Fishy business: Stora Enso’s EcoFishBox arms Scandi fish farmers with carbon reduced packaging

20 Mar 2020 --- In a bid to store and transport fish in a more environmentally friendly manner, Kalaneuvos and its sister company Nordic Trout have adopted Stora Enso’s fiber-based EcoFishBox. The switch to EcoFishBox enables recyclability and reduces the carbon footprint of fish farmers' packaging while also reportedly saving on costs. The move is in line with Kalaneuvos’s mission to be “the most sustainable fish industry company in Finland and Sweden” and Stora Enso’s goal to replace plastic packaging in the fish industry and others with fiber-based alternatives. 

“EcoFishBox is made of renewable wood fibers from sustainably managed forests. The box has thin polymer layers to protect the fibers from moisture and is fully recyclable,” Tomas von Hofsten, Head of EcoFishBox, Stora Enso, tells PackagingInsights.

“The box has significant sustainability benefits compared with competing materials. It has at least 40 percent lower CO2 emissions and fossil depletion than a traditional expanded polystyrene (EPS) fish box based on a recent Life Cycle Assessment study. Compared with a traditional EPS fish box, it takes up to seven times less transportation space needed both in storage and lorry transport, which results in both environmental benefits and lower costs. In addition there are typically additional savings in the waste handling, transportation and recycling costs. Moreover, EcoFishBox helps combat plastic littering in the value chain,” von Hofsten adds. 

Enhanced recyclability, reduced carbon
The use of styro boxes is very common in the fish industry but they create disposal issues. “The disposal of these styro boxes has been a big issue for our customers,” says Toni Hukkanen, COO at Kalaneuvos. “When EcoFishBox came, this problem was solved and it increased customer satisfaction.”

EcoFishBox is made of renewable wood fibers, has thin polymer layers to protect the fibers from moisture and is fully recyclable.Nordic Trout uses the EcoFishBox to ship fish from the fish farm to Kalaneuvos for processing. Then, Kalaneuvos uses the EcoFishBox to send fish to grocery stores. Nordic Trout CEO Alf-Håkan Romar explains that the company’s sustainability work is a collaborative process with its customers through the whole value chain, from the fish farm to the plate. The upgrade from polystyrene boxes to EcoFishBox reduced costs as they now transport 1/7 the volume. 

“I think it’s very easy to recycle. It’s quick to rinse, then they are left to dry, stacked and placed in recycling. It’s always a good thing if you get less waste and the carbon footprint is reduced,” notes Mira Lehtinen of K-Citymarket Sastamala, a client of Kalaneuvos. 

EcoFishBox is long lasting with matching performance to EPS in terms of storage time for the fish and shellfish and can meet the requirements of the fish supply chain and handle wet and moist environments for a long period without significant reduction in box strength, notes von Hofsten. 

The box is suitable for all kinds of fresh fish and shellfish. The standard portfolio of EcoFishBox comes in four different sizes (3,5, 10 and 20 kg) and can be fitted with different lid solutions including integrated lids to suit the customer needs. 

Customization capabilities
Customized solutions can also be developed for customer specific requirements. The boxes can be printed to offer additional marketing and branding opportunities for customers. “We also offer a complementary automation portfolio with box raising machines, conveyor and ice handling systems, based on our customer’s needs to ensure high productivity in their processing and packing lines,” highlights von Hofsten.

“The cost of the EcoFishBox is typically competitive compared to EPS, however, with a high variance depending on local conditions, such as logistics costs and whether there is local EPS production. However, the shift to EcoFishBox is typically not driven by cost reduction but to reduce the environmental impact of the fish industry, reducing both CO2 and fossil fuel depletion. Our existing customers are typically seeing a very positive reaction from their customers who appreciate the value of a more sustainable product. This is seen as a clear competitive advantage in the markets where our customers are operating,” von Hofsten concludes.

By Kristiana Lalou