Cardboard, paper and plastic

Our packaging mainly comprises paper/cardboard and/or plastic. During 2018 and 2019, most of Royal Greenland’s branded cardboard and paper packaging was converted to FSC-certified wood fibre.

Plastic in a circular economy

The adoption of the EU’s plastic strategy, with clear objectives for 2030, sets a framework within which companies and organisations can work to change the composition of plastic fibre, and preferably also reduce consumption.

As a consumer of plastic, our company has a responsibility to use plastic responsibly, but also to develop new methods to recycle the plastic and packaging we use, so that it is part of a future circular economy. The life cycle of packaging can vary considerably in terms of length and complexity, and final disposal and waste handling, in particular, still vary considerably from country to country.

At Royal Greenland, we therefore focus primarily on optimising the first stage of a packaging type’s life cycle, which is the choice of fibre and production method. We follow the principle of reduce – recycle – renew.

Objective

Our ambition is to use and develop new packaging and transport units, etc. that can become part of the circular economy after they have served their function.

Status 2020

• Approximately 73% of Royal Greenland’s plastic packaging is designed for recycling.
• Most of Royal Greenland’s cardboard and paper packaging is based on FSC-certified wood fibre.
• There is no recycling of yarns and trawls yet, but ideas are being developed.

Goal 2022

• Minimum 85% of Royal Greenland’s plastic packaging is designed for recycling.
• All Royal Greenland’s cardboard and paper packaging is based on FSC-certified wood fibre.
• Materials used in yarns and trawls are reused at least once.
• Reduction of the volume of plastic materials, including
  • Reduction of the thickness of strap bands by 20%
  • Reduction of stretch foil by 50%

Initiatives

• Cardboard with plastic lining reduced to mono-material.
• Substitution of laminates with mono-materials, or new laminate types that can be included in a recycling process.
• Establish a yarn return scheme in Greenland under Royal Greenland’s auspices.
• Substitute multi-plastic tubs with mono-plastic tubs.
• Reduction of material thickness, with due consideration of use and durability.

Ambition 2030

Royal Greenland’s ambition is for virtually all used fish yarns and trawls in Greenland to be collected and utilised in 2030. We are also working for all packaging to be reusable or based on renewable resources, as far as food safety regulations allow.