Elopak highlights 11% greenhouse gas emissions reductions in 2020 Sustainability Report
12 May 2021 --- Elopak has published its 2020 Sustainability Report, highlighting an 11 percent decrease in greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) against a 2017 baseline.
The reduction represents “great progress” toward its Science Based Target initiative-approved 55 percent GHG reduction goal.
The global carton packaging and filling equipment supplier has also increased sales of its fully renewable cartons for fresh milk in Europe, reaching 18 percent in 2020, compared to 8 percent in 2018.
The company has been using 100 percent renewable energy and maintaining carbon neutrality since 2016.
Carbon savings
The progress in 2020 was achieved through a combination of innovation and initiatives. For example, at Elopak’s Aarhus facility in Denmark, there was a switch from fossil fuel to electric energy on one of the production converters.
There was also the adoption of intelligent LED lighting to reduce the power consumption of the facility’s lighting system by 78.4 percent.
Meanwhile, Elopak has reduced the energy per carton by 13 percent since 2017 and 23 percent since 2008.
Elopak launched the Pure-Pak Imagine carton in 2020, featuring a new easy-open feature instead of a plastic screw cap.
The company had already achieved a reduction in the carbon footprint of its average carton with closure before 2020 – from 32 gCO2e in 2014 to 25 gCO2e in 2020.
The carbon footprint of its carton without closure is much lower at 17 gCO2e. In 2020, Elopak launched the Pure-Pak Imagine carton, designed with a new easy-open feature instead of a plastic screw cap. This carton contains 46 percent less plastic and is fully forest-based.
People focus
Elopak also maintained its strong focus on people in 2020, investing in the training and education of its employees.
The company recorded 5,300 course completions during the year, with 80 percent of employees receiving one or more training courses.
The company participated in wider community initiatives, in particular related to the COVID-19 pandemic, such as working with customers to provide milk to food banks in France and donating water boxes to hospitals in Spain.
“Despite the challenges of 2020 we remained focused on our vision – chosen by people, packaged by nature,” comments Elopak’s CEO Thomas Körmendi.
Elopak recently re-introduced its D-Pak carton for non-food products.
“Today we celebrate the progress we have made in recent years, including five years of carbon neutrality. However, with the climate decade upon us, we must continue our work to advance a low carbon circular economy.”
In recognition of its commitment to advancing sustainability and working collaboratively to pursue the UN Sustainable Development Goals, Elopak announced it had joined the UN Global Compact as a participant earlier this year.
First full digital report
The 2020 report is Elopak’s first fully digital sustainability report and conducted in accordance with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) framework.
It covers the planet, people and profit, setting out the company’s 2020 performance in the context of past progress and future ambitions, sharing case studies showcasing some of the drivers behind progress, and identifying the remaining challenges as the company works to become net-zero.
“2020 was an exceptional year in many respects, but critically it marked the beginning of the climate decade,” says Elopak’s sustainability director Marianne Grovens.
“At Elopak we believe now is the time to shift our focus from simply doing less harm toward doing more good. Our 2020 Sustainability Report sets out our latest performance and ambitions on this front.”
By Joshua Poole
