HKScan brings innovative packaging to Finland
A new type of plastic, based on wood cellulose will be soon added to the Finnish market by HKScan. The target is to reduce the carbon dioxide emissions of the ready packaging film by more than 50% in comparison to traditional plastic packaging, according to the company. Utilising wood-based packaging plastics is a step towards carbon neutrality for an entire food chain. This is the aim of HKScan’s Zero Carbon climate plan. HKScan’s co-operative partners in this venture include the wood-based plastics developer Woodly Oy and packaging film producer Wipak.
HKScan is taking great strides towards carbon neutrality. Product packaging is one key area of focus in the company’s efforts to achieve this goal.
“HKScan is renewing its packaging to make it even more responsible. Our goal is to ensure that all our packaging is recyclable by the end of 2025, at the latest. At the same time, we aim to reduce the carbon footprint of our packaging by 20% and the amount of packaging plastics by 20% from the levels in 2019”, states Markus Gotthardt, VP, Commercial for HKScan in Finland.
To replace its fossil plastics, HKScan is working co-operatively with Woodly Oy, a Finnish company developing a new type of plastic, based on wood cellulose. As a result of this co-operation, HKScan will be the first company to have exclusive rights to use the wood-based Woodly plastics in the meat product category in Finland. The company will utilise the plastics on select grilling sausage packages during the coming summer.
“By using the carbon-neutral Woodly component, we will reduce the carbon dioxide emissions of the ready packaging film by more than 50% in comparison to traditional plastic packaging”, explains Gotthardt.
The main raw component in Woodly materials, namely coniferous cellulose, comes from certified, sustainably managed coniferous forests. The renewable aspect of the material makes it a viable option to replace packaging materials made from fossil ingredients. Packaging film made from Woodly materials is manufactured and converted for HKScan’s use by Wipak, a company operating as part of Wihuri Group in Finland. Woodly-based packaging materials are recycled as plastics. HKScan has the exclusive right to use Woodly materials in select product categories.
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