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A paper carrier bag for the ultimate Takumi experience at home.
‘I have been given an opportunity to make myself useful in a wonderful family business. A torch that I would like to pass on to future generations.’
Future
‘Progress is slower than we would like, as we had already predicted. But, in the face of this enormous challenge, every step counts. We will stay dedicated to improving the industry's sustainability in the years to come. Not in isolation, but with our clients, suppliers and employees. We all rely on each other to gather momentum, and the more who take part, the greater our impact will be. This report is designed to show our progress in sustainability and inspire others. It is also a part of our preparations for the CSR Directive, which introduces compulsory reporting in 2025.’
Highlights and exiting moments
‘We carried out several interesting projects with our partners, suppliers and customers in 2022, such as the introduction of circular cup systems for festivals and events, the collaboration with CircularPET, as well as several market- and customer-specific solutions including a reusable sealed bag and our Recy sleeve. We take a closer look at these projects in the present report. 2022 was not without its challenges. We were faced with the PFAS ban ahead of schedule, for example. At that point we ended our purchase and supply of articles containing PFAS immediately. A bold decision that affects us to this day. But I am proud that our company has had the nerve to take decisions of this kind. It signals what we stand for and that we are serious about what we do.’
Future-proof packaging assortment
‘We have formed special sustainability teams for each of our markets. These markets face specific challenges in areas such as legal and regulatory change, technical development and functional requirements. We support our customers (pro) actively in selecting a future-proof packaging assortment.’
It runs in the family
‘Another important step was to generate support from within the organisation. It is well known that change brings resistance. We're in profit, so where is the need for change? But now we have all realised that we can't keep doing what we have always done. Indeed, our colleagues, in growing numbers, are showing an inbuilt desire to get involved in sustainability. I have seen the dedication with which our colleagues tackle complex sustainability issues. It fills me with pride. Challenge has turned to opportunity. This outlook provides a strong foundation for a highly sustainable, long-term strategy.’
‘We will stay dedicated to improving the industry's sustainability in the years to come. Not in isolation, but with our clients, suppliers and employees.’
‘Another important step was to generate support from within the organisation. We have all realised that we can't keep doing what we have always done.’
‘But there has to be something left to hand over. We all know what the world is up against. We can't keep going as we are. This is true in all areas, and our industry in particular. As a packaging supplier we have a massive impact on the environment, but equally, by doing things differently, we can make that impact a very positive one. We started a movement in the packaging world. It is our aim to lead the field in sustainable packaging.'
‘We are aiming for positive impact through RESPECT. To do that, we aim to reduce our operational footprint and that of our product assortment, develop circular systems and share know-how. In 2022 we produced an assortment classification that allows us to manage the sustainability of our assortment and that of our customers.’
LYANNE PAARDEKOOPER
CMO of Royal Dutch Paardekooper Group
‘We took the first steps in 2019 with RESPECT, our sustainability strategy. Each letter stands for an area of focus. Seven topics that are of importance to us and on which our daily business operations are based. RESPECT underpins our transition from a trading company to a purpose-driven organisation and provides a common thread for this sustainability report.’