Was sind nachhaltige Verpackungen?

Nachhaltige Verpackungen zeichnen sich durch eine geringe CO2-Bilanz aus. Diese ist zum Beispiel abhängig davon, wie viele Ressourcen bei der Herstellung eingesetzt werden müssen, wie schwer eine Verpackung ist (besonders relevant für den Transport) und wie gut bzw. ob die verwendeten Rohstoffe zur Herstellung für andere Produkte wiederverwendet werden können. Nachhaltigkeit bedeutet für uns immer die Förderung einer Kreislaufwirtschaft, sodass Rohstoffe mehrmals genutzt werden. Deshalb setzen wir auf Monomaterialien, die hervorragend recycelbar sind.

Wo werden eure nachhaltigen Verpackungen hergestellt?

Unsere Verpackungen werden in Europa und Deutschland produziert. Dadurch sparen wir große Mengen CO2 für den Transport ein.

Sind Verpackungen aus biobasierten und biologisch abbaubaren Kunststoffen nachhaltiger?

Biobasierte Kunststoffe haben den Vorteil, dass sie aus nachwachsenden Rohstoffen wie Maisstärke oder Zuckerrohr bestehen. Unter bestimmten Umständen können sie gleiche oder ähnliche chemische Strukturen wie herkömmliches Plastik aufweisen und aus diesem Grund ebenfalls gut zu recyceln sein. Allerdings sind nicht alle biobasierten Kunststoffe automatisch nachhaltig. Wenn biobasierte Verpackungen z.B. aus vielen verschiedenen Materialschichten bestehen, sind sie nicht recycelbar und werden aussortiert und verbrannt.

Sind Verpackungen aus Papier nachhaltiger als aus Plastik?

Das Papier immer nachhaltiger als Plastik sein soll, ist ein Mythos. Bei der Bewertung von Verpackungen müssen immer verschiedene Gesichtspunkte mit einbezogen werden. Denn auch die Herstellung von Papier verbraucht Ressourcen und ist energieintensiv. Außerdem lässt sich Papier nur gut recyceln, wenn es nicht mit anderen Materialschichten (z.B. Aluminium) fest verklebt wird. Das ist zum Beispiel leider bei Milchtüten häufig der Fall.

Sind nachhaltige Verpackungen auch immer recycelbar?

Optimierte Verpackungen sind im Sinne einer Kreislaufwirtschaft auch immer recycelbar. Denn wenn Materialien nicht recycelt werden, können Rohstoffe nach der einmaligen Verwendung nicht für andere Produkte verwendet werden.

Könnt ihr mich bei meiner Nachhaltigkeitskommunikation unterstützen?

Als dein Verpackungspartner sehen wir uns nicht nur in der Verantwortung dafür, nachhaltige Verpackungen anzubieten, sondern auch über Mythen und Greenwashing in der Verpackungswelt aufzuklären. Aus diesem Grund unterstützen wir dich sehr gerne bei der glaubwürdigen und transparenten Nachhaltigkeitskommunikation. Neben der Bereitstellung unserer Sustainability Guides führen wir auch gerne gemeinsam mit dir Kommunikationskooperationen durch, um deine Kund:innen über die Nachhaltigkeit deiner Verpackungen zu informieren.

Woran erkennt man nachhaltige Verpackungen?

Renommierte Siegel und Zertifizierungen können dir und deinen Kund:innen einen guten Anhaltspunkt geben, welche Verpackungen nachhaltig sind. So erkennst du mit einem Blick, ob eine Verpackungen zum Beispiel aus nachhaltiger Forstwirtschaft stammen (z.B. unser Material Robin mit seiner FSC®-Zertifizierung) oder recycelbar sind (z.B. unsere Materialien Martha und Toni, die das Made for Recycling-Siegel haben).

Establish eco friendly packaging for your business

Are you looking for environment friendly packaging for your product? We can provide innovative eco packaging solutions in the form of lightweight & space-saving stand-up and block bottom pouches. Delivery from 500 pieces including individual design print. Designdruck.

Order eco packaging now

Delivery with customised print in 4-7 weeks

Resource-saving production

Sustainable materials

Production in Europe

Partnership with environmental organisations

Inhalt

A comparison of our eco packaging options

Not only does your business benefit from our eco packaging but you can also help the environment. Due to their low weight and the low use of resources, pouch packaging consumes up to 60% less CO2 in the life cycle compared to glass, tin or can packaging.

Stand up pouch

Block bottom pouch

For 35 ml to 3,000 ml content
Front side & rear side printable
Optionally with Euro hole

For 500 ml to 1,500 ml content
Printable on four sides and bottom
Optional with aroma protection valve

SComparison of our Pack Heroes’ protective properties

	Transparent Toni recyclable mono-plastic		Metallised Martha recyclable mono-plastic		Robust Robin sustainable paper with plastic layer		Natural Nils recyclable paper
Air / Flavour
UV protection
Moisture

1 = basic protection 2 = medium protection 3 = high protection

Why are we committed to eco friendly packaging?

The demand for packaging is not decreasing – quite the opposite. However, just doing without packaging is not a blanket solution to our rubbish problem. Food and other sensitive products in particular have a shorter shelf life without proper packaging and more material is thrown away. So one thing is certain: We still need packaging – but in an optimised and sustainable form: Because up to today, a lot of packaging has been designed for one-time use and cannot be recycled due to its many different material layers (multi-materials). In addition, there is greenwashing in the packaging area, which we want and need to explain in order to establish truly eco friendly packaging.

That is why we produce our eco packaging exclusively in Europe, examine the materials which we want to utilise from all points of view, and always put environmental protection first with our recyclable packaging made of mono-materials and paper-based pouches from sustainable forestry.

Our environment friendly packaging supplies

We have one major goal in our role as a manufacturer of sustainable packaging: Solving our global packaging problem in the long term by implementing circular solutions and transparent information about materials. With our eco packaging solutions, we follow the approach of a circular economy, in which raw materials can be used several times. Better recyclability of our materials is a prerequisite for this, since the secondary raw materials can only be utilised to manufacture new products.

Certified recyclable plastic packaging

Maximum durability: High protection against UV radiation, oxygen and moisture
Completely recyclable: Confirmed by the “Made for Recycling” seal from Interseroh

Our Metallised Martha

Made for recycling: What does the certification mean?

With Interseroh, we have one of the leading environmental and recycling experts on our side, in order to make the greatest possible contribution to a functioning circular economy. The recyclability of packaging is tested based on an independent, scientific assessment method. The result: Martha and Toni are excellently recyclable and are therefore permitted to bear Interseroh´s recognised Made for Recycling seal .

Learn more about the seal


		Why compostable packaging is not recyclable Compostable packaging is heavily promoted, with communication surrounding the disposal of compostable packaging often being misleading. Mainly because the designation “industrially compostable” does not mean that the packaging can be disposed of on the compost or in the organic waste bin. Packaging marked in this way belongs in the household waste, has to be incinerated and therefore misleads your customers.

Paper packaging from sustainable forestry

Maximum durability: High protection against UV radiation, oxygen and moisture
FSC^®-®-certified paper, on the outside, protective plastic on the inside

Our Robust Robin

FSC^®-® certification: Our contribution to forest protection

Our focus lies on the sustainability of the wood which is utilised for the production of our paper-based Robin packaging. The paper used in the stand-up pouches und block bottom pouches is FSC^®-certified and therefore comes exclusively from regions which are inspected by the international non-profit organisation, Forest Stewardship Council^® (FSC^®) and therefore comply with the strict requirements of sustainable forestry.

Learn more about the certification

More than just a manufacturer of sustainable packaging

In addition to our commitment to sustainable packaging solutions, we would like to become active ourselves in this area and therefore support various environmental organisations. Purchasing our products means that you also become part of this action and make it easier for organisations to work sustainably!

Eden Reforestation Projects: For the reforestation of our forests

In order to stop the decline of our forests, we are working for reforestation in tropical areas together with our partner Eden Reforestation Projects. Helping at this point is really easy! One tree is planted for every 100 pouches ordered in our shop.

The partnership with Eden Reforestation Projects

K.R.A.K.E. e.V.: For less rubbish in our environment

For every order of our eco packaging which is made of recyclable mono-materials, we will donate a portion of the order value to the voluntary organisation K.R.A.K.E., which regularly collects rubbish from the city's green areas. By the way: The rubbish trap on the Rhine is a project which is very current at the moment and one that we are co-financing under the umbrella of Siegwerk Ventures. Take a detailed look at how we are helping to free our beloved Rhine from rubbish.

Paid leave for NGO commitment & sustainable team events

Irrespective of whether we are planting new trees or collecting rubbish in Cologne's green areas – we love to combine our team events for the benefit of the environment with a sustainable purpose! We all receive one extra day of paid holiday per year in order to give our colleagues time and space for ecological commitment in their private lives.

Frequently asked questions about sustainability

What is eco friendly packaging?

Eco friendly packaging is characterised by a low C02 footprint. This depends, for example, on how many resources have to be utilised in production, how heavy the packaging is (particularly relevant for transport) and how well or whether the raw materials which have been implemented can be reused for the production of other products. For us, sustainability always means promoting a circular economy, so that raw materials are used several times. That is why we rely on mono-materials which are excellently recyclable.

Where is your eco friendly packaging produced?

Our eco packaging is produced in Europe and Germany. This saves us large amounts of CO2 for transport.

Is eco packaging made from bio-based and biodegradable plastics recyclable?

Bio-based plastics have the advantage that they are made from renewable raw materials such as corn starch or sugar cane. Under certain circumstances, they can indicate the same or similar chemical structure as conventional plastic and are therefore also be recyclable. However, not all bio-based plastics are automatically sustainable. For example, if bio-based packaging comprises many different layers of material, it is not recyclable and has to be sorted out and incinerated. For biodegradable and compostable plastics (often made from PLA), on the other hand, there is currently no recycling stream, so they have to be disposed of with the residual, household waste and incinerated.

Is paper packaging more sustainable than plastic?

It is a myth that paper is always more sustainable than plastic. When evaluating packaging, various aspects must always be taken into account. Because the production of paper also consumes resources and is energy-intensive. In addition, paper can only be recycled well if it is not firmly glued to other layers of material (e.g. aluminium). Unfortunately, this is often the case with milk cartons, for example.

Is eco friendly packaging always recyclable?

Optimised packaging is always recyclable in the sense of a circular economy. When materials are not recycled, then the raw materials cannot therefore be utilised for other products after being used once.

Can you support me with my sustainability communication?

As your eco packaging partner, we not only see it as our responsibility to provide sustainable packaging, rather also to educate about myths and greenwashing in the packaging world. For this reason, we are very pleased to support you in credible and transparent sustainability communication. In addition to providing our sustainability guides, we would also be pleased to collaborate with you for a communication cooperation in order to inform your customers about the sustainability of your eco packaging.

How do you recognise eco friendly packaging?

Renowned seals and certifications can give you and your customers a good indication of which packaging is sustainable. You can see at a glance whether the packaging originates from sustainable forestry (e.g. our Robin material with its FSC® certification) or is recyclable (e.g. our Martha and Toni materials, which have the Made for Recycling seal).