30 Sept. 2022: Smurfit Kappa, one of the world's largest manufacturers of paper-based packaging, is relying on three pillars to meet the goals of the EU Green Deal. This aims to make Europe the first continent to become climate neutral by 2050 and, in direct relation, to stop uncontrolled pollution of the environment.

Companies are faced with the task of making their contribution to fulfilling the EU Green Deal. For Smurfit Kappa, in addition to extensive investments in plants and processes, the direct focus is on packaging development - because the perfect packaging is neither too big nor too small. It fits precisely and is sustainable in all respects. The entire process of production, collection, reuse and recycling must be carried out exclusively in emission-free processes. To achieve and continuously improve this, Smurfit Kappa relies on 3 interdependent pillars.

Three pillars for climate-friendly packaging
Size-optimised packaging: The first pillar aims at eliminating problematic and unnecessary packaging on the market, because sometimes products are still over-packaged or combined in difficult or non-recyclable material combinations. In parallel, packaging must ensure that the packaged products are not damaged, because damage is ultimately just as damaging to the climate. To solve such concrete challenges, Smurfit Kappa works closely with its customers and develops customised packaging solutions made of corrugated and solid board that reliably protect the products with minimal material input.

Circular economy: The second pillar comprises the recycling of packaging. Produced packaging is kept uniquely in the cycle in the company Recycling Dual, which was founded specifically for this purpose. In the case of paper packaging, this recycling process can be repeated at least 25 times before the packaging made of recycled materials can no longer be reprocessed. This saves resources in a sustainable and climate-neutral way. In the recycling business, Recycling Dual is the first industry-supported dual system to actively intervene in the market since 2022. The company is unmistakably able to cover the entire life cycle of paper, cardboard and carton packaging. Starting with paper production, through the development of sales packaging to the legally required licensing, collection and recycling - and all this is done from a single source.

Degradability: Thirdly, it is important to ensure that packaging is biodegradable under natural conditions should it enter the environment. Using renewable raw materials and ensuring biodegradable packaging means converting more than 90 per cent of the original packaging material into CO2, water and minerals through biological processes within six months. Smurfit Kappa's packaging materials already meet these requirements.

Achieve sustainability targets before 2050
Boris Maschmann, CEO of Smurfit Kappa in the DACH region: "Climate change is also a direct consequence of the previous 'take-make-waste' economy. Based on our fully closed loop economy, we want to support our customers in making development leaps in favour of a more sustainable future. Our vision is to reach the EU Green Deal targets before 2050."