Protect and nourish while respecting our planet
Ilip for the environment & CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility)
CSR Policies and the Corporate Sustainability Plan
In addition to the environmental sustainability policy we adopt in regard to our products, based on the concept of the 3Rs, Reduction in the use of raw materials and food wastage, Recycling of plastic packaging in order to be able to reuse the raw materials, taking a circular economy approach and Renewable resources like bioplastics, ILIP now launches a new Corporate Sustainability Plan and CSR Policies.
The search for increasing environmental sustainability is intrinsic to ILIP’s DNA, we need simply take a look at the timeline showing the main steps in the process
Considering the concept of sustainability in its broadest sense, which includes not only environmental sustainability, but also social and economic sustainability, and drawing inspiration from the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) prepared by the United Nations, listed below (click on the image for more details),
ILIP has identified a series of areas in its production and business processes to be monitored and has set itself targets for improvement.
Based on the Group’s “Code of Ethics”, which defines, amongst other things, conduct in business, policies governing compliance with employment contracts, equal opportunities and behaviour that is not permitted in the workplace, the areas range from environmental protection and the reduction of the environmental impact of its business and products during production, controlling energy consumption, limiting CO2 emissions and fostering the development of procedures for the internal recovery of reject materials, through to reducing occupational diseases and injuries with the growth and spread of a business culture aimed at preventing risks, incidents and emergencies, integrating health and safety management into all business processes.
Even the value chain is sensitised, from the suppliers through to the customer and, where possible, the consumers, directing them towards making informed choices that take into account the environmental impacts of the products certified by LCA studies or Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) and activities carried out relating to worker health and safety, product quality and consumer safety.
Clear, measurable KPIs have been defined for the Integrated Management System, which will be monitored until achieved and thereafter the results continuously improved.
More specifically, as regards environmental protection, Ilip is committed to monitoring the impact of its business throughout the production chain, seeing environmental sustainability as a decisive element, together with technical and economic considerations.
The company undertakes to work in respect of the environment, using the very best technologies available and guaranteeing an efficient use of energy, materials and natural resources.
The main aim is to reduce the environmental impact through specific programmes and projects throughout the value chain: from the raw materials to the production plants and logistics.
In this respect, it should be noted that with the commissioning of the AUTOMATIC WAREHOUSE, with a capacity for 60,000 pallet places, not only will ILIP improve its customer service, but, given its strategic position alongside the production plant, the current product transfers to external warehouses will cease: 8,501 transfers in 2019, equal to 283,380km and 300,000kg CO2 emissions. In addition, the warehouse will be protected by an innovative oxygen reduction fire-fighting system, which will not only protect the products, but also the surrounding environment and communities.
Read our Sustainability Pledge.
Reduce
At ILIP, we work incessantly, day after day, to reduce plastic consumption by reducing the thickness and weight of our packaging solutions without detracting from their performance. Besides combating the waste of raw materials, we also undertake to reduce food waste by designing solutions that prolong the shelf life of foods.
Downgauging
Reducing for the eco-design is something that ILIP has been pursuing for a decade with its Fit4Purpose approach to packaging. Reducing the weight of the packaging (DOWNGAUGING), without compromising its intended purpose, safety and convenience for the consumer and the hygiene and shelf life of packaged foods, is sustainable from an environmental and economic point of view.The graph below demonstrates the constant reduction in the average weight of punnets and trays for fresh produce, which ILIP has continued since 2010: average weight reduction -12.46% equal to -4.016t of savings in raw materials (PET, r-PET , PP) (2020 vs 2010). Besides the downgauging, now in its sustainability strategy ILIP is focusing more on eco-design to encourage complete closed-cycle recyclability and product certifications according to the program for type III environmental declarations. See the recycling section.
Sustainable packaging is “fit4purpose”: more freshness, less waste.
The environmental impact of packaging can only be assessed in relation to the product it contains and the function it serves. This is why a balance must be sought between “underpackaging” and “overpackaging”: efficient packaging protects food products in an optimal manner, extending their shelf life and minimising both food waste and environmental impact. Ilip supports scientific research on the role played by packaging in food preservation with the aim to reduce food waste.
We were the first manufacturer of thermoformed plastic packaging to adhere to and support the Save Food initiative.
Recycle
The vertical integration of R-PET: A closed loop that opens up to the environment.
T2T R-PET® is the acronym of “tray to tray” in recycled PET, of R-PET trays produced by recycling post-consumer R-PET or PET trays. This pursues the goal of the “closed loop”, not only within the ILPA Group, thanks to the vertical integration of recycling, but also thanks to the recycling of PET food packaging. All ILIP’s R-PET packaging is produced not only with bottles, but also with recycled PET trays and punnets.
ILPA Group and the R-PET closed loop
The ILPA Group, of which ILIP is a member, has vertically integrated the R-PET supply chain and has a cutting-edge recycling plant in AMP Recycling Ferrara, where it mechanically recycles post-consumer PET food containers and bottles to obtain, in line with the circular economy approach, secondary raw materials in the form of flakes, which it can then use in its products.
AMP Recycling is EuCertPlast and EuCertPlast Food certified and also has an EFSA-authorised decontamination process used to treat PET post-consumer flakes to obtain materials suitable to come into direct contact with food (aka “Food Grade R-PET”).
ILIP and the ILPA Group companies, with a recycling capacity of 60,000 tonnes of PET per annum, help:
- reduce the environmental impact of the products they recycle and those they manufacture;
- achieve the Italian plastic packaging recycling targets, operating in their territory of choice, Emilia-Romagna;
- achieve Europe’s circular economy targets;
R-PET: the ILIP approach
ILIP is a European leader in the production of packaging and the converting of plastic and bioplastic, helping improve environmental sustainability in the communities in which it operates and where it is established and of the served markets.
Here and now.
All in complete compliance with European legislation governing employment, health, the environment and consumer protection.
It is only by avoiding unilateral statements characterised by what is today termed “greenwashing” that we can make a concrete positive impact on the environment and communities involved directly.
This is why our approach is based on verified and verifiable data and declarations and this is also why we have begun certifying our products with EPDs (Environmental Product Declarations), starting with the most popular models. For more information: https://www.environdec.com/library/epd2113.
For further details read the paper “Recycled PET, The Ilip Approach”.
Renewable resources
Renewable resources such as bioplastics are a valid alternative to fossil polymers. For this reason, many products in our assortment are made from PLA and Mater-Bi® and are compostable e biodegradable.
Since 2002, we have been using bioplastics to produce single-use tableware and packaging solutions for delicatessens, as well as for fruit and vegetable packaging. All of our compostable products are certified and comply with the European standard EN 13432. After use, these products end up being recycled (the composting, if appropriate and available) and the result of this process is the compost.
If you care for sustainability, choose Ilipbio for compostable products made from bioplastics.
FibrAware®
To complete the range of compostable, biodegradable and recyclable disposable tableware and to give a choice to the consumer attentive to renewable materials, we have added a range of natural fiber tableware such as cellulose pulp, cardboard and FSC certified wood. The Fibraware line offers a complete range of plates, glasses, cutlery, trays with and without lids.
If you care about sustainability, choose Fibraware for renewable natural fiber products
If you want to learn more about the characteristics of ILIPBIO & FIBRAWARE products, read the manual IlipBio & Fibraware for the Environment.
