Eco packaging

The Group’s eco-design policy includes product packaging. It is aimed at ensuring that it correctly fulfills its protective, storage, transport, information and handling functions while minimizing its environmental impact. In 2018, the Group standardized and formalized its responsible packaging policy with the support of the WWF (WorldWide Fund for Nature). It is produced and co-signed by the Sustainable Development department and the Purchasing department, and has 10 targets, including three main ones:

  • Zero plastic packaging
  • Zero expanded polystyrene
  • 90% recycled fibers

 

Concrete measures for a responsible packaging policy

The use of 90% recycled fibers, the elimination of internal plastic packaging and expanded polystyrene are the top three priorities for 2023.

In any event:

  • The packaging must be designed along with the product, minimizing empty space and the amount of materials needed, while guaranteeing product quality. Packaging that is difficult to recycle must be limited and any superfluous packaging avoided.
  • Suppliers are also strongly encouraged to use FSC certified cardboard sources.
  • For printing, inks must be water or plant-based, without mineral oils.
  • With regard to inserted documents (user instructions, safety recommendations, etc.), the Group wants to make these paperless and so reduce the amount of paper used.
  • Consumers will be made more aware of waste sorting and recycling, through information given on the packaging.
Eco pack steam up

CARDBOARD TO REPLACE PLASTIC BAGS AND PSE WEDGES

In terms of recycled fibre content, the packaging used at European and Asian production sites already exceeds the 90% target. The Group is therefore concentrating its efforts on the Americas.

Regarding the elimination of plastic sub-packaging and the replacement of expanded polystyrene (EPS) spacers, the trend accelerated in 2020, with cardboard-based solutions being used in most cases. The woks and fondue makers (Tefal) manufactured in Rumilly, for example, are no longer inserted in a plastic bag and are now protected and perfectly wedged by a custom-designed cardboard sleeve. Over the last 2 years, the list of products that have taken the plunge has grown steadily: 5-second mini-chopper (Tefal), Evidence Eco (Krups), etc.
The Group continues to develop various cushioning solutions, in particular using "honeycomb cardboard" or moulded cellulose, an option already used for several years for Rowenta hoovers manufactured in Vernon, Normandy.
 

eco pack ecommerce

An eco-designed e-commerce pack to limit over-packaging


The explosion in internet sales has led to a sharp increase in the use of overwrapping by e-commerce distributors to ship products to consumers from their logistics platforms. In order to avoid this operation, which is harmful to the environment, the Group has developed specific packaging for e-commerce: it no longer requires any repackaging between leaving the factory and arriving at the consumer. The packaging is made from 100% recycled and recyclable cardboard, with no plastic bags or polystyrene, and it has the most demanding certifications from distributors in terms of product protection and user experience.

EN COMPLEMENT