Our carton packs: Ecologically advantageous
Our carton packs: Ecologically advantageous
SIG Combibloc
3 4/5 6 7 8/9 10 /11 12 /13 14 /15
In alliance with nature Renewable raw materials for a healthy climate Raw materials from controlled sources Conserving resources by environmental management Continuous improvement Ecologically advantageous packaging Fully recyclable Contact
This brochure is printed on FSC-certified paper.
In alliance with nature SIG Combibloc is a world-leading manufacturer of carton packaging and filling machines for food and drinks. Every day, millions of people all over the world buy foods packaged in our carton packs. And with very good reason: carton packs from SIG Combibloc guarantee perfect product protection. And there is more – the carton packs are also clear winners when it comes to protecting the environment. SIG Combibloc carton packaging contains about 75 % fibre pulp obtained from renewable wood resources, and represents efficient use of resources across the entire lifecycle of the carton pack. Carton packs are exceptionally light, can be transported and stored in a space-saving way and are fully recyclable. Life cycle assessments confirm that carton packs generate significantly fewer toxic emissions than disposable forms of drinks packaging manufactured using fossil fuel resources. So carton packaging has only a small carbon footprint – with obvious benefits for climate protection. For more than 20 years, SIG Combibloc has been actively working to address major environmental issues. At our company, we believe in the importance of thinking and acting in an ecologically sound way. Incorporating the systematic management of all environmental factors into our operations is an inherent part of our corporate strategy.
03
Products manufactured from wood, a renewable resource, make a positive contribution to protecting the environment. While they are growing, trees extract CO2 from the atmosphere and convert it into wood by photosynthesis. This has a beneficial effect on climate.
Renewable raw materials for a healthy climate One of the causes of climate change is the growing concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the Earth’s atmosphere. While they are growing, trees extract climate-unfriendly carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and convert it into wood by the process of photosynthesis. They also filter dust and sulphur from the air and produce oxygen, making an important contribution to maintaining a healthy climate and a natural, unspoiled environment. One hectare of mature spruce forest binds around 28 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year. Sustainable forestry Carton packs from SIG Combibloc are composed predominantly of fibre, obtained from renewable wood resources originating from sustainably managed forests. In contrast to finite fossil raw materials such as crude oil, a sustainably managed forestry scheme generates a never-ending supply of wood.
This form of forest management ensures that for every tree felled, several young trees are planted. Carton packs – a clear advantage By choosing carton packs manufactured from renewable raw materials, consumers make a positive contribution to climate protection. The results of a life cycle assessment conducted in 2006 by the Institut für Energie- und Umweltforschung (IFEU / Institute for energy and environmental research) show that in terms of their impact on the Greenhouse Effect and the use of fossil fuel resources, carton packs have a significantly lower environmental impact than drinks packaging manufactured using crude oil. Carton packs generate around two to three times less environmentally harmful gas than disposable PET bottles, whose primary raw material is crude oil.
Trends in Forest Management, Sweden up to 2030
Forest Management Finland since 1920 Mill. m3
Mill. m3 2500
3500
Deciduous trees Spruce
2000
Pine
2500
1500 1500
1000
1950
1970
1990
2010
2030
19
1930
35 -3 19 8 51 -5 19 3 60 -6 19 3 64 -7 19 0 71 -7 19 6 77 -8 19 4 86 -9 19 92 4 -2 20 002 04 -2 00 6
500
500
Source: Swedish Forest Agency.
05
Source: Statistical Forestry Yearbook 2004 and 2007, Finnish Forest Research Institute.
Using a certified system of traceability, the origin of wood and the fibres used for the carton packs can be monitored.
Raw materials from controlled sources SIG Combibloc places great importance on ensuring that the wood used to make its unprocessed cardboard comes from legal and controlled sources, that the forests have been managed sustainably and the fibres used can be traced back to their place of origin. So when buying unprocessed cardboard, SIG Combibloc insists that suppliers provide the correct Chain of Custody certification in accordance with the international standards established by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).
The FSC standards are the only standards accepted by the major international environmental and nature conservation organisations, and therefore guarantee the highest level of credibility. All manufacturers supplying unprocessed cardboard to SIG Combibloc are certified in accordance with the FSC Chain of Custody standards.
06
Environmental issues are an integral part of our business processes. This ensures that the environmental impact of our activities is factored into day-to-day operations and corporate policy decision-making.
Conserving resources by environmental management In all our corporate activities, the focus at SIG Combibloc is on sustainable development and using natural resources with care and forethought. Since 1996, SIG Combibloc has been actively working on the issues of environmental management, and all the company’s production facilities have introduced an environmental management system. The system is certified in accordance with ISO 14001 and covers the development, manufacture and sale of carton packs and filling machines. This environmental management system is the perfect tool to systematically and continuously improve production processes and products to ensure they are ecologically sound. The objective is to reduce impact on the environment to a minimum in all processes.
07
The basis for successful environmental management in the production process is encouraging our employees to be environmentally aware. Through specific training initiatives such as training in energysaving, which virtually all staff in the company’s European production facilities have now completed, SIG Combibloc promotes staff engagement with environmental issues.
SIG Combibloc considers the environmental issues involved along the entire value-creation chain – from the initial product idea through the development of new products and filling machines, the selection of suppliers, right up to the recycling of the carton packs.
Continuous improvement We modify and improve our production processes on a continuous basis, and environmental considerations play a major role in this. Our environmental management system identifies examples of ‘best practice’ at individual production sites and implements these at other production facilities. Similarly, synergies between individual sites are brought into play. All existing equipment and planned technical improvements in production are regularly reviewed in terms of their environmental relevance. And in construction projects, ecological considerations are integrated directly into planning and implementation. Environmental considerations are incorporated into the development of new variations on our carton packs. In co-operation with the manufacturers of the unprocessed cardboard, SIG Combibloc has worked consistently to enhance its carton packs, reducing the weight of the packaging, for instance, by more than 23 per cent over the past 20 years. A 1-litre carton pack now weighs only about 28.5 grams, including the closure. This was achieved with the aid of a new cardboard layer structure and by optimising the weight of the closures.
09
In the design of our filling equipment, too, we put the main focus on handling resources with care. By developing new filling machines and modifying existing models, we have significantly reduced consumption of water, energy and compressed air. Our new filling machines use 25 per cent less water, 30 per cent less energy and 54 per cent less compressed air. This lowers operating costs per installed capacity (1,000 units) and is gentle on the environment.
outer polyethylene coating (liquid barrier) cardboard (stability) middle polyethylene coating (liquid barrier) aluminium (protects the product from light, odours and oxygen) inner polyethylene coatings (liquid barrier)
recyclable
renewable
Recycling
Raw material
Collection
Production of beverage cartons
Consumer
combibloc
combibloc
resour ce efficient
Filling process Trade
With their light weight and good stackability, carton packs are exceptionally easy to transport. Life cycle assessments verify the advantages of carton packaging over other forms of food packaging.
Ecologically advantageous packaging The environmental profile of carton packs has been investigated in a number of life cycle assessments. As part of such an evaluation, the potential environmental impacts along the entire lifespan of a carton pack – from raw materials production through product manufacture and use, right up to recycling or disposal – have been recorded and assessed. Accredited environmental performance evaluations are subject to internationally binding standards and are overseen by independent experts. In a life cycle assessment commissioned by Germany’s Federal Environmental Agency, thanks to their low level of environmental impact, beverage cartons were rated on a par with reusable packaging as long ago as 2000. Since then, they have been categorised as ‘ecologically advantageous’. Clear advantages in transportation This favourable rating is also due in large part to the obvious advantages in transportation, which saves fuel and reduces emissions. Carton packs are lightweight and easy to stack, so they are efficient along the entire supply chain. Because they are
11
delivered to the filling company’s premises as flat carton sleeves, the shipping volume of a truck can be used to full potential. Even when carrying filled carton packs, a truck is transporting around 95 per cent content and just 5 per cent packaging. This means that transporting carton packs generates fewer pollutant emissions than transporting heavy packaging systems that take up a lot of space. And that means less carbon dioxide (CO2), less nitrogen oxide (NOx) and less carbon monoxide (CO) being discharged into the atmosphere – contributing to the Greenhouse Effect and causing global warming. Lower environmental impact than PET A life cycle assessment published in 2006 compared the environmental impact of beverage cartons against that of disposable PET bottles, for the first time. This study shows that, in terms of climate protection, carton packs have clear advantages. Disposable bottles use around double the quantity of fossil fuels and generate up to three times more harmful environmental gases than carton packs.
Excellent recycling characteristics make carton packs a valuable form of packaging, even after use.
Fully recyclable Carton packs are just as versatile when they have been emptied as they are in everyday use. The high cardboard content, about 75 per cent, as well as the other materials – 21 per cent polyethylene and an average 4 per cent aluminium – can all be recovered or recycled as valuable resources.
used carton packs
Used carton packs are suitable for all recycling or reuse and disposal options. They have a high energy potential. Two tonnes of used carton packs are equivalent to the calorific value of one tonne of crude oil. They are therefore excellent for thermal recycling with energy recovery. And in regions where recycling or energy recovery are not yet normal practice, used carton packs folded flat take up very little space in landfills. A key requirement for successful recycling is an efficient collection and sorting system for used packaging. While recycling used carton packs is standard practice in many countries, projects to do this are still only in the organisational stages in others. SIG Combibloc is actively involved in the creation and development of national collection systems, building up adequate recycling capacities and introducing modern technologies for recycling carton packs.
material separation
cellulose
polyethylene-aluminium residue
plasma technology
paraffin aluminium
pyrolysis
cement plant
energy aluminium energy bauxite
papermill
new paper products e.g. coreboard, corrugated board
12
Recycling wood pulp fibres To recycle carton packs, the packages are taken to papermills where the pulp fibres are first recovered using a water bath in a pulping drum. The fibre is processed directly at the papermill. Due to their rigidity, these fibres can be used to manufacture premium paper products such as folding boxes, corrugated cardboard, winding cores and office stationery. In many countries, the fibres are also used to manufacture paper for gypsum plasterboard or household and sanitary papers. Recycling of aluminium and polyethylene After the cardboard fibre has been recovered, a mixture of polyethylene and aluminium is left behind, along with the closures used on many carton packs. These components can all be recycled without difficulty, ultimately conserving primary raw materials. For instance, in cement manufacture, polyethylene can be used as an alternative to fossil fuel resources. The aluminium is converted into aluminium oxide which is mixed into the cement as a hardening agent and as a substitute for the raw material bauxite.
13
In the ecogas pyrolysis process, the polyethylene is converted into a gas and used to generate energy. The aluminium is regained in its pure form and used as a raw material for new aluminium products. Plasma technology represents another option for recycling the materials used in the manufacture of aseptic carton packs. With this technology, the aluminium and plastic components of the packages can be fully separated from one another using a 15,000 °C plasma jet. This process converts the polyethylene into paraffin wax which, like the residual aluminium, is reused as a valuable raw material for new products. Conclusion Carton packs from SIG Combibloc offer a wealth of environmental benefits. They are composed predominantly of renewable raw materials, they make efficient use of resources, they are recyclable and they have only a small carbon footprint. SIG Combibloc considers the environmental issues involved along the entire value-creation chain – from the use of the renewable raw material, wood, through to the clever recycling and disposal of the used carton packs.
This brochure provides basic information on the environmental aspects of our packaging and production systems. If you would like to find out more about this topic, we will gladly supply you with further information. Simply contact us by e-mail or fax. Or even better – give us a call!
Contact Argentina SIG Combibloc Argentina S.R.L. Thames 91 piso 1 of. 4 Boulogne, 1609 JUA Buenos Aires, Argentina T + 54 11 4735 3571 F + 54 11 4735 3571 [email protected]
Bulgaria SIG Combibloc GmbH & Co KG Representative office Bulgaria Gladston 84, 4002 Plovdiv, Bulgaria T + 359 32 62 22 10 F + 359 32 62 70 90 [email protected]
Australia represents also: New Caledonia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Samoa.
Canada SIG Combibloc 2425 Matheson Blvd. East, Suite 881, Mississauga, ON, L4W5K4, Canada T +1 905 361 2825 F +1 905 361 2610 [email protected]
Visy Packaging, Maldon Street, 3047 Broadmeadows, Victoria, Australia T + 61 393010333 F + 61 393098014 [email protected] Austria represents also: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Serbia & Montenegro, Slovenia. SIG Combibloc GmbH & Co. KG Industriestrasse 3, 5760 Saalfelden, Austria T + 43 6582 799 0 F + 43 6582 799 270 [email protected] Belarus SIG Combibloc Tchervjkova, 4, Wh. 68, 220050 Minsk, Belarus T + 375 172 86 78 94 [email protected]
Chile SIG Combibloc Chile Ltd. Augusto Leguia Norte 100 of 309, Las Condes-Santiago do Chile, Chile T + 56 2 431 0955 F + 56 2 431 0675 [email protected] China represents also: Hong Kong, Macao, Mongolia. SIG Combibloc (Suzhou) Co. Ltd. 399, Xinlong Street, Suzhou Industrial Park, 215126 Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, PRC T + 86 512 6283 3111 F + 86 512 6283 3222 [email protected]
Brazil represents also: Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Uruguay.
SIG Combibloc China Shanghai Office 8/F Leishing International Plaza, 1319 Yan An Xi Lu, Shanghai, 200050, PRC T + 86 21 6248 0885 F + 86 21 6249 9541
SIG Combibloc do Brasil Ltd. Av. Chedid Jafet 222, Torre B - Cj. 42, 04551- 065 São Paulo, Brazil T + 55 11 21 07 67 44 F + 55 11 21 07 67 45 [email protected]
SIG Combibloc China Beijing Office Rm 802, CITIC Building, 19, Jianguomenwai Dajie, Beijing, 100004, PRC T + 86 10 6530 1860 F + 86 10 6508 9049
Czech Repuplic represents also: Slovakia. SIG Combibloc s.r.o Cihlárská 661, 50311 Hradec Králové, Czech Republic T + 420 495 800 711 F + 420 495 4362 70 [email protected] Egypt represents also: Jordan, Sudan, Syria, Lebanon. SIG Combibloc Obeikan 2 El Zahaby Square, Heliopolis Cairo, Egypt T + 2 02 2415 3473 F + 2 02 2415 6579 [email protected] France represents also: French Guiana, French Polynesia, French Southern Territories, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mauritius.
Greece Europack Industrial Solutions S.A. 27, Ypsilantou Str., 16675 Glyfada, Athens, Greece T + 30 210 96 07 102 F + 30 210 96 00 590 [email protected] Hungary SIG Combibloc KFT Árpád krt. 4, 6000 Kecskemét, Hungary T + 36 76 487 041 F + 36 76 487 045 [email protected] Indonesia Representative Office (Jakarta) Ariobimo Sentral Bldg. 7th Floor, Jl HR Rasuna Said, Blok X - 2 No. 5, 12950 Jakarta, Indonesia T + 62 21 521 2756 F + 62 21 521 2726 [email protected]
SIG Combibloc S.a.r.l. 1 rue d'Anjou, 92604 Asnières Cedex, France T + 33 1 41 11 42 42 F + 33 1 41 11 42 40 [email protected]
Iran SIG Combibloc Obeikan Apartment 13, 3 rd Floor, No. 40 Vanak Street, Teheran, Iran T + 98 21 8877 9488 F + 98 21 8879 6823 [email protected]
Germany SIG Combibloc GmbH Rurstraße 58, 52441 Linnich, Germany T + 49 2462 79 2537 F + 49 2462 79 17 2537 [email protected]
Israel Hirshberg Brothers & Co. Machinery Ltd. P.O. Box 400, 46103 Herzliya, Israel T + 972 9 9521 666 F + 972 9 9543 654 [email protected]
SIG Combibloc Systems GmbH Jagenbergstraße 1, 41468 Neuss, Germany T + 49 2131 318 0 F + 49 2131 318 144 [email protected]
Italy SIG Combibloc S.r.l. Via Varese, 18, 20121 Milan, Italy T + 39 0229 01 40 30 F + 39 0229 01 74 62 [email protected]
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Korea SIG Combibloc Korea Ltd. 5 th Floor, Korean Bible Society Building 1365-16, Seocho 2-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul, 137-863, Korea T + 82-2-2057-9057 F + 82-2-2057-2957 [email protected] Libya SIG Combibloc Obeikan Integrated Packaging System IPS, P.O. Box 84035, Tripoli, Libya T + 218 21 3343034 F + 218 21 3334545 [email protected] Mexico represents also: Belize, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panama, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks & Caicos Islands, Virgin Islands. SIG Combibloc Mexico Ejercito Nacional No. 418, Piso 10 Oficinas 1 y 2, Col. Chapultepec Morales, 11570 Mexico, D.F., Mexico T + 52 55 52 55 24 87 F + 52 55 52 55 25 18 [email protected] Morocco SIG Combibloc Obeikan Serih Maghreb, Residence Sara, 240, Bd Ghandi 20200, Casablanca, Morocco T + 212 22 399 816 F + 212 22 941 470 [email protected] Netherlands represents also: Belgium and Luxembourg. SIG Combibloc B.V. Amarilstraat 11, 7554 TV Hengelo, Netherlands T + 31 742 554455 F + 31 742 554400 [email protected] Poland SIG Combibloc Sp. z o.o. ul. Bekasow 63 / 65, 02-803 Warsaw, Poland T + 48 22 644 17 02 F + 48 22 644 92 28 [email protected] Romania SIG Combibloc S.R.L., Str. Abrud 84, Sector 1 011317 Bucharest, Romania T + 40 21 232 1821 F + 40 21 232 1861 [email protected]
Russia SIG Combibloc LLC ul. Usacheva 33, bl. 2, 119048 Moscow, Russian Federation T +7 495 933 02 70 / 73 F +7 495 933 02 71 [email protected] Saudi Arabia represents also: Yemen. SIG Combibloc Obeikan Obeikan Commercial Center, 3 rd Floor, Prince Sultan Road, P.O. Box 41010, Jeddah 21521, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia T + 966 2 6927018 F + 966 2 6926901 [email protected] SIG Combibloc Obeikan Riyadh Industrial Area P.O. Box 355023, 11383 Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia T + 966 1 2654188 F + 966 1 2654195 [email protected] South Africa represents also: Sub-Sahara Africa. SIG Combibloc Obeikan Savannah Office Park Cycad Building 9 &10, Cnr Rugby & Haak Street, Weltervredenpark, 1724 Johannesburg, South Africa T + 27 11 6792854 F + 27 11 3883391 [email protected] Spain represents also: Portugal. SIG Combibloc, S.A Calle de Valportillo II, 14, 2°, 28108 Alcobendas-Madrid, Spain T + 34 91 484 13 30 F + 34 91 661 75 54 [email protected] Sweden represents also: Scandinavia, Baltics and Iceland. SIG Combibloc AB Stortorget 11, 21122 Malmö, Sweden T + 46 40 6270740 F + 46 40 6270749 [email protected]
Switzerland represents also: Malta. SIG Combibloc (Schweiz) AG Laufengasse 18, 8212 Neuhausen am Rheinfall, Switzerland T + 41 52 674 82 60 F + 41 52 674 82 50 [email protected]
Ukraine B. Zhitomirskaja, 6 Wh., 1025 Kiev, Ukraine T + 38 04 2784002 F + 38 04 42784002 [email protected] United Arab Emirates represents also: Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka.
Taiwan SIG Combibloc Taiwan Ltd. 4F. - 3, 37, Zhongyang S. Rd., Sec. 2, Beitou District 11270, Taipei, Taiwan R.O.C. T + 886 2 2897 6000 F + 886 2 2897 6655 [email protected]
SIG Combibloc Obeikan (Head Office) Dubai Airport Free Zone, P.O. Box 54335, Dubai, United Arab Emirates T + 971 4 299 6262 F + 971 4 299 6263 [email protected]
Thailand represents also: Brunei, Cambodia, Japan, Kiribati, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Myanmar, Nauru, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Pitcairn Islands, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Wallis & Futuna, Philippines, Nepal, Bangladesh, Laos, Bhutan and Singapore.
United Kingdom represents also: Ireland.
SIG Combibloc Ltd. (Head Office), Eastern Seaboard Industrial Estate (Rayong), 33, Moo 4, Highway No. 331, Amphur Pluakdaeng, 21140 Rayong, Thailand T + 66 38 954 100 F + 66 38 954 104 SIG Combibloc Ltd. (Bangkok Office), 22nd Floor, UBC II Building 591, Sukhumvit 33, Klongton-Nua, Wattana, 10110 Bangkok, Thailand T + 66 2259 9954 F + 66 2259 9963 [email protected] Tunisia represents also: Algeria. SIG Combibloc Obeikan Rue du Lac Huron, Immeulbe el Yamama – 2eme Etage, 1053 Les Berges du Lac, Tunis, Tunisia T + 216 71 961 576 F + 216 71 960 813 [email protected] Turkey SIG Combibloc Paketleme ve Ticaret Ltd. Sti. E-5 Üzeri, Kaya Sultan Sokak, Sarnem Plaza, No: 99 /A Kat: 2, 34742 Kozyatagi, Kadiköy / Istanbul, Turkey T + 90 216 464 2332 F + 90 216 464 2335 [email protected]
SIG Combibloc Ltd. Blackthorn Way, Houghton-Le-Spring, Tyne and Wear, DH4 6JN United Kingdom T + 44 191 387 8028 F + 44 191 387 8086 [email protected] USA represents also: Puerto Rico. SIG Combibloc Inc. 2501 Seaport Drive, River Front Suite, Chester, PA 19013, United States T +1 610 546 4200 F +1 610 546 4201 [email protected] Uzbekistan SIG Combibloc Uzbekistan Ak - kurgan, 17/1, 700052 Tashkent, Uzbekistan T + 998 71 161 2473 F + 998 71 161 2473 [email protected] Vietnam SIG Vietnam Ltd. Broadway Office Park – F.2 - Bldg A, 100 Nguyen Luong Bang Blvd, Phu My Hung, Tan Phu Ward, District 7, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam T + 84 8 5 4135 158 /159 F + 84 8 5 4135160 [email protected]
www.sig.biz
SIG Combibloc environment 0109 GB
Printed on FSC-certified paper.
SIG Combibloc
3 4/5 6 7 8/9 10 /11 12 /13 14 /15
In alliance with nature Renewable raw materials for a healthy climate Raw materials from controlled sources Conserving resources by environmental management Continuous improvement Ecologically advantageous packaging Fully recyclable Contact
This brochure is printed on FSC-certified paper.
In alliance with nature SIG Combibloc is a world-leading manufacturer of carton packaging and filling machines for food and drinks. Every day, millions of people all over the world buy foods packaged in our carton packs. And with very good reason: carton packs from SIG Combibloc guarantee perfect product protection. And there is more – the carton packs are also clear winners when it comes to protecting the environment. SIG Combibloc carton packaging contains about 75 % fibre pulp obtained from renewable wood resources, and represents efficient use of resources across the entire lifecycle of the carton pack. Carton packs are exceptionally light, can be transported and stored in a space-saving way and are fully recyclable. Life cycle assessments confirm that carton packs generate significantly fewer toxic emissions than disposable forms of drinks packaging manufactured using fossil fuel resources. So carton packaging has only a small carbon footprint – with obvious benefits for climate protection. For more than 20 years, SIG Combibloc has been actively working to address major environmental issues. At our company, we believe in the importance of thinking and acting in an ecologically sound way. Incorporating the systematic management of all environmental factors into our operations is an inherent part of our corporate strategy.
03
Products manufactured from wood, a renewable resource, make a positive contribution to protecting the environment. While they are growing, trees extract CO2 from the atmosphere and convert it into wood by photosynthesis. This has a beneficial effect on climate.
Renewable raw materials for a healthy climate One of the causes of climate change is the growing concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the Earth’s atmosphere. While they are growing, trees extract climate-unfriendly carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and convert it into wood by the process of photosynthesis. They also filter dust and sulphur from the air and produce oxygen, making an important contribution to maintaining a healthy climate and a natural, unspoiled environment. One hectare of mature spruce forest binds around 28 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year. Sustainable forestry Carton packs from SIG Combibloc are composed predominantly of fibre, obtained from renewable wood resources originating from sustainably managed forests. In contrast to finite fossil raw materials such as crude oil, a sustainably managed forestry scheme generates a never-ending supply of wood.
This form of forest management ensures that for every tree felled, several young trees are planted. Carton packs – a clear advantage By choosing carton packs manufactured from renewable raw materials, consumers make a positive contribution to climate protection. The results of a life cycle assessment conducted in 2006 by the Institut für Energie- und Umweltforschung (IFEU / Institute for energy and environmental research) show that in terms of their impact on the Greenhouse Effect and the use of fossil fuel resources, carton packs have a significantly lower environmental impact than drinks packaging manufactured using crude oil. Carton packs generate around two to three times less environmentally harmful gas than disposable PET bottles, whose primary raw material is crude oil.
Trends in Forest Management, Sweden up to 2030
Forest Management Finland since 1920 Mill. m3
Mill. m3 2500
3500
Deciduous trees Spruce
2000
Pine
2500
1500 1500
1000
1950
1970
1990
2010
2030
19
1930
35 -3 19 8 51 -5 19 3 60 -6 19 3 64 -7 19 0 71 -7 19 6 77 -8 19 4 86 -9 19 92 4 -2 20 002 04 -2 00 6
500
500
Source: Swedish Forest Agency.
05
Source: Statistical Forestry Yearbook 2004 and 2007, Finnish Forest Research Institute.
Using a certified system of traceability, the origin of wood and the fibres used for the carton packs can be monitored.
Raw materials from controlled sources SIG Combibloc places great importance on ensuring that the wood used to make its unprocessed cardboard comes from legal and controlled sources, that the forests have been managed sustainably and the fibres used can be traced back to their place of origin. So when buying unprocessed cardboard, SIG Combibloc insists that suppliers provide the correct Chain of Custody certification in accordance with the international standards established by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).
The FSC standards are the only standards accepted by the major international environmental and nature conservation organisations, and therefore guarantee the highest level of credibility. All manufacturers supplying unprocessed cardboard to SIG Combibloc are certified in accordance with the FSC Chain of Custody standards.
06
Environmental issues are an integral part of our business processes. This ensures that the environmental impact of our activities is factored into day-to-day operations and corporate policy decision-making.
Conserving resources by environmental management In all our corporate activities, the focus at SIG Combibloc is on sustainable development and using natural resources with care and forethought. Since 1996, SIG Combibloc has been actively working on the issues of environmental management, and all the company’s production facilities have introduced an environmental management system. The system is certified in accordance with ISO 14001 and covers the development, manufacture and sale of carton packs and filling machines. This environmental management system is the perfect tool to systematically and continuously improve production processes and products to ensure they are ecologically sound. The objective is to reduce impact on the environment to a minimum in all processes.
07
The basis for successful environmental management in the production process is encouraging our employees to be environmentally aware. Through specific training initiatives such as training in energysaving, which virtually all staff in the company’s European production facilities have now completed, SIG Combibloc promotes staff engagement with environmental issues.
SIG Combibloc considers the environmental issues involved along the entire value-creation chain – from the initial product idea through the development of new products and filling machines, the selection of suppliers, right up to the recycling of the carton packs.
Continuous improvement We modify and improve our production processes on a continuous basis, and environmental considerations play a major role in this. Our environmental management system identifies examples of ‘best practice’ at individual production sites and implements these at other production facilities. Similarly, synergies between individual sites are brought into play. All existing equipment and planned technical improvements in production are regularly reviewed in terms of their environmental relevance. And in construction projects, ecological considerations are integrated directly into planning and implementation. Environmental considerations are incorporated into the development of new variations on our carton packs. In co-operation with the manufacturers of the unprocessed cardboard, SIG Combibloc has worked consistently to enhance its carton packs, reducing the weight of the packaging, for instance, by more than 23 per cent over the past 20 years. A 1-litre carton pack now weighs only about 28.5 grams, including the closure. This was achieved with the aid of a new cardboard layer structure and by optimising the weight of the closures.
09
In the design of our filling equipment, too, we put the main focus on handling resources with care. By developing new filling machines and modifying existing models, we have significantly reduced consumption of water, energy and compressed air. Our new filling machines use 25 per cent less water, 30 per cent less energy and 54 per cent less compressed air. This lowers operating costs per installed capacity (1,000 units) and is gentle on the environment.
outer polyethylene coating (liquid barrier) cardboard (stability) middle polyethylene coating (liquid barrier) aluminium (protects the product from light, odours and oxygen) inner polyethylene coatings (liquid barrier)
recyclable
renewable
Recycling
Raw material
Collection
Production of beverage cartons
Consumer
combibloc
combibloc
resour ce efficient
Filling process Trade
With their light weight and good stackability, carton packs are exceptionally easy to transport. Life cycle assessments verify the advantages of carton packaging over other forms of food packaging.
Ecologically advantageous packaging The environmental profile of carton packs has been investigated in a number of life cycle assessments. As part of such an evaluation, the potential environmental impacts along the entire lifespan of a carton pack – from raw materials production through product manufacture and use, right up to recycling or disposal – have been recorded and assessed. Accredited environmental performance evaluations are subject to internationally binding standards and are overseen by independent experts. In a life cycle assessment commissioned by Germany’s Federal Environmental Agency, thanks to their low level of environmental impact, beverage cartons were rated on a par with reusable packaging as long ago as 2000. Since then, they have been categorised as ‘ecologically advantageous’. Clear advantages in transportation This favourable rating is also due in large part to the obvious advantages in transportation, which saves fuel and reduces emissions. Carton packs are lightweight and easy to stack, so they are efficient along the entire supply chain. Because they are
11
delivered to the filling company’s premises as flat carton sleeves, the shipping volume of a truck can be used to full potential. Even when carrying filled carton packs, a truck is transporting around 95 per cent content and just 5 per cent packaging. This means that transporting carton packs generates fewer pollutant emissions than transporting heavy packaging systems that take up a lot of space. And that means less carbon dioxide (CO2), less nitrogen oxide (NOx) and less carbon monoxide (CO) being discharged into the atmosphere – contributing to the Greenhouse Effect and causing global warming. Lower environmental impact than PET A life cycle assessment published in 2006 compared the environmental impact of beverage cartons against that of disposable PET bottles, for the first time. This study shows that, in terms of climate protection, carton packs have clear advantages. Disposable bottles use around double the quantity of fossil fuels and generate up to three times more harmful environmental gases than carton packs.
Excellent recycling characteristics make carton packs a valuable form of packaging, even after use.
Fully recyclable Carton packs are just as versatile when they have been emptied as they are in everyday use. The high cardboard content, about 75 per cent, as well as the other materials – 21 per cent polyethylene and an average 4 per cent aluminium – can all be recovered or recycled as valuable resources.
used carton packs
Used carton packs are suitable for all recycling or reuse and disposal options. They have a high energy potential. Two tonnes of used carton packs are equivalent to the calorific value of one tonne of crude oil. They are therefore excellent for thermal recycling with energy recovery. And in regions where recycling or energy recovery are not yet normal practice, used carton packs folded flat take up very little space in landfills. A key requirement for successful recycling is an efficient collection and sorting system for used packaging. While recycling used carton packs is standard practice in many countries, projects to do this are still only in the organisational stages in others. SIG Combibloc is actively involved in the creation and development of national collection systems, building up adequate recycling capacities and introducing modern technologies for recycling carton packs.
material separation
cellulose
polyethylene-aluminium residue
plasma technology
paraffin aluminium
pyrolysis
cement plant
energy aluminium energy bauxite
papermill
new paper products e.g. coreboard, corrugated board
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Recycling wood pulp fibres To recycle carton packs, the packages are taken to papermills where the pulp fibres are first recovered using a water bath in a pulping drum. The fibre is processed directly at the papermill. Due to their rigidity, these fibres can be used to manufacture premium paper products such as folding boxes, corrugated cardboard, winding cores and office stationery. In many countries, the fibres are also used to manufacture paper for gypsum plasterboard or household and sanitary papers. Recycling of aluminium and polyethylene After the cardboard fibre has been recovered, a mixture of polyethylene and aluminium is left behind, along with the closures used on many carton packs. These components can all be recycled without difficulty, ultimately conserving primary raw materials. For instance, in cement manufacture, polyethylene can be used as an alternative to fossil fuel resources. The aluminium is converted into aluminium oxide which is mixed into the cement as a hardening agent and as a substitute for the raw material bauxite.
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In the ecogas pyrolysis process, the polyethylene is converted into a gas and used to generate energy. The aluminium is regained in its pure form and used as a raw material for new aluminium products. Plasma technology represents another option for recycling the materials used in the manufacture of aseptic carton packs. With this technology, the aluminium and plastic components of the packages can be fully separated from one another using a 15,000 °C plasma jet. This process converts the polyethylene into paraffin wax which, like the residual aluminium, is reused as a valuable raw material for new products. Conclusion Carton packs from SIG Combibloc offer a wealth of environmental benefits. They are composed predominantly of renewable raw materials, they make efficient use of resources, they are recyclable and they have only a small carbon footprint. SIG Combibloc considers the environmental issues involved along the entire value-creation chain – from the use of the renewable raw material, wood, through to the clever recycling and disposal of the used carton packs.
This brochure provides basic information on the environmental aspects of our packaging and production systems. If you would like to find out more about this topic, we will gladly supply you with further information. Simply contact us by e-mail or fax. Or even better – give us a call!
Contact Argentina SIG Combibloc Argentina S.R.L. Thames 91 piso 1 of. 4 Boulogne, 1609 JUA Buenos Aires, Argentina T + 54 11 4735 3571 F + 54 11 4735 3571 [email protected]
Bulgaria SIG Combibloc GmbH & Co KG Representative office Bulgaria Gladston 84, 4002 Plovdiv, Bulgaria T + 359 32 62 22 10 F + 359 32 62 70 90 [email protected]
Australia represents also: New Caledonia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Samoa.
Canada SIG Combibloc 2425 Matheson Blvd. East, Suite 881, Mississauga, ON, L4W5K4, Canada T +1 905 361 2825 F +1 905 361 2610 [email protected]
Visy Packaging, Maldon Street, 3047 Broadmeadows, Victoria, Australia T + 61 393010333 F + 61 393098014 [email protected] Austria represents also: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Serbia & Montenegro, Slovenia. SIG Combibloc GmbH & Co. KG Industriestrasse 3, 5760 Saalfelden, Austria T + 43 6582 799 0 F + 43 6582 799 270 [email protected] Belarus SIG Combibloc Tchervjkova, 4, Wh. 68, 220050 Minsk, Belarus T + 375 172 86 78 94 [email protected]
Chile SIG Combibloc Chile Ltd. Augusto Leguia Norte 100 of 309, Las Condes-Santiago do Chile, Chile T + 56 2 431 0955 F + 56 2 431 0675 [email protected] China represents also: Hong Kong, Macao, Mongolia. SIG Combibloc (Suzhou) Co. Ltd. 399, Xinlong Street, Suzhou Industrial Park, 215126 Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, PRC T + 86 512 6283 3111 F + 86 512 6283 3222 [email protected]
Brazil represents also: Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Uruguay.
SIG Combibloc China Shanghai Office 8/F Leishing International Plaza, 1319 Yan An Xi Lu, Shanghai, 200050, PRC T + 86 21 6248 0885 F + 86 21 6249 9541
SIG Combibloc do Brasil Ltd. Av. Chedid Jafet 222, Torre B - Cj. 42, 04551- 065 São Paulo, Brazil T + 55 11 21 07 67 44 F + 55 11 21 07 67 45 [email protected]
SIG Combibloc China Beijing Office Rm 802, CITIC Building, 19, Jianguomenwai Dajie, Beijing, 100004, PRC T + 86 10 6530 1860 F + 86 10 6508 9049
Czech Repuplic represents also: Slovakia. SIG Combibloc s.r.o Cihlárská 661, 50311 Hradec Králové, Czech Republic T + 420 495 800 711 F + 420 495 4362 70 [email protected] Egypt represents also: Jordan, Sudan, Syria, Lebanon. SIG Combibloc Obeikan 2 El Zahaby Square, Heliopolis Cairo, Egypt T + 2 02 2415 3473 F + 2 02 2415 6579 [email protected] France represents also: French Guiana, French Polynesia, French Southern Territories, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mauritius.
Greece Europack Industrial Solutions S.A. 27, Ypsilantou Str., 16675 Glyfada, Athens, Greece T + 30 210 96 07 102 F + 30 210 96 00 590 [email protected] Hungary SIG Combibloc KFT Árpád krt. 4, 6000 Kecskemét, Hungary T + 36 76 487 041 F + 36 76 487 045 [email protected] Indonesia Representative Office (Jakarta) Ariobimo Sentral Bldg. 7th Floor, Jl HR Rasuna Said, Blok X - 2 No. 5, 12950 Jakarta, Indonesia T + 62 21 521 2756 F + 62 21 521 2726 [email protected]
SIG Combibloc S.a.r.l. 1 rue d'Anjou, 92604 Asnières Cedex, France T + 33 1 41 11 42 42 F + 33 1 41 11 42 40 [email protected]
Iran SIG Combibloc Obeikan Apartment 13, 3 rd Floor, No. 40 Vanak Street, Teheran, Iran T + 98 21 8877 9488 F + 98 21 8879 6823 [email protected]
Germany SIG Combibloc GmbH Rurstraße 58, 52441 Linnich, Germany T + 49 2462 79 2537 F + 49 2462 79 17 2537 [email protected]
Israel Hirshberg Brothers & Co. Machinery Ltd. P.O. Box 400, 46103 Herzliya, Israel T + 972 9 9521 666 F + 972 9 9543 654 [email protected]
SIG Combibloc Systems GmbH Jagenbergstraße 1, 41468 Neuss, Germany T + 49 2131 318 0 F + 49 2131 318 144 [email protected]
Italy SIG Combibloc S.r.l. Via Varese, 18, 20121 Milan, Italy T + 39 0229 01 40 30 F + 39 0229 01 74 62 [email protected]
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Korea SIG Combibloc Korea Ltd. 5 th Floor, Korean Bible Society Building 1365-16, Seocho 2-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul, 137-863, Korea T + 82-2-2057-9057 F + 82-2-2057-2957 [email protected] Libya SIG Combibloc Obeikan Integrated Packaging System IPS, P.O. Box 84035, Tripoli, Libya T + 218 21 3343034 F + 218 21 3334545 [email protected] Mexico represents also: Belize, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panama, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks & Caicos Islands, Virgin Islands. SIG Combibloc Mexico Ejercito Nacional No. 418, Piso 10 Oficinas 1 y 2, Col. Chapultepec Morales, 11570 Mexico, D.F., Mexico T + 52 55 52 55 24 87 F + 52 55 52 55 25 18 [email protected] Morocco SIG Combibloc Obeikan Serih Maghreb, Residence Sara, 240, Bd Ghandi 20200, Casablanca, Morocco T + 212 22 399 816 F + 212 22 941 470 [email protected] Netherlands represents also: Belgium and Luxembourg. SIG Combibloc B.V. Amarilstraat 11, 7554 TV Hengelo, Netherlands T + 31 742 554455 F + 31 742 554400 [email protected] Poland SIG Combibloc Sp. z o.o. ul. Bekasow 63 / 65, 02-803 Warsaw, Poland T + 48 22 644 17 02 F + 48 22 644 92 28 [email protected] Romania SIG Combibloc S.R.L., Str. Abrud 84, Sector 1 011317 Bucharest, Romania T + 40 21 232 1821 F + 40 21 232 1861 [email protected]
Russia SIG Combibloc LLC ul. Usacheva 33, bl. 2, 119048 Moscow, Russian Federation T +7 495 933 02 70 / 73 F +7 495 933 02 71 [email protected] Saudi Arabia represents also: Yemen. SIG Combibloc Obeikan Obeikan Commercial Center, 3 rd Floor, Prince Sultan Road, P.O. Box 41010, Jeddah 21521, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia T + 966 2 6927018 F + 966 2 6926901 [email protected] SIG Combibloc Obeikan Riyadh Industrial Area P.O. Box 355023, 11383 Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia T + 966 1 2654188 F + 966 1 2654195 [email protected] South Africa represents also: Sub-Sahara Africa. SIG Combibloc Obeikan Savannah Office Park Cycad Building 9 &10, Cnr Rugby & Haak Street, Weltervredenpark, 1724 Johannesburg, South Africa T + 27 11 6792854 F + 27 11 3883391 [email protected] Spain represents also: Portugal. SIG Combibloc, S.A Calle de Valportillo II, 14, 2°, 28108 Alcobendas-Madrid, Spain T + 34 91 484 13 30 F + 34 91 661 75 54 [email protected] Sweden represents also: Scandinavia, Baltics and Iceland. SIG Combibloc AB Stortorget 11, 21122 Malmö, Sweden T + 46 40 6270740 F + 46 40 6270749 [email protected]
Switzerland represents also: Malta. SIG Combibloc (Schweiz) AG Laufengasse 18, 8212 Neuhausen am Rheinfall, Switzerland T + 41 52 674 82 60 F + 41 52 674 82 50 [email protected]
Ukraine B. Zhitomirskaja, 6 Wh., 1025 Kiev, Ukraine T + 38 04 2784002 F + 38 04 42784002 [email protected] United Arab Emirates represents also: Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka.
Taiwan SIG Combibloc Taiwan Ltd. 4F. - 3, 37, Zhongyang S. Rd., Sec. 2, Beitou District 11270, Taipei, Taiwan R.O.C. T + 886 2 2897 6000 F + 886 2 2897 6655 [email protected]
SIG Combibloc Obeikan (Head Office) Dubai Airport Free Zone, P.O. Box 54335, Dubai, United Arab Emirates T + 971 4 299 6262 F + 971 4 299 6263 [email protected]
Thailand represents also: Brunei, Cambodia, Japan, Kiribati, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Myanmar, Nauru, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Pitcairn Islands, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Wallis & Futuna, Philippines, Nepal, Bangladesh, Laos, Bhutan and Singapore.
United Kingdom represents also: Ireland.
SIG Combibloc Ltd. (Head Office), Eastern Seaboard Industrial Estate (Rayong), 33, Moo 4, Highway No. 331, Amphur Pluakdaeng, 21140 Rayong, Thailand T + 66 38 954 100 F + 66 38 954 104 SIG Combibloc Ltd. (Bangkok Office), 22nd Floor, UBC II Building 591, Sukhumvit 33, Klongton-Nua, Wattana, 10110 Bangkok, Thailand T + 66 2259 9954 F + 66 2259 9963 [email protected] Tunisia represents also: Algeria. SIG Combibloc Obeikan Rue du Lac Huron, Immeulbe el Yamama – 2eme Etage, 1053 Les Berges du Lac, Tunis, Tunisia T + 216 71 961 576 F + 216 71 960 813 [email protected] Turkey SIG Combibloc Paketleme ve Ticaret Ltd. Sti. E-5 Üzeri, Kaya Sultan Sokak, Sarnem Plaza, No: 99 /A Kat: 2, 34742 Kozyatagi, Kadiköy / Istanbul, Turkey T + 90 216 464 2332 F + 90 216 464 2335 [email protected]
SIG Combibloc Ltd. Blackthorn Way, Houghton-Le-Spring, Tyne and Wear, DH4 6JN United Kingdom T + 44 191 387 8028 F + 44 191 387 8086 [email protected] USA represents also: Puerto Rico. SIG Combibloc Inc. 2501 Seaport Drive, River Front Suite, Chester, PA 19013, United States T +1 610 546 4200 F +1 610 546 4201 [email protected] Uzbekistan SIG Combibloc Uzbekistan Ak - kurgan, 17/1, 700052 Tashkent, Uzbekistan T + 998 71 161 2473 F + 998 71 161 2473 [email protected] Vietnam SIG Vietnam Ltd. Broadway Office Park – F.2 - Bldg A, 100 Nguyen Luong Bang Blvd, Phu My Hung, Tan Phu Ward, District 7, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam T + 84 8 5 4135 158 /159 F + 84 8 5 4135160 [email protected]
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SIG Combibloc environment 0109 GB
Printed on FSC-certified paper.
