Recyclable and resealable cheese packaging

By switching to recyclable packaging, FrieslandCampina is reducing the amount of plastic used in its best-selling cheese packaging in Europe by a further 30 per cent. The company anticipates savings and recycling potential of more than 300,000 kilograms of plastic a year. So far, the manufacturer has reduced its plastic requirements by more than 20 per cent, and by 2025 all packaging should be completely recyclable, with the stated goal of a consistent, resource-conserving recycling economy.

Material can be used to manufacture vacuum cleaners

“Resealable packaging helps protect cheese, ensure its quality and reduce food waste. We are constantly working on optimising its sustainability, including better recycling properties. Using less material is the most obvious way to achieve this. I am proud that we have now succeeded in significantly reducing the plastic content of our cheese packaging and reducing its impact on the environment,” explained Patrick van Baal, Global Director Packaging Development at FrieslandCampina. He noted that most cheese packaging is made of several types of plastic and is therefore not recyclable, adding, “We have now found a solution: Our new cheese packaging is made of polypropylene, a material that can be easily separated, recycled and reused, for example to make vacuum cleaners,” says van Baal.

FrieslandCampina is committed to well-designed recycling systems and consistent recycling management, in order to retain plastics as a valuable resource in the value chain for as long as possible, and to reduce the ecological footprint. The international dairy company has nailed its objectives to the masthead through national and international agreements such as the Plastic Pact and “The new plastics global commitment” of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.