Packaging

Seufert is offering carbon neutral printing of clear packaging

Tuesday 14. August 2012 - Companies can now brand as carbon neutral their clear or translucent packaging and promotional items produced by Seufert Transparente Verpackungen GmbH.

Leading European packaging supplier Seufert Transparente Verpackungen GmbH (STV) has teamed up with sustainability consultants natureOffice to enable brands to expand and demonstrate their commitment to the environment.
Through third-party accredited natureOffice, Seufert calculates the CO2 emissions of every project – from production through to delivery – and offers clients the opportunity to offset these via a choice of high quality schemes. To demonstrate their environmental commitment, clients can then choose to print an ‘Our print is carbon neutral’ logo onto their transparent packaging, gifts and promotional items. This message is strengthened with a unique, project-specific tracking number.
Demonstrating commitment to the environment
STV Managing Director Thomas Pfaff explains that this new option has been provided in response to customer demand: “With companies putting themselves under greater pressure to meet tough environmental and sustainability targets – and consumers increasingly demanding that they do – brands must now not only have a commitment to carbon neutrality, but also demonstrate it.” He believes that carbon neutral printing offers brands considerable competitive advantage, by enabling them to attract new customers and retain existing ones. “It helps companies take responsibility, reduce greenhouse gases and show their customers and stakeholders a strong commitment to the environment,” he says.
The carbon footprint of each project is calculated using an online platform from natureOffice, taking into account production of the plastic film, printing, processing and finishing, and even delivery. Then clients can choose how they wish to offset the CO2 produced via a selection of carbon offset projects and the purchase and binding suspension of approved certificates of climate protection. A unique reference number is created for each project, which can be printed onto the client’s products and tracked via natureOffice’s website.
Sustainable R-PET was the first step
STV’s products already have sound environmental credentials, as Quality Manager Andreas Klassert notes: “Seufert has for many years offered 85% recycled R-PET plastic. We work under BRC/IoP-accredited conditions, recycling PET film scraps so they are returned into the extruding process. So, for some time now we’ve combined the highest quality, high-speed printing with a reduced carbon footprint.” Klassert concludes: “Our new cooperation with natureOffice takes that to the next level.”