Greiner Packaging’s first virtual trade show explores circular economy, easy-separation solutions and digital watermarks

10 Jun 2021 --- Yesterday marked the opening of Greiner Packaging’s first-ever virtual Packworld trade show. The Innovation Days event held 19 live sessions over two days, focusing on packaging environmental sustainability and product innovation.

Speakers from a range of industry platforms, NGOs and government organizations joined Greiner Packaging representatives in talks and panel discussions, outlining the company’s plans to become “fully circular.”

Speaking to PackagingInsights, Jörg Sabo, Greiner Packaging’s global marketing and innovation director, says this year’s event is the most ambitious and challenging trade show the company has ever launched. 

He shares that despite having to organize all elements of the show virtually, including an interactive life cycle assessment (LCA) workshop, registrations and turnout for the event have been high. 

The event’s popularity reflects the company’s resilience throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw a sharp increase in material prices – with plastic doubling in value in some cases – coupled with a decrease in availability. 

However, Greiner managed to avoid any potential delivery failure to its customers and “came through the crisis quite well,” says Sabo. 

Greiner going circular 
In the show’s first panel discussion on achieving circular economy targets, Greiner Packaging CEO Manfred Stanek discussed the company’s membership with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s New Plastics Economy Global Commitment. 

The commitment is to eliminate problematic and unnecessary plastic packaging, meaning Greiner Packaging must ensure all its packaging is 100 percent recyclable, reusable or compostable, and use as much recycled content in packaging as possible by 2025. Greiner Packaging’s recyclable K3 cup.

“We believe these goals are ambitious but realistic if we work together as an industry. That is another reason why I really value this two-day event as we experience a great opportunity here for exchange along the value chain,” says Stanek. 

He emphasized the company will focus strongly on the “reduce, recycle and reuse” principles as well as using a diverse range of materials and ensuring all products are designed for recycling. 

K3 separation 
A major highlight of the opening conference was the focus on Greiner Packaging’s K3 recyclable cardboard-plastic combination, which Sabo explained will play an important part in the company’s circular economy strategy.

The plastic cup is unprinted, making it easily recyclable, and now features a new tear-tab solution, which was introduced to make separation of the cardboard wrap easier.

However, consumers still play an important role in the separation process – meaning it does not always take place. 

“As we very much believe in the benefits of K3 cups in terms of sustainability and a circular economy, we have devoted great attention to their improvement,” says Jörg Sabo. 

“I can tell you exclusively today that we found a solution that allows separation of the cardboard before the cups enter sorting facilities.” 

“This new solution ensures that the cardboard will separate itself from the plastic cup before entering the sorting facility, significantly increasing recycling rates. We will bring this breakthrough to the market as soon as possible.” 

Digital watermarks
Greiner Packaging is also a member of the HolyGrail 2.0 initiative, where companies over the whole value chain are seeking to advance digital watermarking to change the way packaging is sorted to empower more efficient recycling. 

The codes – which are the size of a postage stamp – are unnoticeable on the packaging surface at first glance but provide information about the attributes of the packaging, such as the types of plastic contained, and also have potential to promote consumer engagement, demonstrate transparency in supply chains, or run retail promotions. Greiner is extending its range of packaging materials.

Greiner Packaging is participating in semi-industrial sorting tests. It has already produced promo cups for all its decoration technologies which will be put to the test within the HolyGrail 2.0 initiative. 

Moreover, the company has developed an augmented reality app with Talkin’ Things to involve consumers in the recycling process of K3 cups, Sabo announced.

Plastic Bank cooperation 
Greiner Packaging is in long-standing cooperation with Plastic Bank – a Canadian non-profit that creates eco-recycling systems. The partnership’s shared goal is to prevent plastic from flowing into the oceans while lifting people out of poverty. 

Supporting waste pickers in less developed regions of the world by purchasing collected plastics, for example, can be reborn as “Social Plastic.” This material is then sold to manufacturing companies, which incorporate recyclate for their products and packaging. Greiner Packaging has supported Plastic Bank with the start-up of five collection centers in Manila, Philippines.

“We have decided to expand our partnership with Plastic Bank. To be precise, we will finance another 165,000 kg of plastic waste collected. By that, we can contribute further to supporting local gatherers financially, while at the same time keeping beaches clean and securing new material streams,” says Staneck. 

By Louis Gore-Langton