Sustainability - Sonoco Europe

Sonoco announces speaker and exhibitor presence at Sustainability in Packaging Europe 2024

The company looks forward to being a Gold Sponsor of the prestigious event, which will unite more than 600 industry leaders, innovators and experts from across the packaging sector

Sonoco is pleased to announce that it is attending Sustainability in Packaging Europe 2024 as a Gold Sponsor. Hosted by Smithers, the event will take place Barcelona from October 8-10, 2024. The conference is one of the largest events in Europe to focus exclusively on sustainable packaging; it will bring together more than 600 industry leaders, innovators and experts from across the packaging sector.

The event offers a platform for professionals in the packaging sector to network, share updates new and innovative solutions, and discuss strategies to advance sustainability across the packaging supply chain.
As a Gold Sponsor of Sustainability in Packaging Europe 2024, Sonoco looks forward to speaking at the event and showcasing its latest innovations.

As part of the conference programme, Skye Oudemans and Peter Görlitz, both Sustainability Managers at Sonoco Europe, will present Sonoco’s journey to packaging circularity, highlighting the story of one of its customers – a leading snack brand, which successfully converted the iconic Pringles tube from a metal-end package to a fully recyclable paper-based tube with a paper end. Oudemans and Görlitz will be joined by Gillian Kinsella, Public Policy and Government Relations Manager at Kellanova, who was involved in the project.

Oudemans comments: “We’re excited to participate in the upcoming Sustainability in Packaging Europe 2024 event. We’re committed to driving positive environmental impact with our packaging innovations. In addition, we look forward to helping even more businesses convert to paper-based packaging.”

Görlitz adds: “Our participation and presence at this prestigious event aligns with Sonoco’s long-standing mission to create and deliver sustainable packaging, as well as circularity, globally.”

At the event, Sonoco will also exhibit its new 95% paper-based can with a paper end, which is part of its recyclable EnviroSense® portfolio, as well as its GREENCAN® and EnviroStick® packaging.

Part of the EnviroSense® portfolio, Sonoco’s 95% paper-based can is designed for various markets such as snacks and powdered coffee products with a milk froth. The new packaging incorporates a specially designed paper-based end and an option to include a valve on the membrane for a degassing application which plays a crucial role in protecting products like cappuccino, ensuring a perfect pour every time, while maintaining the convenience that consumers love. The innovative award-winning packaging solution, which is already in the market in some countries in Europe, is making a positive contribution to reducing packaging waste. It offers practical benefits, such as superior barrier properties that preserve the freshness and quality of the coffee, and a lightweight design for easy handling and transportation. Crucially, the new can meets the European and UK’s packaging regulations and is recyclable in existing systems across regions.

Recyclable by design, Sonoco’s rigid paperboard can is made with recycled fibre and features a highly effective oxygen and moisture barrier layer. This assures food safety and preserves shelf-life, while ensuring ease of recycling through household paper and cardboard streams.

Sonoco’s GREENCAN® recyclable paperboard package features a wide range of barrier properties. Available in multiple shapes and sizes – from round, square or rectangular; to oval, oblong or triangular – it is ‘designed to recycle’ paper can, providing a highly recyclable packaging solution, with robust barrier properties.

Join Sonoco and Kellanova as they present ‘The Journey to Circularity’ on 10 October, 12:25pm.
See Sonoco’s latest paper-based packaging solutions including the 95% fully recyclable award-winning Pringles tube on Stand 20.

Learn more about Sustainability In Packaging Europe 2024: https://www.sustainability-in-packaging.com/sustainability-in-packaging-europe

“We’re excited to participate in the upcoming Sustainability in Packaging Europe 2024 event. We’re committed to driving positive environmental impact with our packaging innovations. In addition, we look forward to helping even more businesses convert to paper-based packaging.”

Skye Oudemans, Associate Sustainability Manager

Lasa Mohamad

October 8, 2024

European Investments in sustainability, Event, GreenCan®, News, Product, Product Development Innovation, Uncategorised

Company News, Consumer Packaging, News, recyclability, Sonoco, Sustainability
New UK Research

UK public need clarity on changes to recycling policy: the next government should prioritise waste reform communications.

New research – commissioned by Sonoco and undertaken by Opinium – has found that the majority of the U.K. public (73%) has little to no awareness of the Government’s planned changes to national recycling policy.

UK Polling headlines:

Public awareness of upcoming changes to recycling policy is low: 73% have not heard of Simpler Recycling and, of the 27% who had, most have a poor grasp of what the policy will entail.

But consumers overwhelmingly want to do the right thing: 80% of them check whether an item is recyclable using either local recycling guidance or on-pack labels.

Most people prefer clear on-pack labels or council leaflets (66%) rather than social media or TV campaigns (22%) to present information about recyclability. And 71% of them say they do what the packaging says all or some of the time.

Chesterfield, The UK – The UK Government plans to introduce “Simpler Recycling” for households from 2026, with local authorities across England given a single list of materials that they must collect for recycling. However, polling shows that the public is unaware of the change and what it will mean for their local recycling collections. Of the 27% aware of the changes, most have a poor grasp of what the policy will entail.

Despite a lack of awareness about the wider policy, the research shows that consumers want to do the right thing – 80% of them check whether an item is recyclable using local recycling guidance or on-pack labels, and 71% say they do what the packaging tells them to do some or all of the time.

It was also found that most people prefer clear on-pack labels or council leaflets (66%) to present information about recyclability – rather than social media or TV campaigns (22%). And 71% of them say they do what the packaging says all or some of the time.

As a global leader in sustainable packaging, Sonoco is supportive for government leaders to take actions to improve communication about upcoming change and ensure the policy is comprehensive across all recyclable materials.

Skye Oudemans, Sustainability Manager at Sonoco, said:

“It’s clear that the public want clear guidance on what they can and can’t recycle – and are happy to pay attention to this guidance so they can do the right thing. But these results show that there’s some work for the next Government to do to communicate the upcoming changes with the public. Meanwhile, there’s an opportunity in this General Election campaign to put popular waste and resources policy at the heart of party proposals: the UK’s recycling policy should be simple, but it should also be ambitious, and we need to collect and recycle as much material as possible.”

Scott Byrne, Director of Global Sustainability Services at Sonoco, said:

“While Defra has done a lot of work on the recycling policy itself, the public are still unaware of the upcoming changes. There’s an opportunity throughout the General Election campaign for parties to set out bold and clear waste and resources policy – and Sonoco is calling on all parties to be ambitious, work with industry, and help to deliver a recycling system that raises the UK’s recycling rates.”

Paul Vanston, CEO of the Industry Council for Packaging and the Environment (INCPEN), said:

“When the Government sets out clear guidance about what consumers should do with their packaging, the public listen and do the right thing. With the General Election campaign ongoing, all parties now have an opportunity to set out an ambitious vision for the waste and resources policy agenda, and we hope that they’ll start to do that soon. Post-election, we call on whoever makes up the next government to provide clarity to both industry and the general public as soon as possible, so that we can start to make inroads into boosting recycling rates.”

Sonoco is a global leader of sustainable consumer packaging, industrial products and protective packaging for some of the best-known UK food and non-food products. Driving investment across the regions of the UK, Sonoco employs approximately 900 employees across ten sites, operating manufacturing and recycling plants that help to deliver growth and Sonoco’s aim of being a responsible producer with a full recycling solution.

“While Defra has done a lot of work on the recycling policy itself, the public are still unaware of the upcoming changes. There’s an opportunity throughout the General Election campaign for parties to set out bold and clear waste and resources policy – and Sonoco is calling on all parties to be ambitious, work with industry, and help to deliver a recycling system that raises the UK’s recycling rates.”

Scott Byrne Director of Global Sustainability Services, Sonoco

drumbeat

June 25, 2024

News

collaboration, Company News, Innovation, policy, recyclability, simpler recycling, Sustainability, UK
Recyclability of Sonoco’s Rigid Paper Containers

Maximise recyclability with our rigid paper containers.

Made from responsibly sourced fibres and recycled materials, they have a reduced environmental footprint and are recyclable.

Learn more about the viability of collecting, sorting, and processing of packages in existing recycling infrastructure, and how our rigid paper cans are contributing to the circular economy.

Get resources here

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drumbeat

June 29, 2023

Resource Download

recyclability, Sustainability
Paper Container Recyclability

Recyclability whitepaper – Big steps to increase sustainability

This whitepaper details information about recycling trends in Europe and the US, as well as how the use of rigid paper cans can reduce the amount of waste to landfill.

The white paper advises that with 53.5 million metric tons of paper packaging in Europe being used to transport consumer and industrial products, paper packaging recycling is more important than ever before.

The report also highlights the important role of rigid paper cans in the food and drink industry, detailing how they can be used to protect high-quality food products while maintaining shelf life and increasing shelf appeal.

In addition, rigid paper cans can be recycled with most existing infrastructure because they are suitable for most of the kerbside collections and sortation processes in Europe. Pulping tests at Sonoco’s standard and specialised mills in Europe have proven that paper cans are compatible with existing paper recycling processes. The white paper highlights research into this, as well as findings about a trial using digital watermarks to sort and recycle waste – a new process that is set to revolutionise recycling sorting in the future.

Get your copy of the whitepaper here

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drumbeat

March 29, 2023

Resource Download

Sustainability
Sonoco awarded Supply Chain Solution of the Year

Sonoco is pleased to announce that it received the Supply Chain Solution of the Year Award at the prestigious UK Packaging Awards.

The awards, which took place on the 19th of October 2022, recognised the success of the newly sized Bisto Gravy paperboard drum solution, helping Premier Foods to lower its brand’s environmental impact by reducing the height of the drum, which was launched in the UK market last year.

Bisto Gravy paperboard drums, produced by Sonoco, are made from recycled paper fibre, and include a paperboard end. All inks and adhesives are water-based, and all materials used in the packaging are easily separable within the recycling process. This makes the packaging solution highly recyclable.

The drums give consumers 20g more gravy granules (approximately six more portions per tub) than the previous ones, for the exact same price per gram as previously, all while being presented in packaging that uses fewer resources to reduce its environmental footprint.

Commenting on the award-win, Kieren France, Vice President Sales & Marketing at Sonoco Consumer Products Europe, says: “We’re thrilled to have won this distinguished award and we are honoured to be recognised for our joint efforts together with our customer Premier Foods in making supply chains more sustainable.

“The Bisto paperboard drum is not only made from sustainable materials and is fully recyclable, it also uses less packaging while achieving a higher product fill amount.”

Philip Chadwick, Editor of Packaging News, adds: “The standard of entries this year was higher than ever, so the ultimate winners really outdid themselves. The judges were impressed with Sonoco’s dedication and commitment to creating a packaging solution that reduced the materials used. They also felt that Sonoco has unlocked and enhanced supply chain efficiency. A worthy winner against some very strong competition.”

The UK requires packaging to be made of at least 85% paperboard* in order for it to be accepted in the paper waste stream. Bisto Gravy drums exceed that requirement because they are made of 95% paperboard, allowing shoppers to dispose of all empty Bisto caddies via UK-wide kerbside recycling collections.

Hosted by Packaging News, the UK Packaging Awards takes place each year at a glamorous ceremony in Central London. This year, the event took place at the Grosvenor House London hotel.

*The U.K. currently requires at least 85% paperboard to accept packaging in the paper waste stream, with a plan to increase to 90% required by 2023. This paper-based packaging format exceeds that requirement as it is made of 95% paperboard.

Read the Sonoco & Bisto Success Story.

“The standard of entries this year was higher than ever, so the ultimate winners really outdid themselves. The judges were impressed with Sonoco’s dedication and commitment to creating a packaging solution that reduced the materials used. They also felt that Sonoco has unlocked and enhanced supply chain efficiency. A worthy winner against some very strong competition.”

Philip Chadwick Editor, Packaging News

Get your copy of the case study here

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drumbeat

October 27, 2022

Award Winning Sustainable Packaging, Resource Download

Company News, Sustainability
Webinar: Sort It! Helping the public adapt to the UK’s future recycling regime
We’ve invited stakeholders from across the UK’s local government, packaging, and waste and resource management sectors to discuss and encourage positive public behaviour change ahead of the forthcoming changes to the UK’s waste and recycling policy.

Webinar overview

The success of DRS (deposit return scheme) and consistent collections, due to be introduced in the next few years, will be reliant on the public changing their behaviours and adapting to a more rigorous and complicated waste and recycling system.

Together with key stakeholders from across the UK’s local government, packaging, and waste and resource management sectors, we explored the following questions:
What role does each stakeholder play in ensuring that the public understands what they need to do to adapt to the new initiatives?

What do the packaging, waste, and government sectors need to do to encourage public behaviour change to ensure that the DRS and consistent collections policies are a success?

Is there enough time to launch a public education programme before the DRS and consistent collections policies are introduced? What should that public education programme look like?

What lessons can we learn from other countries who have successfully introduced DRS and consistent collections policies?
There is a significant challenge facing local authorities in particular to ensure that the public fully understands the new system and complies by the new requirements.

We were delighted to be joined by an expert panel to talk about what is required, including:
Michelle Whitfield – Head of Communications & Behavioural Change, Waste & Resources Team, Greater Manchester Combined Authority

Paul Vanston – CEO, The Industry Council for Packaging & the Environment (INCPEN)

Jacob Hayler – Executive Director, The Environmental Services Association (ESA)

Scott Byrne – Assistant Director, Global Sustainability, Sonoco
Download our whitepaper on EPR and beyond

Producers have a huge responsibility to adopt and maintain sustainable practices.

This is a responsibility Sonoco takes extremely seriously. Any legislation in this area though, needs to take a holistic view of what it means to be a responsible producer, rather than a narrow focus on material types.

It also needs to be wary of unintended consequences and must recognise that truly sustainable long-term solutions to our waste and recycling challenges require collaboration across the supply chain, from producers to brand owners and retailers, to consumers and trade bodies, and to Government and local authorities. By singling out producers alone, the EPR legislation risks missing an opportunity to improve waste disposal and recycling practices more broadly.

In this whitepaper, Sonoco looks at what it really means to be a responsible producer and examines ways in which the UK could improve its packaging recycling rates that go far beyond the scope of the EPR consultation.

Get your copy of the whitepaper here

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Sustainability Hub

Find out more about how Sonoco Europe is developing innovative, sustainable packaging that works for our clients and the environment.

VISIT HUB
drumbeat

May 18, 2022

News

EPR, News, Sustainability
10 need-to-knows
It’s not enough for packaging just to be made of a material that can technically be recycled.

We consider true recyclability, which means more than a label that says the item can be recycled. It means packaging has to meet our four criteria to be considered sustainable.

These criteria are:
Can the consumer put it in the bin?

Can the local material recovery facility (MRF) sort it properly?

Can the processor turn the packaging into a usable recycled material?

Lastly, does someone want to buy the recycled material and turn it into a new package or product?

Use ‘tab’ to add an indented item
Explore key questions about sustainable packaging, by downloading our European eBook on 10 need-to-knows about packaging materials, sustainability, labelling and recycling.

Get our 10 need-to-knows eBook here

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drumbeat

January 21, 2022

Resource Download

Sustainability
Premier Foods reduce gravy Bisto’s environmental impact by reducing the height of its Bisto paperboard drum

Sonoco’s fully recyclable paperboard packaging solution will help Premier Foods to remove 40 tonnes of packaging used for its best-selling Bisto gravy drum, as it aims to reduce its environmental footprint.

Premier Foods, one of Britain’s largest listed food companies, is continuing its work to reduce its environmental impact while helping its customers make more sustainable choices. The food manufacturer has introduced its new sized Bisto Gravy product, which will now come in caddies that are 8mm smaller than the previous edition. This will save 40 tonnes of paper annually at Premier Food’s Bisto manufacturing line in Worksop, Nottinghamshire.

Using recyclable paperboard drums produced by Sonoco, one of the largest global packaging companies, the new Bisto packaging gives shoppers an additional 20g of gravy granules (190g total) – approximately six more portions per tub – for the exact same price as before, while being presented in packaging that uses fewer resources.

Sonoco’s paperboard container is made from recycled paper fibre, including a paperboard end. All inks and adhesives are water-based, and all materials used in the packaging are easily separable within the recycling process. The UK requires at least 85% paperboard* to accept packaging in the paper waste stream, and the Bisto drums exceed that requirement as it is made of 95% paperboard, allowing shoppers to dispose of all empty Bisto caddies via UK-wide kerbside recycling collections.

Philip Brown, UK Sales Manager at Sonoco Consumer Products Europe says: “For Premier Foods, sustainable packaging solutions are essential, and they are also very aware of the need to reduce the amount of packaging that is being used for each product. Premier’s decision to reduce the height of the drum demonstrates its determination to give its customers a solution that uses less resources, while also giving them more of the products they love at the same great price, and with freshness and quality assured. We’re delighted that they have adopted our paperboard packaging solution to meet their sustainability goals.”

Premier Foods is in the process applying the new height to all its gravy drums, which include Chicken, Onion, Turkey and Vegetable.

*The U.K. currently requires at least 85% paperboard to accept packaging in the paper waste stream, with a plan to increase to 90% required by 2023. This paper-based packaging format exceeds that requirement as it is made of 95% paperboard.

About Premier Foods

As one of Britain’s largest food producers, Premier Foods is committed to delivering the taste that people love, with food that’s made in Britain by people who understand its consumers. We supply a range of retail, wholesale, foodservice and other customers with some of the nation’s best loved brands, including Ambrosia, Batchelors, Bisto, Loyd Grossman, Mr. Kipling, Oxo and Sharwood’s. The company employs nearly 4,000 people operating from 15 sites from across the country. www.premierfoods.co.uk.

Questions?

If you have a question about any Sonoco offering, you can contact us on the details in the footer below, or send a message via the contact form.

“Reducing the size of our drum is a great example of how small changes can ladder up to make a big difference. We make around 50 million Bisto gravy drums each year and so change of this scale requires real collaboration. We’re really pleased to have found a more sustainable solution while retaining the quality of Bisto that people love and expect.”

Savan Sabharwal Marketing Controller, Bisto

drumbeat

January 11, 2022

European Investments in sustainability, News, Resource Download

Bisto, Customer Solutions, gravy bisto, gravy granules, Hidden Post, News, Sustainability
Sonoco Europe to present new and unique sustainable packaging solutions at NatExpo 2021

Sonoco will be showcasing the practicality and environmental benefits of its new EnviroStick™ for the beauty market and its Greencan® solution at the event.

Hartsville, S.C., U.S. Partnering with Vegeplast, a French company specialising in bio-sourced and biodegradable products, Sonoco is to demonstrate the capabilities of its Vegetop® sprinkler at NatExpo 2021 (Paris, 24-26 October – stand M68). Sonoco will also be showcasing the practicality and environmental benefits of its new EnviroStick™ for the beauty market and its Greencan® solution at the event.

“We’re very much looking forward to exhibiting at NatExpo 2021,” says Philippe Creux, Sales Director South West Europe at Sonoco Consumer Products Europe. “It’s great that events are getting back to normal again, and we can think of no better place to present our sustainable consumer packaging products to the French market.”

“Sonoco understands how vitally important it is to continue to reduce the environmental impact packaging has on the planet,” continues Philippe. “The latest innovation in this continual process is Vegetop – suitable for dietary supplements and for food. It is a rigid paperboard container with a compostable shaker top sprinkler lid made from Vegemat, is 100% biobased, biodegradable and fully compostable material.

“We’re delighted to be partnering with Vegeplast to provide our customers with a highly functional, fully biodegradable alternative to conventional plastics.”

Sonoco will also be showcasing its brand-new beauty product solution, EnviroStick™. A 3-piece push-up bottom tube made from recycled fibre, EnviroStick has flexibility in label design for the outer and inner packaging. Philippe continues: “the European cosmetics and personal care market is the largest market for cosmetic products in the world and we understand the significant need for companies in this sector to provide consumers with the most sustainable solutions.”

Sonoco’s Greencan packaging solution makes up the final part of its NatExpo 2021 line-up. A key part of its EnviroSense® family, Sonoco’s Greencan utilises recycled fibre and can be tailored to product and supply chain needs across a broad variety of markets. This recyclable, high performance all-paper package can be made round, square, rectangular, oval, oblong, triangular or any other specific shapes, to accommodate a wide variety of products and brands.

“All our products are manufactured with both the customer and the planet in mind,” says Philippe. “We invite all consumer product manufacturers to visit our stand at NatExpo 2021 to discover the true future of sustainable packaging.”

drumbeat

October 20, 2021

Case Study, News

Company News, Customer Solutions, Rigid Paper Containers, Sustainability
pladis further boosts sustainability credentials through Sonoco’s fully recyclable paper can

The leading global snack manufacturer is taking full advantage of Sonoco’s paper can range for its Mini Cheddars, Cheeselets, Cracker Crisps and Twiglets products.

pladis, the global snack company behind some of the UK’s most loved and iconic brands, has been on a mission to substantially reduce its environmental impact by updating the packaging of various products to more ecological alternatives. This is part of the company’s sustainability agenda, which reflects its commitment to making all its packaging recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2025. Most recently, pladis has made steps forward to move toward more paper-based solutions – its Mini Cheddars and Cheeselets ranges now use Sonoco’s paper can with paperboard end. Cracker Crisps and Mini Twiglets are also set to use Sonoco’s paper can later this year.

“We are using this new, innovative product from Sonoco for the summer launch of our Mini Cheddars and Cheeselets caddies, helping our customers to tap into the ‘big summer nights in’ from the comfort of their own homes. In September, we’ll be utilising Sonoco’s paper can for our customer’s favourite festive caddies, which include Mini Cheddars, Treeslets and Twiglets,” says Christopher Owen, Marketing Controller at pladis UK&I.

“We feel these occasions present the perfect opportunity to utilise Sonoco’s paper can with paperboard end. The container is made with recycled, recyclable and renewable paper fibres — making it a responsible choice from the beginning to the end of its lifecycle – perfect for what we’re looking to achieve as a brand, and it helps consumers make a more sustainable snack selection.”

Owen concludes, “Moving to Sonoco’s paper can solution is part of our wider mission to make our packaging easier to recycle. This is integral to our sustainability agenda, which illustrates our commitment to making our packaging more sustainable and is one of many great strides we’ve made in this area already.”

Philip Brown, UK Sales Manager at Sonoco Consumer Products Europe says, “We’ve been working with pladis for 13 years now, and we’re immensely proud to have provided them with various innovative packaging solutions for their immensely popular snack ranges.

“We’re delighted that Sonoco’s paper can with paperboard end, part of our EnviroSense™ product range, is helping pladis on their journey to make its packaging easier to recycle and fulfil the requirements of its sustainability agenda. We’re looking forward to helping them with their other ranges in the future.”

About pladis

pladis is one of the world’s leading snacking companies and home to beloved brands including McVitie’s and Ulker. pladis is also proud to distribute a range of GODIVA chocolates exclusively for consumer-packaged goods channels around the world. pladis owns regional brands such as Jacob’s, go ahead!, Carr’s, Flipz, BN, Verkade and many more, delighting consumers with products across the snacking category including sweet and savoury biscuits, wafer, cake, chocolate, gum and candy. Formed in 2016 with a promise to bring happiness to the world with every bite, pladis is the proud steward of more than 300 years’ baking and confectionery heritage. The expertise of its more than 16,000-strong global workforce spans 25 factories in 11 countries. As a responsible business, delivering the highest quality products and exceptional service, pladis’ products are distributed to reach potentially 4 billion people across the world. All pladis’ plastic wrappers in the UK & Ireland can be recycled through its partnership with TerraCycle. Consumers can find their nearest drop-off point at TerraCycle.co.uk. For more information, visit www.pladisglobal.com.

Contact

Richmond & Towers: Dani Cooper / Laura Martin

[email protected]
020 7388 7421

“Sonoco’s Paper Can with paperboard end meets the recycling requirements of the UK, which is great for our brand and the consumer, who can have peace of mind when disposing of the packaging in household waste recycling bins.”

Christopher Owen Marketing Controller, Pladis UK&I

Innovative, versatile and truly sustainable.
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drumbeat

July 29, 2021

Case Study, News

Company News, Customer Solutions, Rigid Paper Containers, Sustainability