Sustainability drives consumer choice
With Ecolutions Constantia Flexibles is contributing to the creation of products appealing to an ever increasing share of consumers caring for sustainability.
%
say more environmentally-friendly packaging is very important
%
prefer a more eco-friendly packaging over a regular one
%
consider the packaging of food products during shopping
%
regard the material and its look and feel as the most important criteria of more sustainable packaging solutions
Turning global challenges
into opportunities
The world’s population is growing fast. Demand for resources rises accordingly. At the same time precious resources end up as waste too quickly. Every year we dump a massive 2.12 billion tons of waste. Plastic production is expected to almost double over the next 20 years(1). Thereby, plastic packaging represents 26% of the total volume of plastics used(2). But only 30% of plastic packaging is recycled(3) in Europe. Another 30% of plastic packaging needs fundamental redesign before it can be reused or recycled(4). At Constantia Flexibles our mission is to rethink packaging every day to make a positive, sustainable and meaningful contribution to our customers and the environment. Providing consumers with packaging that is more planet-friendly requires flexible packaging with specific properties. Due to limited natural resources on our planet most production industries are facing one common challenge: Keeping valuable resources in material cycles.
(1) (2) World Economic Forum, Ellen MacArthur Foundation and McKinsey & Company, 2016
(3) PlasticsEurope, 2014
(4) World Economic Forum and Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2017
Constantia Flexibles pledges that 100% of its consumer and pharma packaging will be recyclable by 2025.
By developing Constantia Ecolutions we actively contribute to the progression from a linear to a circular economy. Additionally, the development of Ecolutions is supporting the food industry to meet legal requirements for more sustainable packaging. Constantia Flexibles will additionally advance new innovations to overcome the challenges of problematic or unnecessary non-recyclable plastic packaging.
This pledge is part of Constantia Flexibles’ commitment to the New Plastics Economy Global Commitment, led by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation in collaboration with the UN Environment Programme. The Global Commitment unites many of the world’s largest packaging producers, brands, retailers, recyclers, governments and NGOs. Signatories are working to eliminate the plastics we don’t need, to innovate so that all plastics we do need are reusable, recyclable, or compostable and to circulate all the plastics we use.
“As a company being committed to sustainability from the very beginning, we recognize the importance of contributing to the transition towards a circular economy. The development of Constantia Ecolutions is a crucial step on our journey to achieve our recyclability pledge of making all products recyclable by 2025.”
Circular Economy
The concept of a circular economy is increasingly recognized as the solution to the issues resulting from a ‘take-make-dispose’ approach in the 21st Century. In a circular economy, the value of products and materials is maintained for as long as possible. It is based on three principles: Design out waste and pollution, Keep products and materials in use, Regenerate natural systems (Ellen MacArthur Foundation, European Commission).
Before it is waste, flexible packaging plays an essential role as it protects food throughout the supply chain and enables a proper and safe delivery to the end-consumer. Flexible packaging with customized barrier protection and appropriate portioning reduces the risk of waste, thus saving many resources. Flexible packaging adds value in the circular economy through very efficient use of materials and energy resources. If on top of that it is collected and recycled, this increases its resource efficiency even further.
A more sustainable packaging offers maximum functionality with the best possible product protection, causes minimal ecological impact and is as circular as possible.
Timeline Sustainability – some milestones
- 1970
First Earth Day
First Earth Day
November 20, 1970 - 1972
UNEP was founded
UNEP was founded
November 20, 1972 - 1972
Club of Rome publishes “Limits to Growth”
Club of Rome publishes “Limits to Growth”
November 20, 1972 - 1992
Earth Summit – United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro
Earth Summit – United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro
November 20, 1992 - 2000
UN Millennium Development Goals (to be achieved by 2015)
UN Millennium Development Goals (to be achieved by 2015)
November 20, 2000 - 2005
Kyoto protocol coming into force
Kyoto protocol coming into force
November 20, 2005 - 2012
Rio+20 Summit – UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD)
Rio+20 Summit – UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD)
November 20, 2012 - 2015
Adoption of the European Commission Circular Economy Action Plan (EU Circular Economy Package)
Adoption of the European Commission Circular Economy Action Plan (EU Circular Economy Package)
November 20, 2015 - 2015
Adoption of Sustainable Development Goals (to be achieved by 2030)
Adoption of Sustainable Development Goals (to be achieved by 2030)
November 20, 2015 - 2016
Paris Agreement enters into force
Paris Agreement enters into force
November 20, 2016 - 2018
European Commission’s EU Strategy for Plastics in a Circular Economy
European Commission’s EU Strategy for Plastics in a Circular Economy
November 20, 2018 - 2018
Ellen MacArthur Foundation New Plastics Economy Global Commitment
Ellen MacArthur Foundation New Plastics Economy Global Commitment
November 20, 2018 - 2019
UN Climate Action Summit, SDG Summit
UN Climate Action Summit, SDG Summit
November 20, 2019 - 2019
Fridays for Future climate strikes
Fridays for Future climate strikes
November 20, 2019 - 2019
European Commission Single Use Plastics Directive coming into force
European Commission Single Use Plastics Directive coming into force
November 20, 2019 - 2019
Circular Plastics Alliance
Circular Plastics Alliance
November 20, 2019
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