FrieslandCampina switches 100 million plastic straws for innovative paper alternatives

23 Jan 2020 --- FrieslandCampina has released paper straws for all of its European packaging that features a straw. Over 100 million plastic straws will be replaced by a more sustainable, paper variant within a year’s time. This is a preemptive move from FrieslandCampina ahead of the EU ban on disposable plastic straws which will take full effect by 2021. The Dutch-based company is constantly making sustainability efforts. Following the introduction of a recyclable cheese packaging and milk carton for its Chocomel range, this is the next step towards less plastic, the company says.

“We will replace 142 million straws, which is more than 23,000 kilometers and 57,000 kilos of plastic,” Patrick van Baal, Global Director Packaging Development at FrieslandCampina, tells PackagingInsights.

Van Baal goes on to highlight that consumers respond in a positive way to sustainability efforts, as they recognize the need and “want to do good for the environment. He adds that paper straws are more expensive than plastic straws as the technology is new, while urging suppliers to invest in new production lines. 

The new straws are made of certified paper, which is paper that has been harvested in a responsible manner. “It is not easy to develop a strong paper straw that is flexible and hygienic and that does not get soft too quickly while drinking. Besides, the straw must be degradable in case it accidentally ends up in the environment. After a lot of testing, we have succeeded in developing a straw that meets all these requirements,” van Baal says.

These packages need flexible straws, otherwise, the straws will be too large for being glued onto the package or too small to completely empty it, the company explains.FrieslandCampina wants to be leading in sustainability and is therefore speeding up the reduction of plastic. The straws on small packaging of its own brands in a number of major countries within the EU will be the first to be replaced. These include the brands Chocomel, Fristi, Campina and Optimel in the Netherlands; Cécémel, Joyvalle and Fristi in Belgium; Pöttyös in Hungary and Yazoo in the UK. 

These packages need flexible straws, otherwise, the straws will be too large for being glued onto the package or too small to completely empty the package, the company explains.

Outside Europe, the company will also start using paper straws with the Dutch Lady brand in Hong Kong. There is not yet a qualitatively and hygienically suitable alternative for the plastic wrappers which are put around the straws for hygienic purposes. FrieslandCampina will also replace the plastic protective wrappers around the straws as soon as this has been found.

“We have recently introduced a fully recyclable and lighter version of the resealable packaging for cheese. With this, we achieve a plastic reduction of 30 percent for its most sold cheese packaging in Europe. This can lead to a decrease of more than 300,000 kg of plastic per year for reuse in other applications. This saving comes on top of an earlier plastic reduction of more than 20 percent. This cheese pack is the first non-recyclable cheese pack we made recyclable and we are working to have all our cheese packaging recyclable,” van Baal says.

“More specifically, our commitment is to have all our plastic packaging recyclable by 2025 and we will hence launch many improved packs in the coming years,” he concludes.

FrieslandCampina also recently signed The New Plastics Economy Global Commitment, led by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. With this commitment to work towards 100 percent reusable, recyclable or compostable packaging by 2025 or earlier, the company notes that it has taken the next step in this global ambition. FrieslandCampina’s move follows that of the Plastic Pact NL last February. 

By Kristiana Lalou

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