‘It is a matter of company policy that our assortment cannot contain articles forbidden by law. Therefore, on 1 July 2022, we ended the purchase and supply of articles containing PFAS with immediate effect in The Netherlands. The right decision, but not without its consequences. Most of the time there were no alternatives to products containing PFAS. And so, by ending supplies we saddled our customers with a serious challenge. Especially as this was in a period when, due to Covid 19, sales were still fragile in the hospitality industry. We had a lot of explaining to do, and we are feeling the effects of that decision to this day. But, if you want to lead the field in sustainability, you have to take the consequences of your actions.’
Lyanne Paardekooper
Paardekoopermakes a bold decision
The SUP legislation means: less disposal, more reuse.
The Dutch government is combating litter by restricting the use of disposable plastic products through the SUP legislation. On 1 July 2023 a ban comes into place on the free provision of disposable cups and takeaway meal containers containing plastic.
In The Netherlands a ban on the use of PFAS in food packaging came into effect sooner than expected in, on 1 July 2022. No transition period was introduced, and the ban was immediately applicable. Alternatives were few and far between. Needless to say, we have given this our full attention and developed and sourced good alternatives in conjunction with our partners. In all confidence we can meet our customers' need with our new Bagasse line, Ersatz bags and cardboard sheets for snacks, cake and food packaging.
Ban on use of PFAS
Niels Remmerswaal Programme Manager
Dutch Children's Book Week, Giga Green! What to do with your packaging after use?
To draw children's attention to the litter in their environment and get them excited to take part, we created a bingo card of the items that turn up in litter. Many of our colleagues took their families out with them. They were armed with bin bags, grabbers and the 'litter pick-up selfie bingo card'. A great way to join forces and make the world a cleaner place, and to teach children from an early age that litter doesn't belong on the streets.
In 2022 we took part in World Cleanup Day. Colleagues and other interested parties could request free ‘no time to waste’ PowerSterko bin bags to collect the litter in.
Participation in World Cleanup Day 2022
It is for that reason that we have given our colleagues training in RESPECT since 2021. Some 220 colleagues followed the training in 2022. We learn what RESPECT signifies to our organisation and why we engage with it. We use our assortment classification to show how we engage with it. But we are also realistic: we still have a long way to go, and we desperately need everyone's help. It is our goal to make it clear to everyone that they themselves can contribute to our organisation's sustainability ambitions on a daily basis.
To help with the internal training of our colleagues we have our own online platform, the Paardekooper Academy.
PK Academy
Employees get to choose from a wide range of training courses (digital and classroom). We offer training courses, developed in-house, on our own products, processes and systems, as well as general training including Excel skills and giving feedback. We make knowledge widely available in this way and share knowledge with each other. The Academy is used by 523 of our colleagues, and 98 different e-learning courses were followed. Twenty-two training courses were provided internally by Paardekooper.
Sustainability is a mindset. A feasible sustainability strategy is a well-supported sustainability strategy.
INTERNAL EDUCATION
Training in RESPECT
The present and upcoming legislation are accelerating the transition to more sustainable packaging. While these developments have our full support, it is not always a simple matter. They make the rules increasingly complex. Packaging is rapidly becoming the domain of experts. A role that suits us to the ground. It is up to us to guide our customers through these developments by informing them (proactively) about the most important ones.
Packers of the future
We are glad to look at sharing our know-how with next generation of packers. In September 2022, students from the Product Design programme at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences visited our Paardekooper Experience. In the Packaging Technology class they were asked to design improved plastic food packaging for several companies.
The packaging rules are becoming increasingly complex. Our industry is facing a growing tide of legislation. We do all we can as a company to prepare for the future.
An expert domain
We guide our customers through these developments by informing them (proactively) about the most important ones.
‘We help our customers deal with complex packaging issues, due, among other things, to the changing laws and regulations. You can't pick the right course of action unless you know exactly what is going on.’
Zero Waste cup voor slimme koffie to go
De Zero Waste Cup is het perfecte alternatief voor single-use wegwerpbekers voor bijvoorbeeld koffiezaken, pretparken en evenementen. Klanten betalen voor de Zero Waste Cup statiegeld. Dankzij de unieke QR-code op de beker en innovatieve technologie verloopt de afhandeling hiervan volledig digitaal. Paardekooper levert de beker én de slimme technologie die onze klanten overal en altijd inzicht en overzicht biedt.
• 100% recyclebaar. • Digitaal statiegeld systeem. • CO2 footprint al na 2e keer gebruik lager dan normale koffiebeker. • Goede isolerende werking.
Herbruikbare shopper voor de Bijenkorf
Voor de Bijenkorf ontwikkelden we een herbruikbare shopper gemaakt van gerecycled plastic als alternatief voor hun grote papieren tas. We hebben verschillende materialen onderzocht, waarbij we ook rekening gehouden hebben met de verwerkbaarheid en praktische eisen waaraan de verpakking moet voldoen. De milieu-impact van de verschillende materialen is bepaald op basis van een LCA en overall gezien blijkt de shopper van gerecycled plastic in deze situatie de beste keuze:
• Voor de productie van de r-PET shopper is in vergelijking met de voorgaande papieren shopper de helft minder water nodig. • Na 3 keer hergebruik is ook de CO2-uitstoot lager dan de grote papieren shopper.
Next Gen Bucket duurzame bloemenemmer
Samen met onze leverancier hebben we de ‘Next Gen Bucket’ ontwikkeld; een toekomstbestendig alternatief voor de reguliere zwarte bloemenemmer. We stimuleren onze klanten om gebruikte bloemenemmers mee retour te geven ter recycling. In 2022 hebben ruim 37 klanten samen 1.010.318 kg emmers ingeleverd die opnieuw voor productie gebruikt konden worden.
• Gemaakt van 25% minder plastic en toch net zo sterk en stabiel als zijn zwaardere voorgangers. • Gemaakt van 100% gerecycled PP. • Mono plastic dus 100% recyclebaar. • 47% minder energieverbruik in vergelijking met traditionele productiemethodes. • 26% reductie van de CO2-footprint.
No impact without know-how
CartoPaper aardappelverpakking Tuinderij Waog
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EDUCATION
EDUCATION
As well as selling packaging we deliver value in the form of (pro) active advice and knowledge sharing. Knowledge is our most important asset. This is why we invest heavily in education. It is in the interests of our own development and that of our people and customers. Everything from the laws and regulations and innovative technologies to consumer trends and market developments.
