We’re shifting away from the ‘take-make-waste’ structure of typical linear production toward resilient, circular systems that are good for business, people and the environment. Considering the economic, environmental and social impacts of waste and packaging provides new ways to add value across a product’s complete life cycle.
Increasing demand for pulp and paper products is responsible for a significant portion of today’s deforestation. The best ways we can prevent this is either by using recycled paper or by purchasing paper from forests that are sustainably managed.
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) are the most widespread sustainable forestry certifications internationally. Both aim to verify the sustainability performance of forest management systems and provide chain of custody certification to organisations along the supply chain.
Synlait’s skim and whole milk powders are packed in 25kg bags that are made of both a plastic and a paper-based layer. The plastic component is necessary to prevent moisture ingress and guarantee the safety and quality of the product. The paper component protects the product from physical damage and exposure to light. In 2020, we partnered with our packaging suppliers to improve the environmental performance of the bags, which resulted in the paper-based layer:
The cartons used to pack our canned Infant Formula products are also FSC/PEFC certified.
By 2025, 100% of Synlait product packaging will be reusable, recyclable or compostable.
Achieving this goal means reimagining all aspects of our business. We want to partner with customers and suppliers so that recyclability is achieved while maintaining the functional and technical properties required for their products. We have a team of packaging technologists that apply sustainable packaging design guidelines when working on new packaging developments.
One example of sustainable packaging design at Synlait is our Swappa Bottle – a new consumer brand of fresh milk launched in a refillable 1.5 litre stainless steel – shows reusables playing a bigger role in food and beverage production.
High-grade stainless-steel is a durable, 100% recyclable material that can be safely reused time and time again. When a bottle is returned, it is sanitised, filled, sealed with a recyclable tin lid and labelled with a recyclable cardboard sleeve. Swappa Bottle is currently in a trial phase and only available in a limited number of New Zealand stores.
STANDARD Standard value propositions are those that already exist – things we already do - and that may be of interest to our customers, for use in their corporate or brand communications.
TAILORED Tailored value propositions are those that we can co-develop with our customers. This could be in the form of tailored new product development or collaborative projects on farm or on site.
