Aiming at 80% recycled materials delivered to German retail market

 

Case: Aiming at replacing 80 % of virgin plastics in our packaging with recycled plastic or alternative packaging methods. Goal is that 100% of our packaging can be recyclable.

Challenge

At Kekkilä-BVB, we focus on customer success by ensuring high quality products for our customers. A key factor in achieving this is by using sustainable packaging. Our packaging is made entirely out of plastic, a material chosen for its exceptional qualities and benefits such as stretch ability, strength and durability which are needed during transport. However, we also recognize that plastic pollution is a major problem for our environment and we have the responsibility to take action.

Action

Our bags containing substrates usually consist out of 3 layers: the outer layer that contains the printing, a middle layer and the inner black layer which blocks light in order to protect the substrate from the formation of algae and other undesirable organisms. All together, we use up to 3.300 tons of plastic used in our packaging annually. Roughly 72% of that is used in the business unit retail and landscaping, 25% in the business unit professional growing through our product brands BVB Substrates and Kekkilä Professional and the remaining 3% is used in the business unit G&C materials.

Result

Packaging can only be called sustainable when we have achieved a close loop system where the packaging material sent into the market is collected, recycled and reused in either packaging material or other applications. At Kekkilä-BVB, we believe that closing the chain is the path to sustainable everyday living where we help form a market for recycled plastic by using recycled material in our packaging. For several retail customers in Germany, we are already using 80% recycled material in the potting soil bags. Additionally, we ensure that all of the packaging we use is recyclable. Germany has very well established and centralized collection and recycling systems in place ensuring that the packaging is not just recyclable but really is recycled.