This story is not about cheese
Don’t get us wrong, we love cheese. We love everything about it, including the packaging! That’s why we strive to create packs that are best for the cheese, as well as the environment.
We want to create packaging that’s recyclable which has a circular potential. These are the ingredients we need to create a more sustainable world. By this change of the cheese pack, we have gotten one step closer.
New recyclable package, same cheesiness
Don’t worry, your cheese won’t taste differently: our package protects it, so it will stay fine for as long as you need it.
Frieslandcampina’s route to a circular cheese packaging
Packaging waste is a problem. We need to recycle more and reduce the amount of packaging waste created. Recognizing this, we have begun our mission at FrieslandCampina to have circular packaging for cheese… meaning that our cheese packs will be recyclable AND made from recycled material.
The journey is not yet complete, but we are well on our way to reducing our impact on the environment, creating a sustainable future for all.
What’s so great about our new pack?
Making a circular recyclable pack is not easy, so we are proud with our steps below:
- Top foil is made from PP/PE material which can be easily separated in the recycle stream from the PET tray material.
- The bottom foil is made from PET, a type of plastic that can be recycled multiple times in new food packs.
- The label is made from PolyPropylene, a type of plastic that is widely recycled and can be reused in different products. This material can also be easily separated in the recycle stream from the PET tray material.
The more PET trays can be recycled, the more recycled PET material will become available. When this is widely available, we will be able to use recyclable PET in our packs in the future.
How is the new pack recycled?
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Throw the package in the bin
When you’ve enjoyed and finished our cheese, you can dispose of the package the way that’s advised in your city. In each European country, plastic is separated from other waste differently. To find out how to recycle plastic where you live, you can check the website of your municipality.
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The PET trays gets separated from other plastic
After plastic waste has been collected, the different types of plastics will be separated. That’s important, because various types of plastic are recycled in different ways. The cheese pack will be sorted and added to plastics that will be recycled in the same way. In this way, PET trays will be circular.
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The pack will be prepared for its new life
Once the pack has been added to the right stream of plastic, it will be grinded and washed. During the washing the label and the topfilm will be separated from the tray so there will be a stream of PET tray material which can be recycled.
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The recycled tray can be used in new food packaging
The great benefit of PET is that it can be used for food packaging again.
What’s next? We aim for only recyclable cheese packs by 2025
Creating the best dairy products for you and future generations is what we’re all about. That means we respect the environment and use little scarce natural resources like fossil fuels. It also means that we need sustainable packaging for our products. Thanks to this new recyclable pack, we take one step further in making the big leap towards using only recyclable packs.
Only together we can be successful!
We believe plastic packs do not belong in nature! We need your help to create a sustainable world!
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Buy products made of recyclable materials. Between two recyclable packs, always choose the one with the least amount of plastic.
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Be mindful about your waste: throw plastic away according to the rules that apply to where you live. If possible, return plastic and glass bottles to the supermarket to get back your deposit!
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Why not go on a plastic picking walk with some friends, to make your environment cleaner?
follow our complete journey
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