Plastics and foam company Greiner is paving the way for the future with a strong focus on the circular economy. Their vision extends beyond just recycling to include developing reusable products and conserving resources across their entire value chain.
“The circular economy challenges the concept of a throw-away society by viewing waste as a valuable raw material. This philosophy guides our future efforts and is a central pillar of our corporate strategy until 2028,” explains Manfred Stanek, member of the Executive Board of Greiner AG.
A key concept driving Greiner’s sustainability goals is “Design For Recycling,” which directs product development towards ensuring products are designed to be 100% recyclable. By designing products that can be easily collected, separated, and recycled, Greiner aims to reduce waste and promote sustainability.
“Our goal is to achieve full circularity by 2030 and significantly reduce our emissions. Using recycled PET for packaging production drastically reduces CO2 emissions, aligning with our climate targets,” says Stefan Grafenhorst, Vice President of People & Sustainability at Greiner AG.
Greiner Recycling produces r-PET flake internally
Greiner is actively collaborating with recycling plants and partners along the value chain to create a closed loop system. By investing in their recycling plant in Serbia, Greiner Packaging has successfully incorporated r-PET flakes into their production of new food packaging. The focus on circularity has been further emphasized through Greiner Recycling. For insights from the Director of Operations Recycling at Greiner Packaging, check out the interview with Peter Fessl.
Aligned with the “Blue Plan” sustainability strategy, Greiner continually seeks innovative solutions for circular business models through Greiner Innoventures, their start-up hub. Strategic partnerships are instrumental in advancing circular economy initiatives.
Collaborative circular projects
One notable partnership is the Austrian Mattress Alliance founded by Greiner’s NEVEON foam division, focusing on “circular mattresses.” Additionally, a collaboration with BASF has enabled chemical recycling of mattresses, closing the materials cycle and producing high-quality mattresses from recycled materials.
In another project, Greiner Packaging, in collaboration with local farmers and companies, is packaging school milk in r-PET cups, promoting sustainability along the regional value chain and earning the TRIGOS sustainability prize.
