An important step was the hiring of Group Manager Circular Business, Elske Schotte. This has given our solutions for reusable systems a permanent place within the organization.

Elske Schotte
Group Manager Circular Business

‘How do we see the future? As much reusable packaging as possible, in a circular system, provided this is the best choice based on an LCA study.’

‘Shelf life and sustainability are now just as important as the protective function.’

A circular collaboration:
The Food Line-up
and Paardekooper

The Food Line-up, a B-Corp-certified business caterer with a big focus on impact, likes looking for solutions that not only reduce plastic, but certainly also reduce waste. The Food Line-up did not want to wait for the SUP legislation for events, but wanted to be at the forefront of a solution itself. They chose Paardekooper's reusable alternatives. We spoke to Annemiek de Been, Product Manager at The Food Line-up.

Working together
on sustainability: Paardekooper x Schwartzmans

*Page in Dutch

Film is used in different ways. For example, as a flowpack for the packaging of (prepared) vegetables, fruit, meat and dairy products. Or as a topseal on a tray or bowl. Cucumbers and broccoli are also often wrapped in film to reduce food waste. 

Making film more sustainable is a very hot topic and developments are moving fast.

In partnership with Schwartzmans, Paardekooper conducted a pilot to evaluate the current assortment and explore possible steps to make it more sustainable. We used our assortment classification for this.

In de komende jaren willen we onze organisatie CO₂-uitstoot halveren.

Materialiteitsanalyse uitgevoerd om onze leidende thema’s te bepalen

2023

(and the recycling situation in the Netherlands)

excluding Horti division

% of packaging THAT IS RECYCLABLE
BASED ON REVENUE

Packaging material types
AS % OF REVENUE

packaging share
% of revenue

assortment classification 2023
based on turnover

2022

2.265

27

1.489

323

388

2.182

22

1.740

389

584

Carbon footprint 2023 vs. 2022
CO2 emissions (in tons)

Our greatest impact is in the products we bring to the market every day.

For that reason, we developed our assortment classification, which we use to establish the sustainability of specific products based on various criteria, such as legislation and guidelines. This tells us where we are and what steps we still need to take.

The movement towards more sustainable packaging is in full swing. And not only at Paardekooper. The government, entrepreneurs and consumers are also becoming more aware of packaging, the materials it is made of and the impact it has on the environment.

Paardekooper's Circular Business Team is therefore working on reusable packaging systems. We can then ensure that - in addition to our regular assortment - our customers have access to solutions where they can use the same products time and time again with total peace of mind.'

The Circular Business Team is the driver behind the transition from disposable to reusable packaging.  Together with an interdisciplinary team of experts and in close collaboration with our divisions and partners, they work on developing innovative circular concepts for reusable packaging. These might involve total solutions for reusable tableware, cups and e-commerce shipping packaging including deposits, as well as pooling solutions for flower buckets and crates, for example. 

Laws and regulations are constantly being tightened and consumers are reminded of their responsibility to choose better packaging.

For more than a decade, our independent scientific research agency founded by Dr Alan Campbell, The LCA Centre, has been the place where we test materials, conduct life cycle assessments and measure the impact of our packaging. Through this fact-based approach, we can make our products more sustainable, advise customers and respond to changing laws and regulations in a timely manner. With this data we can substantiate Green Claims, in which technical and specific knowledge at PHD-level and broad experience is necessary

The greatest impact of our organization is not in our buildings, but in the products we buy and sell. In 2023, we therefore made great progress in understanding the carbon footprint of our products.

38,5%

25,7%

22,8%

61,5%

61,7%

77,2%

Electric company and lease cars

CO₂-footprint 2023 (scope 1 and 2)
presented in percentages

In setting the new targets, we take into account what, for instance, customers expect from us. Customers are increasingly asking for Science Based Targets (SBT). These provide an in-depth science-based analysis of emissions and reduction plans. By working with these targets, we can be sure that our goals, in proportion to the nature and size of the company, will meet the Paris Climate Agreement. Paardekooper has already committed to the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). Once the target is set for the products (scope 3), we can get these targets approved.

studying other things that have an impact, such as hired transport, air travel and commuting. We then determine our target for these so-called scope 3 emissions. More about this in our 2024 sustainability report!

In 2023, we introduced an innovative reusable coffee cup that is perfect for both on-the-go and on-site consumption. The specially designed cup meets the requirements of coffee machines, offering a sustainable alternative to disposable coffee cups. The vending cup is fully compliant with SUP legislation.

Unique coffee vending cup

In 2023, we introduced paper bread clips as an alternative to traditional clips. Traditional clips are made from polystyrene, a harmful type of plastic, which falls into our ‘phase out’ category. This switch reduces our reliance on harmful materials. Moreover, the paper bread clips are suitable for machine use, which means they can also be used in industrial bakeries.

Paper bread clips

Last year, we introduced Gumtape, an innovative and sustainable tape solution. Not only is this tape very effective for sealing packaging, it is also plastic-free. This makes the tape easy to recycle. The tape contains a water-activated adhesive made from starch, making it a renewable and biodegradable alternative to traditional plastic tapes. The paper for this tape is sourced from FSC-managed forests.

New to the market: Gumtape

Our Horti division has replaced the PVC tubes our Christmas baubles are sold in with PET tubes. By doing this this packaging moves from the category ‘phase out’ towards ‘more conscious’.

From PVC to PET bauble tubes

For each product, we determine the environmental impact of material, production process, transport and the waste phase. In early 2024, we are finalizing the BI dashboard in which we calculate this footprint. for each product. We complete our footprint by also

Rooftop garden of our new Horti facility in Aalsmeer

Over the next few years, we aim to halve our organization's carbon emissions.

Materialiteitsanalyse uitgevoerd om onze leidende thema’s te bepalen

3/6

Making the assortment more sustainable
is something we do together

At the Global Fresh Produce and Floral Show in Anaheim California, Broekhof USA presented itself in a stand made entirely of recycled cardboard. Colleague Dr Alan Campbell from The LCA Centre gave a workshop on 'Transforming Floral Packaging for Sustainability and Profit’.

In 2022, we focused on setting up and implementing the assortment classification in our organization. In 2023, the focus was on its applicability towards customers.
We conducted pilots with an initial group of account managers at six customers. This gave us insight into how our employees can easily apply this tool, allowing us to roll out the assortment classification to as many customers as possible.

Circular chain partner

Floral Show

A look behind the scenes
at The LCA Centre

Customer pilots
testing in practice

In 2023, we formulated an action plan and objectives
for our organization.

Paardekooper takes its responsibility to reduce its environmental impact. We have, for instance, been working for years to make buildings and shops more energy efficient.

We continuously map our impact in terms of CO₂. This allows us to make informed choices and actually measure the improvements. Focusing on the theme of ‘reducing the environmental impact in the chain' will help us further reduce our impact - together with our suppliers and customers.

credit Willeke Machiels - Fitchd

credit Rogier Boogaard

Data dashboards

Science Based Targets (SBT)

The footprint of our products

Scope 1 en 2 CO₂ emissions of our organization.