With sustainability firmly at the forefront of today’s packaging supply chain, Flint Group Packaging Inks, one of the largest consumables suppliers to the global print and packaging industry, has detailed its vision for supporting circular economies in a new white paper that reveals the formation of a dedicated Sustainability Task Force.
The paper outlines the environmental challenges faced by the industry past, present and future, and examines how Flint Group Packaging Inks, through the actions of its task force, can provide sustainable solutions, insight and collaboration for its key stakeholders.
According to the company, there are four core areas of activity where Flint Group Packaging Inks is supporting the supply chain to become more circular, while at the same time adding value.
These include addressing sustainability concerns on a broad scale, supporting converter operations, solving recycling complexities and delivering greater industry networking and partnership to drive change and innovation.
Deanna Klemesrud, Global Marketing Director, Brand & Promotion, said: "Sustainability is not simply a buzzword that is going to disappear in a year or two, despite the disruption brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.
"It is now at the heart of every industry and sector globally and is what will determine the future success of our industry.
"When the global economy begins to recouperate from the virus’ affects, our industry has a unique opportunity to ensure sustainable packaging forms an irreplaceable part of the recovery.
"As awareness of the human impact on the environment has evolved, consumers have become increasingly concerned about packaging and its role in waste and pollution.
"Flint Group Packaging Inks has a very clear commitment towards bringing about positive environmental change in the industry and sustainability is deeply engrained in our values and how we do business each and every day.
"In our new white paper, we highlight the work our Sustainability Task Force is undertaking with our customers and partners to create a unique journey that is responsive to their own needs and allows them to benefit from our expertise and innovation to bring about change to their processes and operations.”
The Sustainability Task Force comprises 13 employees located around the globe, at all levels of the Flint Group Packaging Inks business.
Other current task force projects include supporting printers to move away from fossil fuel-based materials and developing solutions for those planning to transition from rigid to flexible packaging to lower their carbon footprint.
It has also developed several programmes to help printers reduce overall ink consumption and materials waste in production, with a view to boosting sustainability credentials and becoming more cost-efficient and competitive.
Ink chemistry expertise is also enabling the task force to work with recycling companies to address the challenges that ink introduces into the recycling process and the quality of recyclate material.
"By collaborating directly with key stakeholders from a recycling, packaging and environmental perspective,” added Deanna, "we can drive innovation that will be of benefit to everyone in the supply chain.
"There is no simple answer to the challenges that sustainability presents to the industry and it will take a collaborative effort to bring about change.
"By creating our Sustainability Task Force, Flint Group Packaging Inks is empowering its employees to offer expertise and support so that a true circular economy can be realised within the print and packaging industry.”
The white paper is available to download from the Flint Group Packaging Inks website and via this link: Sustainability Whitepaper or by contacting Deanna Klemesrud directly at Deanna.klemesrud@flintgrp.com.
