Here we have collected a number of questions and answers about the environment, quality and sustainability. If you have any further questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us and we will help you.

Can plastic be sustainable?From a holistic perspective, yes. Generally speaking, as plastic can be recycled any number of times, it is possible to produce 100% recycled plastic that has been produced with zero emissions. This type of plastic can thus be viewed as sustainable from a technical perspective, but it requires a very high degree of recycling. This means that the plastic must not spread in nature and that transport, recycling and production must take place without polluting emissions.

What is bio-based plastic?
Bioplastics are not just one type of material. They are a family of materials with different properties and uses. There are two distinct groups of bioplastics, and each has different properties:

1. Bio-based, or partially bio-based, which are non-degradable plastics. These include, for example, bio-based polyethylene (PE) used in commercial carrier bags, bio-based polyester (PET) used for soft drink bottles, bio-based polyamide (PA) or bio-based polyurethane (PUR). These plastics are currently primarily based on sugar or oils and can easily be recycled with traditional plastics.

2. Bio-based and biodegradable plastics, such as polylactide (PLA), polybutylene succinate (PBS), PHA (polyhydroxyalkanoates) or thermoplastic starch (TPS). These can be produced in their pure form as completely 100% renewable (for example PLA, PHA, TPS) or as partially renewable, for example PBS.

When choosing bio-based plastics, it is important to ensure, as with wood-based products, that the raw material is cultivated in a sustainable manner that does not contribute to the depletion of biodiversity.

How many times can corrugated cardboard be recycled?
On average, corrugated cardboard can be recycled seven times. After that, the fibres become too short (as a result of the recycling process), which means that they are not suitable as a raw material for corrugated cardboard, as the strength of the product is compromised.

A corrugated cardboard product contains an average of 70% recycled raw material. The recycled raw material can consist of fibres that have been recycled multiple times.

What is life cycle perspective?
A concept for looking at the impact of a product throughout its life cycle – from the extraction of raw materials through processing, production, use and finally how the product will be handled when the time comes for it to be discarded. The way to measure a product’s environmental impact during its life cycle is called a Life Cycle Analysis (LCA).

What is a circular economy?  
There is no clear definition of a circular economy. Put simply, it is a more modern word for cycle. The key to a circular economy is to recycle and reuse materials and products to reduce consumption of new materials.