See here how in 2023, we worked on a system to collect plastic waste from our customers and then make new waste bags from this collected plastic.
Stichting Vierdaagsefeesten Nijmegen
From our branch in Beuningen, we have been involved in the Nijmegen Four-Day Festivities for many years. As a partner, we help them make the festival more sustainable, for example by providing rPET cups for the circular cup system in collaboration with CircularPET.
Koninklijke Vereniging Bloemist Winkeliers (VBW) is the entrepreneurial trade association for established florists in the Netherlands. As a partner of the VBW, we help florists with respect to creativity, innovation and developments related to sustainability. We are actively involved in trade competitions and in cooperation with the VBW inspiration team, among others, we organize (online) events and share trends and product developments.
VBW, Vereniging Bloemist Winkeliers
With increasing complexity there need for education is important. Paardekooper participates in the programme council of the university chair, established by the NVC, at the University of Twente. In this chair we contribute to the knowledge of packaging technologists of the future. We do this in the Msc Studies ‘Packaging Design & Management’.
Packaging Chair
Plastic Pact NL
We take part in the Reduce & Reuse working group of the Plastic Pact. Here we work with other companies and NGOs along with the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management to make plastic use in the Netherlands more sustainable. In 2023, we participated in several sessions that allowed us to strengthen our network on this topic
Trade association NVC connects companies that recognize the importance of packaging and encourages the continuous improvement of packaging. The NVC gives packaging companies a united voice in the market and politics. In 2023, we attended interesting webinars on topics including AI and packaging and the use of recyclate in food contact materials.
NVC, Nederlands Verpakkingscentrum
MVO Nederland
Network organization MVO Nederland supports and connects organizations in the field of sustainability. This has resulted in a network of partners that innovates and implements together to achieve the new economy.
Circular Plastics Alliance
The Sustainable Packaging Knowledge Institute (KIDV), part of Verpact, advises and inspires companies on making their packaging more sustainable. We participate in the Community of Practice (COP) Reusable Packaging, which studies and implements reusable options.
KIDV community of practice
Through our participation in the Circular Plastics Alliance, we are working on various sustainable packaging solutions. Examples include the CircularBag, the Recy flower sleeves and - new in 2023 - the Eco flower boxes Re-Pact and Fect.
In 2023, Paardekooper's Horti division signed the Horti Sustainable Packaging Initiative (HSPI). As part of this initiative, ten packaging producers and suppliers in the floriculture industry are working together to make flower and plant packaging more sustainable.
Through intensive collaboration, we aim to accelerate the transition to more environmentally friendly packaging. In this way, we want to make an active contribution to a sustainable future of the floriculture sector and a healthy living environment. The initiative focuses on three themes: chain transparency and certification, circularity in materials and packaging, and life cycle assessments.
Horti Sustainable Packaging Initiative
In 2023, Paardekooper entered into a partnership with NL Schoon, part of Verpact. In this partnership, we demonstrate how we work to prevent litter and encourage others to do the same.
We also attended the campaign day in which people were encouraged to bring their own tray or cup for take-away food and drinks, for example.
F.l.t.r. Thea van Unen en Susan van Kruijsbergen (Paardekooper), Eva Amsterdam (Coca-Cola in Nederland), Hilde van der Vegt (Zero Waste Nederland), Jord Van Wassenhove (PepsiCo), Staatssecretaris Vivianne Heijnen, Niels-Olaf Bout (The Wave), Directeur a.i. Nederland Schoon Ingrid Goethart, Eveline Graus (Heineken), Ika van de Pas (Milieu Centraal), Dennis van Dalfsen (Domino’s), Directeur Afvalfonds Verpakkingen Hester Klein Lankhorst.
A nice example of a newly introduced plastic-free item is the Go!Mealbox
This meal packaging is made of paper and designed with recycling in mind. The inner layer is removable, keeping the cardboard part of the packaging clean and thus recyclable. This packaging also complies with the SUP legislation
We help teams engage with each other by wrapping the topic of social safety literally and figuratively in a chatterbox.
In 2023, we introduced the topic of social safety within the organization. We delved into the legislation surrounding this matter, and by employing the appropriate certifications, we ensured transparency throughout the supply chain.
As a result of the SUP legislation, customers in our Paardekooper Stores need clear in-store signage alerting them to plastic-free packaging
Our shelf communication helps customers choose plastic-free packaging quickly and easily.
PPWR
The upcoming Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation mainly focuses on Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. We are preparing for this through the RESPECT-strategy and the assortment classification.
CBAM
On 1 October, the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, introduced by the European Commission, came into force. This involves a carbon adjustment taking place on the European border. Naturally, Paardekooper has responded.
Law on diversity quotas and targets
In 2023, we reported for the first time in the SER diversity portal about gender diversity in different layers in the organization.
Microplastics
Since October 2023, microplastics for specific uses can no longer be placed on the EU market. This meant that our colleagues needed to start looking for alternatives to glitter, for example.
Waste management fee
Besides the SUP legislation, we have also been working to organize the waste management fee better.
SUP
Over the past year, we naturally also continued our efforts to establish an assortment that complies with the Single Use Plastics (SUP) legislation, and entered into discussions with customers to find the best solution for them.
EUTR
In 2023, the NVWA confirmed that Paardekooper complies with the European Timber Regulation (EUTR) and the due diligence system. In order to be ready for the new European Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), we aim to eventually only buy paper, wood and cardboard items with an FSC label.
Speak out!
NL SCHOON
Certification overview
For the certificates, visit the Paardekooper website
To make our assortment more sustainable, we work with the following sustainability, packaging, and environmental quality certifications.
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new partnerships
Besides these existing partnerships, Paardekooper also entered into two new partnerships in 2023:
our partners
We cannot make our chains more sustainable on our own. For that reason, we are working with various parties to initiate further sustainability efforts. We partnered with NL Schoon,part of Verpact, and proactively engaged with various media. We continued our partnership with Stichting Jarige Job and our colleagues were able to suggest charities from which three winners were drawn. Over the past year, Paardekooper has worked with several partners:
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Social safety: This is how we work at Paardekooper
Lyanne Paardekooper
‘The packaging industry must take responsibility and take action to reduce waste and environmental impact. We are committed to mobilizing our sector.’
Besides being able to call each other to account for our behaviour, it is also possible to report undesirable situations at Paardekooper. Not only with respect to social safety, but also in other areas.
We take these reports seriously and treat them confidentially. Our colleagues can report to one of the contact persons, but they can also report in person or anonymously via the online platform Paardekooper Speeki, which was implemented in our organization in 2023.
Consultation with an external confidential advisor is also an option.
We thus encourage our colleagues to voice their doubts and concerns, so that together we can ensure a safe and pleasant working environment.
Over the past year, several building blocks have been defined around our core values - Honest, Together, Resourceful and Expert - which collectively form our Code of Conduct. Things that we take for granted and that form the basis for how we treat each other - internally and externally. These building blocks are explained in our internal manual: 'This is how we work at Paardekooper'. The manual aims to create a pleasant working environment for all our colleagues, thus maintaining and further enhancing our good reputation.
In a working environment where colleagues feel safe and can be themselves, it is important that we call each other to account for our behaviour.
She puts sustainability on the agenda within the Management and Supervisory Boards. She also provides guidance to our Group Manager Sustainability, Susan van Kruijsbergen, who is responsible for implementing the sustainability strategy in the organization, for example by elaborating it in programmes and projects. When relevant, Susan joins the Division Management Teams to discuss concrete projects. She leads the Sustainability Team consisting of three sustainability advisors, one for each division. These internal advisors are the points of contact for colleagues, they support their own division with respect to sustainability towards customers and are also part of projects at group level.
Besides the Sustainability Team, the Circular Business Team, led by Group Manager Circular Business Elske Schotte, also plays an important role in our efforts to lead the field in sustainable packaging and drive sustainability in Europe. She and her team design, develop and sell circular business models, in which reusable products are traceably deployed.
Both teams support the organization whereby sharing knowledge and expertise is key. By providing training and developing tools, we encourage all colleagues to put sustainability at the heart of their own work. Implementing our strategy is thus a shared responsibility of the entire organization, to which everyone can contribute each and every day!
Na een succesvolle pilot met een retourpercentage van 100%, werken zes Duitse bungalowparken inmiddels met onze herbruikbare maaltijdverpakkingen voor het snackbargedeelte.
Landal Greenparks verzorgt zelf de reiniging van de herbruikbare verpakkingen en zet deze opnieuw in. Als de verpakking aan het einde van de bruikbare levensduur is, verzorgt Paardekooper de recycling in samenwerking met de producent.
In samenwerking met Albert Heijn hebben we een herbruikbaar verszakje ontwikkeld. Het verszakje, gemaakt van nylon, is geschikt voor het verpakken en meenemen van bijvoorbeeld groenten, fruit en broodjes en is een duurzame vervanger van het traditionele plastic verszakje. De impact is wetenschappelijk onderzocht door The LCA Centre. Het herbruikbare verszakje heeft na 6 keer hergebruik een lagere CO2-footprint in vergelijking met een traditioneel hemdzakje van HDPE dat 1 keer wordt gebruikt.
• Aantoonbaar duurzamer na zes keer hergebruik. • Minder verpakkingsafval. • Voorloper die de retail in beweging heeft gezet.
POWERSTERKO AFVALZAKKEN VAN GERECYCLED MATERIAAL
Na een succesvolle pilot met een retourpercentage van 100%, werken zes Duitse bungalowparken inmiddels met onze herbruikbare maaltijdverpakkingen voor het snackbargedeelte.
Landal Greenparks verzorgt zelf de reiniging van de herbruikbare verpakkingen en zet deze opnieuw in. Als de verpakking aan het einde van de bruikbare levensduur is, verzorgt Paardekooper de recycling in samenwerking met de producent.
Our sustainability efforts in 2023 earned us a silver EcoVadis medal. Through our participation in the EcoVadis supplier assessment, we give our customers insight into our sustainability efforts. EcoVadis is a collaborative platform that allows companies to evaluate the sustainability performance of their suppliers, thereby managing risks and encouraging eco-innovations in their global supply chains.
We have committed to amfori BSCI. By doing so, we demonstrate our commitment to a responsible chain when it comes to working conditions. In high-risk countries, our goal is to only source from BSCI member suppliers. The final situation on 31 December 2023 was 84% BSCI and a total of 89% social compliance coverage through other platforms like Sedex. We ensure that all suppliers for whom we are responsible undergo new audits in a timely manner.
BSCI
QA-CER
Paardekooper is QA-CER certified. This means that the purchase, sale and distribution of all recycled products that are accredited to contain demonstrably 30% or more recycled content are covered by the QA-CER certificate.
BRCGS – S&D
The international independent Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) label ensures that raw materials for wood and paper products come from responsibly managed forests. We aim to source more than 95% of our paper, wood, cardboard, and bamboo items with the FSC label by the end of 2025.
FSC®
These standards specifically define the requirements for the storage and distribution sector that organizations trading in food must meet with respect to food safety and quality. Because Paardekooper delivers to food producers and large retailers, this is expressly demanded by our customers.
Sustainability embedded in the strategic roadmap
Legislation
Legislation relating to sustainability and packaging is continuously evolving. We involve our customers by proactively informing them of key developments. In 2023, the following legislation took centre stage.
Royal Dutch Paardekooper Group is a family business. We share the same ambition and attach great importance to our values. As part of the family business, we want our colleagues to feel safe and secure.
Responsibility for sustainability is established at various levels in our organization. At board level, Lyanne Paardekooper, as CMO and family representative, is responsible for sustainability. Sustainability is embedded in the organization's strategic roadmap and Lyanne monitors its implementation
