation, environmental protection, climate relevance and emission reduction. The difficult supply situation, high prices for raw materials, and rapidly rising energy costs pose major challenges for many companies. Analyzing packaging along all value-adding processes can bring considerable savings potential to light.

Because we all know that anything that can't be recycled is either incinerated or sent to a landfill. Everything else - whether paper, cardboard, glass or plastic - is taken to material recovery facilities, provided we use the right containers. There it is broken down into its components and then sent for recycling.

This soothes our conscience and we don't worry too much about what happens afterwards. Of all the materials commonly used for packaging, plastic is probably the most difficult to recycle. A bottle, for example, can be made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), high-density polyethylene (HDPE) or, in some cases, polystyrene (PS). These plastics must be separated before they can be mechanically recycled - otherwise they are not recycled, but downcycled.

In downcycling, the recycling process results in lower quality materials. For obvious reasons, this is not good for the environment or the packaging industry. Sometimes the plastics can even be so contaminated that they can no longer be reused. However, when packaging consists of only one material, we don't need to worry about the efficiency or quality of the packaging lines.

Packaging that consists of more than one material is not always difficult to recycle. For example, jars with paper labels are relatively easy to separate and then recycle. The same is usually true for other packaging materials with paper labels. Of course, these are not mono-materials, but they do help support circular economy models.

Why do we need a circular economy?

"Take - Make - Use - Waste " - this is how experts describe linear systems. However, climate change and rising environmental pressures make it clear that we need a new paradigm for a sustainable future: the "Make - Use - Recycle - Make" circular economy. This circular economy is one of the best ways to tackle global warming and our climate crisis.

A circular economy means that everything we have has value. This means that we should reuse materials and avoid creating waste. It is important that we do our part to preserve the earth's limited resources as best we can. If we can do that, we can reap the moral, economic and environmental rewards. This is where the circular economy comes in.

A circular economy is the opposite of a linear economy. It encourages companies and people to create a closed loop. Ultimately, this will help reduce resource consumption and significantly reduce the amount of pollution, waste and carbon emissions we produce.

We should use this model to meet the needs of our growing population and reduce the impact on our environment by mining fewer raw materials.

Alternative, sustainable packaging solutions

Conclusion: The packaging of the future

Is ecological mono-material packaging the new packaging trend?

The development of more efficient, functional and protective mono-material alternatives has driven change and helps to achieve sustainability goals. It is worthwhile to scrutinize all packaging along the entire value chain, including logistics, as soon as possible. Consumers are paying more and more attention to environmentally friendly production and sustainability when buying products.

In addition, the legal requirements for packaging are also becoming increasingly stringent. If you want to position yourself optimally on the market with your products and at the same time react to upcoming and already implemented changes in legislation, then together we can develop the ideal packaging for your product.

We know that making the switch to sustainable packaging isn't always easy. But we can work with you to find the right packaging solution for your product.

Because those who think sustainably and in the long term invest in good time. Depending on the application and degree of automation, changes to packaging processes can be implemented very quickly. However, due to the high cost of raw materials and energy, the payback period is shorter than ever before, even for larger investments.

The use of a packaging solution that is optimally matched to the product, application and process can significantly reduce fixed and variable costs. However, the high demand and difficult supply market also cause bottlenecks and long delivery times for many suppliers of packaging solutions. This starts with packaging materials and ends with components for packaging machines.

Timely evaluation of new packaging solutions is therefore a decisive factor in reducing costs as quickly as possible. Another important factor when evaluating a new packaging solution: choosing a supplier who is positioned in such a way that he himself will not run into supply problems. This includes, among other things, a secure supply network - you'll find that with us. High-quality, proven products and an efficient service organization also ensure high availability.

In summary, single-material packaging is the best alternative today for accessing sustainable, recyclable packaging solutions. We are committed to producing efficient packaging that helps meet regulations and be environmentally conscious without compromising on packaging performance.

 

To learn more about our products and the industry, feel free to contact us!