VPK Packaging: With new innovations for sustainability

If using less plastic was the top priority for pre-COVID-19 customers, followed by concerns over climate change, during the pandemic customers expected brands to protect health and wellbeing, local communities and the planet. Once that EU’s single-use plastics (SUP) directive entered into force on 3 July 2019, large brands and manufacturers decided or continued to reevaluate their packaging strategies and to seek out alternatives.

VPK Group, together with the other members of Blue Box Partners (Klingele Paper and Packaging Group, Hinojosa and Cart-One) develops packagings that provide sustainable solutions for the long term, such as the ECOGRIP. ECOGRIP is designed to replace single-use shrink wrap for plastic bottles between 330ml and 1.5l, offering a recyclable and biodegradable corrugate solution for multipacks. Adaptable to many different bottle styles regardless of their diameter, it is a sustainable multipacking solution for 4, 6 or 8 bottles.

Armin Höttges, managing director of Blue Box Partners told: while there are improvements in recycling rates for many packaging products, secondary packaging such as shrink wrap falls into the category of single-use plastics, which can create issues if not disposed of responsibly.

The launch of ECOGRIP now delivers a solution for brands that want an effective multipacking option. Plus the ergonomic design makes ECOGRIP easy to transport, handle and store, and the corrugated board can be customised through a variety of print technologies, for maximum brand and on-shelf impact.

VPK Packaging would like to help both customers and consumers to find cost-effective and sustainable packaging solutions by addressing their hygiene and safety concerns. Meanwhile the group has invested EUR 3.5 million in Salonta, consolidating VPK Packaging’s partnerships to maintain the company’s position in the market and to face the new challenges. (x)