Huhtamaki is a leading global provider of sustainable packaging solutions for consumers around the world. Our innovative products protect on-the-go and on-the-shelf food and beverages, and personal care products.
Packaging plays a fundamental role in protecting food. It guarantees food safety and hygiene, helps prevent food waste and gives affordable access to food by supporting easy and efficient delivery.
At Huhtamaki, we want to become the first choice in sustainable food packaging solutions by 2030 and we believe that transitioning to a circular economy is the key to unlocking sustainability.
Our ambition is that 100% of our products are designed to be recyclable, compostable, or reusable. By 2030, over 80% of the materials we use are renewable and recyclable, and 100% of the fiber we source is either recycled or from certified sources.
Sustainability and chain of custody certification is, therefore, an intrinsic part of Huhtamaki’s raw material sourcing process. All of Huhtamaki’s foodservice manufacturing sites hold PEFC certification and a significant amount of the paperboard we use in manufacturing comes from PEFC certified, sustainably managed forests.
PEFC certification provides Huhtamaki with reliable and consistent access to sustainably and responsibly produced timber raw materials, delivering the supply chain security which is essential for our global business. Huhtamaki operates in 37 countries worldwide. This reinforces the importance of PEFC certification as a global standard, give that it is recognised and respected worldwide and plays a crucial part in helping us to achieve our 2030 ambition in relation to certified fiber.
Paper-based packaging plays a vital role in sustainable forestry management. The process of thinning smaller trees for pulp and paper production is essential to the growth of larger, construction-grade trees. Additionally, recent studies commissioned by the European Paper Packaging Alliance (EPPA) have demonstrated that single-use paper packaging is one of the most eco-friendly packaging options - far surpassing reusable alternatives in terms of environmental benefits. In particular, substituting single-use, paper-based packaging with reusable rigid plastic options for takeaway meals would lead to a staggering 91% increase in CO2 equivalent emissions and a 64% surge in freshwater consumption. [1]
With growing concerns about a range of issues including food availability, ethical sourcing and responsible use of water and land, consumers want to know more about the products they buy and the brands they are buying. This heightened consumer focus extends to the packaging in which products are presented.
According to Mintel Consulting’s 2022 Sustainability Barometer [2], over half of surveyed consumers believe that the bulk of responsibility for the most significant steps towards ‘saving the planet’ lies with manufacturers and governments rather with individual consumers. The Trivium Packaging, 2022 Global Buying Green Report [3], based on a survey of 15,000 consumers across Europe, North America, and South America, echoes Mintel’s findings. It reveals that 86% of consumers show willingness to pay more for sustainable packaging whilst 57% of consumers are ‘less likely’ to purchase products in harmful packaging.
In essence, this underscores the need for manufacturers and brands to offer sustainable packaging options that are easily identifiable by consumers. This willingness to provide such options can influence consumer demand towards products which are packaged sustainably, using materials that are renewable, recyclable, or compostable and sourced responsibly.
For Huhtamaki, PEFC certification addresses this need for transparency and clarity among consumers in two significant ways. Firstly, it ensures that Huhtamaki, our customers and the end consumer can trust that PEFC certified materials come from sustainable forestry with independently audited traceability. Secondly, PEFC Chain of Custody certification and labelling is designed to be simple, transparent and user friendly for manufacturers and consumers alike.
References
[1]. Comparative Life Cycle Assessment (LCA): ‘Single-use and multiple-use tableware systems for take-away services in Quick Service Restaurants’ – Prepared by Ramboll Italy for European Paper Packaging Alliance – November 2022
Comparative Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) (eppa-eu.org)
[2]. 2022 Sustainability Barometer – Mintel Consulting – 2022 Mintel Group Limited
[3]. Global Buying Green Report 2022 – Trivium Packaging – 2022
Trivium Packaging | Buying Green Report 2022
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