Sustainability is a relevant topic, and more and more companies are committed to promoting a circular economy and making a positive environmental contribution with their products. Consumer goods company Henkel pursues ambitious packaging targets – one of the recent examples on its way to further increase the usage of recycled material is a sustainable packaging solution for the toilet cleaner from the Pro Nature product range: the bottle now contains 50% post-consumer recycled polyethylene (r-PE). Greiner Packaging is one of Henkel’s packaging suppliers for this product.
Kremsmünster, Austria, July 2020. The new toilet cleaner bottle stands out not only thanks to its convenience and ease of handling but also because of its sustainable properties: It is composed of 50% post-consumer r-PE. This product represents a valuable contribution to a sustainable circular economy, which both Henkel and Greiner Packaging want to foster. For example, the two project partners have signed the New Plastics Economy Global Commitment launched by the UK-based Ellen MacArthur Foundation. This initiative aims, amongst others, to replace fossil-based virgin plastics with the use of recycled plastics in packaging.
Step by step toward a circular economy
The new Pro Nature toilet cleaner bottle with 50% post-consumer r-PE is just another example of how Henkel and Greiner Packaging are joining forces to demonstrate their commitment to sustainable packaging solutions that foster a circular economy. Last year, the black bottles for toilet cleaner under the Bref brand produced by Greiner Packaging were relaunched in a sustainable version: As black plastic packaging products represented a challenge for the recycling value chain due to the black masterbatch previously used, Henkel teamed up with its supplier Ampacet to introduce an innovative solution for black plastic packaging that is fully recyclable. The new packaging material uses an alternative, carbon-free black coloring agent – thanks to the new masterbatch, the black bottles now can be correctly identified and sorted by optical sensors at waste sorting plants.
Close collaboration for sustainable packaging
“We want to contribute to more sustainable packaging, both with regard to recyclability and an increased use of recycled materials.
That’s why we are proud to support our partners like Henkel in implementing their innovative and sustainable projects along every step of the way. A true circular economy can only become a reality if everyone works together,” stresses Michael Frick, Global Key Account Director at Greiner Packaging. Abdullah Khan, who is responsible for Sustainable Packaging Laundry & Home Care at Henkel, is also excited about the partnership:
Henkel and Greiner Packaging have already implemented a number of innovative packaging concepts together. Our new Pro Nature bottle containing 50% recycled material is a shining example of Henkel’s activities to reach our goal to reduce 50% fossil-based virgin plastics by 2025.
Abdullah Khan, responsible for Sustainable Packaging Laundry & Home Care at Henkel
The needs of the end consumer are particularly important in development. This is also the case with our new K3® tear tab, which is now even more intuitive.
