Improving the eco-efficiency of plastic packaging. 

The packaging sector supports the logistics – from factory to shelf – that help sustain our contemporary everyday life around the world. The ominous presence of all types of packaging reflects the intensive use of materials necessary to cover all their uses, which amounts to a considerable environmental impact. Greiner Packaging is a subdivision of Greiner AG in Romania, and is the market leader for thermoformed packaging – a manufacturing process where a plastic sheet is heated to a pliable forming temperature, formed to a specific shape in a mold, and trimmed to create a usable product. The company wants to invest in green innovation by understanding the environmental impacts and resource consumption profiles of different packaging options and installing a new machine that offers a new inline thermoforming solution that allows for the use of different materials.

The main objective of the project is to give the company a competitive edge on the plastic products market, by implementing new green innovative products, improve the environmental impact while ensuring healthy and sustainable growth.

In collaboration with SINTEF – one of Europe’s largest independent research organisation – the project will continue to investigate alternative materials for Greiner’s products. The project will also study scenarios and solutions to test and implement a new combination of elements that uses more recycled material, which in turn helps to reduce their CO2 emission. IDN also assists in the project with three main bilateral components: Product Life Cycle Assessment, Sustainable Strategy & Branding and Dissemination Activities. These undertakings will cover a wide range of analysis that can help Greiner Packaging understand, improve and communicate their environmental impact.