Stora Enso says fiber critical to packaging sustainability

European paper and board producer issues report with 13 sustainability-related recommendations.

groceries paper bag
Stora Enso refers to paper products as a critical part of a sustainable packaging sector.
Photo courtesy of Stora Enso

Stora Enso has issued a report detailing a path to food sustainability which it says ties into critical packaging considerations.

The Finland-based forest products company, which also makes recycled-content paper and board, has issued a report titled “Food packaging for better food systems," identifying what it says are 13 impact opportunities for the food packaging value chain to unlock greater global climate, biodiversity and social progress.

Stora Enso says fiber-based packaging is an enabler of sustainable food systems.

Paper and board holds that status, the company says, in part because of its renewable base material, recyclability and reliability in hygienic food protection. In the report, a Stora Enso recommendation includes developing new compostable and recycled content-based materials.

“Our food systems play a crucial role in securing a circular, biodiversity- and climate-positive future,” says Tiina Pursula, senior vice president of sustainability at Stora Enso. “We need to look at these systems holistically and consider how can we contribute to food system transformation, such as healthier, plant-based foods and food waste reduction. This way, we can drastically change the way we produce, transport and consume food.”

In spelling out its 13 opportunities, the report refers to several techniques and methods, including upgraded sorting of recyclable materials, higher recycling capacity and establishing a market for secondary raw materials to improve the circularity of materials systems. “These conditions illustrate the need for a multi-stakeholder approach to fully realize the solutions proposed by the research,” Stora Enso says.

“Across the packaging value chain and beyond, we already have the innovation expertise to act on these opportunities and accelerate the food system’s transition,” Phillip Hanefeld, Stora Enso senior vice president, says. “We’re hopeful that the information in this white paper will spark and deepen the much-needed collaboration among stakeholders to optimize the use of our collective resources and make our proposals a reality.”

Stora Enso says the report follows its collaborations with companies in the food and beverage packaging industry.

The Stora Enso white paper can be found here.

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