SIG Sustainability Manager: Cartons deliver on consumer’s climate change demands

27 Jul 2020 --- Prominent campaigns on plastic waste and climate change have led many consumers to reconsider the environmental impact of packaged products. Brands are under increasing pressure to respond to demand for more environmentally-friendly packaging options. Ace Fung, Marketing Manager Sustainability at SIG, sits down with PackagingInsights to discuss why aseptic beverage cartons can offer the best solution, especially when enhanced with polymers linked to 100 percent plant-based materials or recycled post-consumer plastic waste.

“Recycling packaging is one of the most obvious ways consumers can do their bit for the environment and they expect packaging to be recyclable. Beverage cartons are recyclable after use. They also have the added environmental advantage that they are made mainly from renewable and sustainable paperboard,” Fung highlights.

According to a 2018 Pro Carton European Packaging Perceptions Study (ECPPS), 74 percent of Europeans say the media focus on packaging ending up in the sea has influenced them to change their purchasing habits. For example, in Spain, 81 percent of consumers say the environmental impact of a product’s packaging affects their purchasing decisions. Two-thirds have even switched products because of packaging concerns.

The ECPPS found that 52 percent of all Europeans believe cardboard is the most environmentally-friendly packaging. If the same product were packaged in two different forms, 81 percent would choose the cartonboard pack over the plastic one. 

Independent life-cycle assessments confirm this perception, showing that beverage cartons significantly outperform alternative packaging types on key environmental impacts, such as fossil resource consumption and climate change, according to SIG. The success is thanks to the high proportion of renewable raw materials and resource-efficient design of cartons.

“Overall, SIG carton packs use between 38 percent and 77 percent fewer fossil fuel resources than alternatives such as glass, HDPE or PET bottles, pouches and cans – for a range of products including long-life food, UHT milk and non-carbonated soft drinks. And they have a 28 percent to 70 percent lower life-cycle carbon footprint,” Fung explains. 

Combatting climate concerns with combibloc EcoPlus
Climate change has become a mainstream topic for consumers. Beverage cartons are helping the food and beverage industry meet the demand for lower-carbon packaging – and SIG is innovating to create even lower-carbon solutions.

The combibloc EcoPlus cuts the carbon footprint of SIG’s packs by 28% by eliminating the aluminum foil barrier. The combibloc EcoPlus pack, for example, cuts the carbon footprint of SIG’s packs by a further 28 percent by using an innovative material composition to eliminate the need for an aluminum foil barrier layer. The solution represents the “world’s first aluminum-free aseptic carton” and consists of 82 percent renewable paperboard. Ultra-thin polymer layers act as a barrier to protect the product from flavor loss and external odors, contain the liquid inside and keep moisture out. Sales of combibloc EcoPlus have now surpassed the 1 billion mark, SIG indicates.

The aseptic solutions provider recently rolled out Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI)-certified aluminum across all of its packs as standard throughout Europe. In July 2019, B-Better became the first brand to adopt the combidome with SIGNATURE packaging material using the ASI-approved ultra-thin aluminum foil.

Polymers linked to 100% plant-based materials
SIG built on the pioneering aluminum-free design of combibloc EcoPlus to create the “world’s first aseptic carton pack linked to 100 percent plant-based materials.” The SIGNATURE PACK 100 solution for the dairy market offers a 58 percent lower carbon footprint than a standard SIG pack.

“The polymers used in the pack are linked to plant-based materials through an innovative mass balance system that supports the use of renewable feedstock in mainstream polymer production. SIG chose tall oil – a residue extracted from wood in the paper-making process – as the plant-based feedstock because it’s a by-product from another industry rather than an agricultural crop requiring land and resources that could be used to produce food,” notes Fung.

Uptake of SIGNATURE PACK 100 is growing for dairy products with well-established brands like CANDIA and Arla across Europe. Major brands, such as Riedel, are also opting for SIGNATURE PACK for juice products. Like SIGNATURE PACK 100, the Full Barrier option uses polymers linked to plant-based materials but also includes a very thin aluminum foil barrier layer to protect products like orange juice that are more sensitive to light and oxygen. The solution has an around 45 percent lower carbon footprint than a standard SIG carton pack of the same format. SIGNATURE PACK Full Barrier is now offered with ASI-certified aluminum.

SIGNATURE PACK supports the transition away from conventional plastics made with fossil fuels without compromising on the quality of barrier protection. The World Packaging Organization recognized this milestone for aseptic packaging by awarding SIGNATURE PACK the prestigious WorldStar Packaging Award in 2019.Brands are under pressure to meet demand for more eco-friendly solutions. Aseptic beverage cartons can offer the natural solution, says Ace Fung, Marketing Manager Sustainability at SIG.

Cartons with circular polymers
SIG is also the “first” supplier to offer beverage cartons made with recycled polymers produced from post-consumer plastic waste. Recycled polymers enable the beverage industry to respond to regulatory demand for packaging made with recycled plastics. The European Council is discussing the introduction of an EU-wide levy on non-recycled plastic packaging waste, as part of the negotiations on the EU Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for the period 2021-2027.

Certified circular polymers reinforce SIG’s contribution to the circular economy by making use of low quality, mixed plastic waste that would otherwise be incinerated or sent to landfill. The mixed plastic waste that is collected is treated in a process that enhances the material and transforms it into a high-quality, food-grade material.

Alternative to plastic straws
The environmental impact of plastic straws is also a major concern for businesses and consumers around the world. With many governments and cities beginning to ban or phase out plastic straws, the food and beverage industry is under pressure to offer viable alternatives. 

To help producers meet these demands and reduce plastic waste, SIG developed “the first” fully renewable and recyclable paper straw solution for aseptic carton packs. The paper straw is designed to help the beverage industry meet the growing demand for environmentally friendlier packaging, prove their commitment to the environment, and maintain the convenience of small-size, on-the-go packs. In June, SIG’s fully recyclable 6 mm paper straw for aseptic carton packs was launched for the first time in Europe by French retailer chain Intermarché.

SIG developed a fully renewable and recyclable paper straw solution for aseptic carton packs.“We’ve worked closely with manufacturing partners to develop innovative straw solutions made of paper and robust enough to pierce the closed straw holes of our cartons. We’ve also redesigned the straw wrapper so it stays attached to the pack and can easily be recycled,” Fung says.

Going Way Beyond Good
With solutions like SIGNATURE PACK, combibloc EcoPlus and carton packs with circular polymers, SIG is pioneering sustainable product innovation. The company has also achieved a host of other industry firsts on its journey Way Beyond Good.

SIG was the first to enable customers to include the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) label on any of its packs and make all its packs with 100 percent renewable energy. Most recently, SIG was first to offer packs labeled with the ASI standard for responsible aluminum. 

“We are partnering with customers to create a more sustainable food system. We are committed to doing more, to go Way Beyond Good for people and the planet,” Fung concludes.

By Joshua Poole