Schur Flexibles Group: achieving sustainability in the packaging industry
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Accelerating a sustainability drive with Schur Flexibles Group WRITTEN BY
SEAN GALEA-PACE PRODUCED BY
CAITLYN COLE
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SCHUR FLEXIBLES
Martin Berlekamp, Head of Sustainability at Schur Flexibles Group, discusses the sustainability initiatives his firm is undertaking to help achieve a greener future
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howcasing that actions speak louder than words, Schur Flexibles Group has proven how much of a priority sustainability is for
the firm. Having backed up claims that sustainability is at the forefront of decision-making following its recognition as the winner of FlexiClose’s 2018 German Packaging Award in Sustainability, Schur 04
Flexibles has established the 5R approach to a greener future: Recycling, Replace, Reduction, Renewal and Responsibility. To help achieve this goal, Martin Berlekamp, Head of Sustainability at Schur Flexibles Group, believes his company’s determination to transform the handling of plastics has been key. “We see our current sustainability transformation as a challenge because society is keen to change the treatment of plastics,” says Berlekamp. “As packaging takes up a high percentage of plastics being produced, we have to find a responsible way to handle sustainability along the value chain. As Schur Flexibles is well prepared with its current and new product portfolio, we can help our customers fulfil their sustainability goals which are often much more demanding than the ones requested by the legislation.”
“ We see our current sustainability transformation as a challenge because society is keen to change the treatment of plastics” — Martin Berlekamp, Head of Sustainability of Schur Flexibles Group
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SCHUR FLEXIBLES
“ In addition to our 2025 target, we also have one for 2020 — we want to provide a recyclable solution to all markets” 06
— Martin Berlekamp, Head of Sustainability of Schur Flexibles Group
Schur Flexibles aims to make the majority of its products recyclable before 2025 and already possesses an array of recyclable products in its portfolio, with the company looking to ensure its product materials are responsibly sourced. Schur Flexibles is considered the best in the market in raw material consumption along with producing primarily recyclable packaging. “Sustainability is a clear management target and the company provides the resources to follow up,” affirms Berlekamp. “In addition to our 2025 target, we also have one for 2020 — we want to provide a recyclable solution to all markets. The aim now is to meet our short-term target and devise a strategy, project plan and ensure resources are in place for the 2025 one.” Although Martin Berlekamp admits that his firm’s 2025 sustainability targets are challenging, the firm is determined to align to the requirements of large supermarket chains. “There’s a lot of work to do. If you look at Carrefour, Tesco, Aldi or Lidl, they have their own sustainability programmes,” he says. “These are the
CLICK TO WATCH : ‘SCHUR - OUR MISSION’ 07 targets that customers would like to
– the proven concepts and estab-
see in their own shops. As a flexible
lished materials, the R&D pipeline,
film supplier, if you’re not capable of
management and entire staff of Schur
delivering recyclable solutions, then
Flexibles will lead us to being the
you won’t be in operation for very long.”
number one supplier of sustainable
Fritz Humer, Chief Sales Officer
packaging solutions. This is the most
(CSO) at Schur Flexibles Group, states
important part of the growth strategy
the company’s growth over the past
of the company.”
few years has been significant, and
“Everyone has become a lot more
the future is even more encouraging.
aware of what’s going on in the oceans,”
“We’re on an exciting journey with
says Berlekamp. “Since that time,
customers, markets and society having
customers are more sensitive about
a new way of looking at packaging
packaging materials, particularly
materials,” says Humer. “As a responsible
plastic ones. It’s become a key reason
company, sustainability is in our DNA
why the whole community is now w w w.sc hur f l ex i bles . com
NIPPON GOHSEI offers eco-friendly and recyclable resins, SOARNOL™ (EVOH) and Nichigo G-POLYMER™ (BVOH), and provide a high level of technical support to create tailor-made product solutions. www.nippon-gohsei.com
We look forward to meeting you! Building 4.01
looking for sustainable alternatives.
With a clear idea of how to reduce
They’re coming into a circular economy
plastics consumption, Berlekamp
and it has been one of the biggest chal-
believes the best way to tackle
lenges because, in the past, the flexible
reduction is to utilise the thinnest
films industry was really developing
film to help reduce harmful emissions.
thin films using multiple polymers.
“The carbon footprint impact of packed
Recyclability is not a given if you have
foods is around 97%, with the addition-
different polymers, and this is why
al 3% coming from the packaging film,”
we’re trying to do more for less.”
says Berlekamp. “Nevertheless, we
have to take care of that 3% because
companies and associations that
if we reduce that to the sustainable
represents the entire flexible packag-
and even recyclable possible solution,
ing supply chain. “CEFLEX is very
then it enables us to decrease the
important and has an influence on
carbon footprint in the easiest way.”
European legislation because people
As a member of the CEFLEX and
are now listening,” he says. “I believe
Save Food initiatives, Schur Flexibles
it’s good that we have something
is accelerating its sustainability drive
independent coming from the industry
through these organisations. CEFLEX
and the value chain of packaging to
is the collaborative initiative that
examine how we can change the future
features a consortium of European
of packaging.” With one third of all food
E XE CU T I VE PRO FI LE
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Martin Berlekamp Berlekamp studied chemistry at the university of Münster Germany. After finishing his doctoral thesis, he became a postdoctoral fellow to Finland. His first industry position was in a SME as “Head of Application Technology.” In 1999, he changed to a manufacturer of rigid films. During the following 12 years he had different roles in the company – always in the food packaging area. As the company expanded, he was responsible for the integration of the sites for food packaging films in Finland. Further projects called for additional expat periods in Spain and Portugal. Berlekamp joined Schur Flexibles Group as the Head of Sustainability for the entire Group in 2018 and began the challenge of facing the new Plastics Packaging Waste Directive as well as the high awareness of customers and the society regarding plastic packaging.
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SCHUR FLEXIBLES
wasted or lost, Save Food exists to drive innovations, promote interdisciplinary conversations and generate solutions to debates across the supply chain. In a joint effort with industry members, politics and civil society, the organisation seeks to collaboratively solve food wastage. “We can help to reduce food waste by ensuring that food is packed with a suitable and recyclable packaging film because it will have a bigger impact on cutting our carbon footprint than just reducing 10
plastic use,” notes Berlekamp. In order to ensure that food is packed correctly,
€520mn Approximate revenue
2012 Year founded 1,750 Approximate number of employees
Schur Flexibles has established a key partnership with Nippon Gohsei, a group company of Mitsubishi Chemicals and a producer of EVOH and PVOH providing an appropriate barrier between the product, oxygen and substances such as odd flavors that could contaminate the product. “You need a barrier against oxygen in order to protect valuable proteins like in fish, cheese and meat. We’re working closely with Nippon Gohsei - also a member of CEFLEX - in order to
“As a responsible company, sustainability is in our DNA” — Fritz Humer, Chief Sales Officer (CSO) of Schur Flexibles Group
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develop tailor-made barriers and
bigger companies and two smaller
integrate them into our films.”
ones. We’re ambitious — the target
With a drive to grow through acquisi-
is for Schur Flexibles to be among the
tion as well as promoting growth
top five players in Europe. We have
organically, Berlekamp affirms the
to try and balance our growth in packag-
company’s target is to become one
ing materials and look at how we can
of the biggest companies in its field
gain market share from the competition
in Europe. “We positioned ourselves
following the launch of new products
in the market environment with our
in the market.”
sustainable and recyclable solutions early and have become – we’re proud to say – the best-in-class,” he affirms. “Since I joined, we’ve purchased two w w w.sc hur f l ex i bles . com
Schur Flexibles Holding GesmbH Haus C IZ NÖ-Süd Straße 1 Objekt 50 2351 Wiener Neudorf Austria www.schurflexibles.com