Mauser Packaging Solutions is redefining sustainability with a holistic approach to manufacturing that makes sense for business and the environment. Going beyond the linear start-to-finish traditional concept of manufacturing, Mauser looks at its business as a continuous circle of product design, production, collection, reconditioning, reuse and recycle—and then back to design and production.
“We have the most comprehensive product life-cycle management offering in the industrial packaging industry,” says Klaus-Peter Schmidt, head of R&D / Sustainability (International Packaging). “And, it not only supports environmental sustainability, it also serves as a model for ongoing business profitability and growth.”
“While we are in the business of creating products, we also take care of them even after they’ve served their initial purpose, turning them into something that can be used again, or professionally and safely disposing of them,” says John Homan, director of Sales and Marketing (Small Packaging). “This can help reduce the cost of sourcing new materials and reduce the impact on the environment,” he says.
A key driver of sustainability at Mauser is innovation of its products, processes and services. “It’s always a challenge to balance our goals to deliver a product that both integrates recycled materials and one that performs to expectations. As we continue to try to make products that are more environmentally friendly, we above all have to meet customer requirements for rigor, comply with UN regulations and assure the safety of end-users,” says Jeff DeLiberty, director, Business Development and New Markets (Large Packaging).
One example of how performance and sustainability were successfully integrated is Mauser’s award-winning new WIVA Infinity Container, a medical waste container recently produced in the Netherlands. Made out of 100% recycled plastic, it combines the protection and handling of specific healthcare risk waste with the environmental benefits of using recycled plastic resin, according to Axel Schaefer, head of Product Management (International Packaging).
Here are some more examples of Mauser’s innovative products that check all the boxes:
- WIVA Infinity Container — first-of -its -kind medical waste container made of 100% recycled plastics generated from post-consumer packaging waste, reduces CO2 footprint by over 50% (this product was awarded the 3rd prize in the 2018 NENnovation Award presented by the Dutch Standardization Institute NEN)
- Twinshot technology — injecting a core of recycled resin surrounded by a skin of virgin resin, this process uses 50% less new material
- Diamond Weave technology — a lattice structure on the internal surface of the container gives it added structural strength reducing amount of other material needed, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 43%
- Gasketless covers — an innovative tri-seal plastic pail cover produces a water/airtight seal without a rubber gasket making the entire plastic pail fully recyclable
- skINliner™ — applied like an inner skin to an Intermediate Bulk Container’s (IBC) inner receptacle, it prevents the migration of substances to the container wall and is easily removed and separated from the IBC bottle to enable recycling of non-contaminated polyethylene IBC bottle material
- Mauser Infinity Series® — 100% post-consumer resin (PCR) drums
- Multilayer drums — inner and outer layers are made from high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic and middle layer of up to 65% recycled materials
- IBC components made from recaptured materials — corner protectors, pallet blocks and pallets made from PCR; reconditioned cages, pallets and valves
- Rectangular EZ-Stor and Square pails — maximize space on trucks, reducing the number of trucks and trips to transport products, reducing greenhouse gas emissions in transport
- Metal packaging — made from a minimum of 25% recycled content; reconditioned steel drums
Cultivating a culture of sustainability means having the conversation with customers about whether a recycled or reused product could meet their needs. To best facilitate such dialogue, Mauser provides supporting information on e.g. material saving or carbon footprint showing the environmental impact of producing new packaging vs. reusing packaging or making use of packaging with reclaimed materials.