Circularity Success Stories

The circular economy is no longer a distant vision - it's a driving force in the packaging industry, particularly for fibre-based solutions. At 4evergreen, we're proud to help drive this movement through the innovative achievements of our member companies.

In Europe, overall legislation – including the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation –? strives to drive a systemic shift towards a circular economy that reduces waste, keeps resources in use for longer, and minimises environmental impact. The packaging industry is not only closely following the developments and requirements of these regulations, but is already taking action on its own, and fast - demonstrating innovation, collaboration and commitment to circular economy principles.

Industry best practice

That’s why last year the 4evergreen alliance launched the 'Circularity Success Stories' initiative – a testament to the industry's commitment to driving sustainable solutions.

Falling into five key categories that highlight the different stages of the lifecycle in a packaging product's life, the projects represent a diverse range of approaches to achieving a more circular future for packaging.

A total of 22 projects submitted by 4evergreen member companies qualified. Five were selected by a jury to be presented at 4evergreen's last annual conference, "The Pathway to Circularity: from Guidance to Action". While you can stay tuned for 2024, when new successful projects will be presented, below are the selected projects for 2023 in each category.

Addressing recyclability challenges

This category focused on advancements in recycling technology, innovative recyclable packaging systems, and initiatives that promote higher recycling rates. The selected project for this category was:

Aquapak - Hydropol

• Challenge: Functionalise paper for sensitive food applications while ensuring its recyclability in standard paper mills, which process the most common standard grades and high volumes of paper and board for recycling.
• Solution: Aquapak’s Hydropol is a water-soluble, biodegradable polymer technology based on polyvinyl alcohol. It can be applied to paper for food packaging using standard polymer extrusion equipment, and provides excellent gas, oil, and grease resistance. It is safe for food contact, heat-sealable, and ideal for form-fill-seal paper packaging.

Designing for circularity

Here, the spotlight was on design solutions and material innovations that enhance a package's recyclability. The selected project for this category was:

SIG - SIG Terra alu-free

• Challenge: Maintain robust barrier properties comparable to traditional alternatives.
• Solution: SIG Terra alu-free full barrier optimises aseptic carton design. By eliminating the need for aluminium layers, it provides a greener solution for oxygen-sensitive beverages, including fruit juices, nectars, flavoured milk, and plant-based drinks. SIG Terra alu-free is fully recyclable within existing systems, ensuring the preservation of high-quality materials for continued use.

Improving collection and sorting

Recognising the crucial role of proper collection and sorting infrastructure, this category celebrated projects that streamline these processes. The selected project for this category was:

Huhtamaki, Seda, Stora Enso, and McDonalds - The Cup Collective

• Challenge: Paper cups offer an eco-friendly and convenient way to enjoy drinks on the go, but recycling them faces challenges.
• Solution: The Cup Collective, a collaboration between Huhtamaki, Seda, Stora Enso, and McDonalds, is a European project that integrates paper cups into a transparent, open-loop recycling system within the circular economy, enabling multiple cycles of cup fibre recycling, creating added value at each stage, from cups to magazines, cardboard packaging, and more.

Circularity best practices

Collaboration is key in the circular economy. This category acknowledged successful partnerships and strategies that minimise the environmental impact of packaging and its supply chain. The selected project for this category was:

Elopak, Tetra Pak, and SIG - Palurec PolyAl Recycling Plant

• Challenge: More than 25 years ago, specialised paper mills began using the fibre content of beverage cartons to produce high-quality corrugated paperboard. The industry has long aspired to achieve circularity, a feat already accomplished with fibre recycling. Now, the next step involves recycling non-fibre materials.
• Solution: With Palurec (a collaboration between Elopak, Tetra Pak, and SIG), this next step has been realised. Palurec GmbH is the first recycling plant in Germany dedicated to recycling Polymer and Aluminum separated from fibres in the beverage carton recycling process at specialised paper mills.? This is a crucial second step in the beverage carton recycling chain, contributing to their full circularity.

Landmark investments project enabling 4evergreen key targets

Finally, this category highlighted investments that propel us closer to 4evergreen’s ambitious goals, including achieving our 90% recycling rate target for fibre-based packaging by 2030. The selected project for this category was:

DS Smith - Fibre Lab

• Challenge: Develop innovative packaging solutions that can easily support the reduction, reuse and recycling of raw materials.
• Solution: Through Fibre Lab (Fibre and Paper Development Laboratory), DS Smith is actively investigating advanced technologies that elevate the functional and eco-friendly attributes of fibre-based packaging. This encompasses a wide range of areas, from coatings and barrier technology to wet-end chemistries and surface chemistries.

Inspiring progress

The ‘Circularity Success Stories’ initiative is just one way 4evergreen fosters innovation and further collaboration within the industry.

To continue to inspire a wider shift towards a circular economy in packaging, 4evergreen will relaunch the Circularity Success Stories initiative this year, which will be presented at its annual conference at the end of 2024.

To find out more and read all 22 circularity success stories, please visit the 4evergreen website at https://4evergreenforum.eu/circularity-success-stories/

We encourage all stakeholders in the packaging industry to explore the possibilities of a circular future with the support of 4evergreen’s tools and guidelines . Let's work together to make sustainable packaging the norm!