Paving the way for a sustainable future: technotrans switches to recycling-friendly packaging material

  • Consistent implementation of the company's sustainability strategy
  • Focus on using recycling-friendly material as well as on saving the use of packaging material in general
  • Carbon footprint of the Sassenberg site reduced by 841,500 kg of CO2

A strong focus on the protection of the environment: technotrans SE adopts a sustainable packaging concept. The aim is not only to use less packaging material, but also to substitute it with environmentally friendly and recyclable materials. Today, the share of ecological packaging material at the Baden-Baden and Sassenberg sites is already close to 100%. The result: a considerably reduced carbon footprint.

Following the guidelines of "avoid, reuse, recycle, renewable raw materials", technotrans is consistently implementing a sustainable packaging concept. The use of materials that are necessary for shipping the products of the company has been optimised on a group-wide scale in order to protect the environment.

 

At the Sassenberg headquarters, technotrans was able to significantly reduce its environmental impact. The conversion of the entire packaging system and the adoption of trays on which the items are secured by way of stretch film enabled the company to avoid filling the cavities of the packaging with polystyrene chips. In cases where this is not possible for logistical reasons, the company uses eco-friendly packaging chips. This leads to an annual carbon dioxide reduction of 841,500 kg of CO2 for technotrans. Positive side effect: The efficiency of the packaging process has considerably increased.

 

ECO PE foam boards are the way to go

technotrans systems in Baden-Baden focuses on packaging material for the shipment of whole units. Instead of standard PE foam boards, the company now uses ECO PE foam boards to protect the products during shipment. As a result, the original emissions of approximately 2.51 kg of CO2/kg of packaging material has decreased by 95% to approximately 0.13 kg of CO2/kg. This is a great advantage that pays off for the environment, explains Adrian Butaru, head of logistics at technotrans systems: "The costs are the same, but the environmental impact is considerably lower."

 

For product shipments, the traditional two-component foam packaging system, which was notoriously difficult to recycle, has been replaced with an environmentally friendly one. In addition, the company now uses recycled paper for packaging its spare parts. As a result, the carbon footprint of 125 kg of CO2/kg could be reduced by nearly 100% to only approximately 0.2 kg of CO2/kg. Thanks to all of these measures, the carbon dioxide emissions were reduced from approximately 99,430 kg in 2019 to approximately 37,975 kg in 2021.

 

Fully closed-loop cycles until 2025

The packaging logistics adjustments bring technotrans close to its goal of implementing fully closed-loop material cycles. Approximately 97% of the technotrans systems shipments and 92% of the Sassenberg shipments are now realised with packaging material that can be recycled by type. "The changes are an important step towards our goal of even greater sustainability and environmental protection," says Michael Finger, Spokesman of the Board of Management at technotrans SE. "This is a mission we consistently pursue." By 2025, all materials are supposed to be recyclable.

 

These measures are part of the Future Ready 2025 strategy. In addition to switching to packaging material that can be recycled by type, technotrans plans to be become more sustainable in other areas as well: This includes the development of energy-efficient technologies as well as the use of refrigerants with a low global warming potential and of green electricity from 100% renewables.