Our Sustainability
Sustainable Packaging for a Circular Economy
12 billion tons of flexible packaging are used and thrown away each year, and recycling is not cutting it.
On a global scale, pulp fibre is more widely recycled than plastics. In fact, over 65% of paper and pulp is recycled annually compared to plastics which is less than 8% annually; with the exception of PET bottles which is close to 15%. Countries that either have a robust recycling system (Europe) or have a fibre shortage (Middle East and Far East) are averaging over 80%. This is why fibre is recycled 5 to 7 times and recent figures show that in some countries, it is closer to 20.
A primary reason why fibres are easier to recycle is because mixed paper can be processed, whereas mixed plastics cannot. Newsprint or corrugated medium can contain fibre that came from many sources such as office waste, newspapers, pulp packaging, cardboard boxes etc… something that is not possible with a cross section of household or hospital plastic waste.
Keep in mind, pulp products also have less of an impact on the environment. Pulp comes from sustainable resources. This is substantial when comparing to plastics which are made from a by-product of petroleum.
Over 200 million tonnes of plastic stays in the environment every year, either as landfill or in the oceans, and it’s estimated that it will remain there for around 400 years.
In some instances plastic takes less energy to make than paper/pulp. In such scenarios pulp needs to be recycled three times compared to plastic to equal the carbon footprint of plastic. However, this does not take into account the end of life impact of plastic.
Paper and pulp break down in the environment, plastic doesn’t…
Top Recycling Facts
36%
Of all plastic produced is used to create packaging.
85%
Of all plastic packaging ends up in landfills.
9%
Of all plastic waste is currently recycled.
68%
Of all Paper/Pulp is recycled.
At ThermoFibre, we are taking on the challenge each day to make a positive difference on the environment with the products we make. All of the additives we use in processing our fibre are food safe and chosen for the minimal impact they have on the environment. Our packaging formulations and products are EN13432 certifiable.
We manufacture fibre products made from natural fibres using the following core source materials
Bamboo
bamboo
Bagasse
Bagasse
Wood Pulp
Wood Pulp
Bamboo
Harvested sustainably with a 5-7-year growth cycle
Bagasse
Fibre recyclate from sugar cane pulp
Wood Pulp
FSC approved wood pulp
Life Cycle Analysis
Pulp products have a lesser impact on the environment than plastic. Plastic is a by-product of petroleum extraction. Bioplastics are more environmentally friendly in their manufacture, however, they still have a harmful impact on the environment at the end of life cycle.
PLASTICS VS. PULP: RANK FROM LEAST/BEST (1) TO MOST/WORST (7) IN EACH DAMAGE/IMPACT CATEGORY – Ref: Comparative LCA of food packaging products’ (2009) interuniversity Research Centre for the Life Cycle of Products, Processes and Services (CIRAIG)
Our Corporate Sustainability Program
Sustainability is an increasingly important issue for the future and our group is bringing it to the forefront of our business. For us, the challenge of sustainable transformation is balancing the need to keep our business in motion while making changes to reach our sustainability ambitions.
We understand that becoming sustainable doesn’t happen overnight. It takes many smaller steps, sometimes challenging and some into the unknown, to really take a business sustainability to the next level and beyond. We are committed to building for a more sustainable future – together with internal and external stakeholders.
Our first step has been to identify the areas where we need to make the most changes to reduce our CO2 footprint. Our pursuit of Zero Waste, Say ‘No’ to plastics and Energy efficiency stems from this.
#phAMBITION is our group sustainability programme. It aims to build upon our sustainability successes so far and set new targets and goals whilst unlocking the power of change. Our programme is aimed at addressing the social and environmental challenges of the next decade with commitments to improve the lives and wellbeing of our people with the smallest environmental footprint.
We have considered the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) against our value chain to better understand risks and opportunities and drive positive change. That is why our strategy is focused on addressing key sustainability impacts and opportunities throughout our value chain.
We are focusing on the importance of a holistic approach to sustainability development and improving wellbeing. We are continuously looking for global trends fuelling a regenerative approach to protect our People and Planet building circular inclusive value chain, with positive choices.
‘phAMBITION is OUR journey towards a sustainable future which supports a healthy, thriving world and promotes well-being for us all, for generations to come’.
This is a fundamental transformation of what we do, to create growth and shared value whilst keeping sustainability at our core.
We have structured our ambitions into ‘5 R’s’.
These form the cornerstone of our sustainability program.
As part of our PH Ambition 2030 Roadmap, we have pledged to restore and protect vulnerable natural habitats in partnership with conservation and wildlife charity MCS (Marine Conservation Society).
Supporting MCS to help the protection of our oceans, Polyco Healthline are committed to MCS’s vision of seas full of life. As part of this we are conducting beach clean and survey events throughout the year in our collective fight against marine litter.