With its innovative products, Springfield Solutions, an All4Labels Global Packaging Group Company, is making good progress in its sustainability journey, aligning with the global group sustainability targets based on Product, Planet and People. As more consumers are looking for sustainability in all markets, the company has placed a focus on sustainable investment. Managing Director Matt Dass explained more, in a report by Imogen Ward and Colin Chinery.
Pioneering is in the genetic makeup of Yorkshire-based Springfield Solutions, a world leader in the supply of digital packaging assets, with a high-intensity focus on innovation and sustainability.
With more than 25 years of digital label printing and 49 years of brand management, continuous investment in state-of-the-art technology is key at Springfield.
Springfield’s massive client portfolio is dominated by major national and global brands from beauty, health, food and drink to household, paint packaging, and automotive.
Founded in 1975 by current Project Director Albert Dass as a one-man
trade platemaking and proofing service, Springfield’s ascent up the high-tech ladder has been extraordinary, with a series of breakthroughs including World and European firsts in digital print.
“My dad was always very keen on how we could be more efficient as a business, and how we can revolutionise how we operate,” said Managing Director Matt Dass. “So, there's always been a very, very big focus on the digital production of packaging assets.”
A world leader
Operating under two segments – brand management and digital printed labels– the 100-employee strong company became a subsidiary of the German-headquartered All4Labels Global Packaging Group last year. With 6,000 staff and 57 sites across the world, this was a move which Mr Dass believes will accelerate the companies’ joint vision of being the world leader in the supply of sustainable, digital packaging assets.
“Before the takeover, we were generating around £11 million in turnover, now we contribute to a Group turnover of €1 billion,” Mr Dass said.
A pacesetter in innovation, Hull-based Springfield is also committed to locating sustainable solutions in an industry noted for excessive use of plastic, non-recyclable packaging, overpackaging and single-use packaging.
“Consumers are demanding sustainability across all markets and the need for more sustainable methods of packaging is growing,” said Mr Dass. “And of course, there’s no doubt packaging has a bad reputation when it comes to sustainability.”
For Springfield, the counterattack began five years ago when the company launched its sustainably journey.
According to Mr Dass, it was an exciting time, although he felt the company went in a little bit naive in terms of understanding carbon emissions.
“Back in 2019, the key driver in locating ways to become more sustainable was nothing more than simply wanting to become more efficient and save money,” Mr Dass explained.
What followed was a series of good housekeeping measures, such as encouraging staff to switch devices off when not in use and think before printing off documents. Things were scaled up following a shopfloor suggestion that relatively large high-energy machinery could be turned off when not in use.
“ This led to some quite significant energy savings,” said Mr Dass. “With this we could then reinvest in larger scale projects such as bringing LED lighting into the building, installing solar panels and setting up electric car charging ports.”
“Sustainability is the key driver in how we invest going forward, in the discussions we have with our customers, and how we market and sell ourselves”
Making the big step up
From this starting point, the next big step forward was a series of meetings with Climate Expert, Professor Dan Parsons from Hull University. “That was the lightbulb moment in terms of understanding the impact that businesses are having on climate change,” Mr Dass added. “We have also added sustainable self-adhesive labels to our offering with the STAR portfolio,
including 11 eco-substrates. We work closely with our suppliers to make this possible.”
As a result of this consultation process, one measure Springfield has implemented involves a three-pronged eco substrate campaign focused on reduce, reuse and recycle.
“The ‘reduce’ method minimises the amount of material present in our labels,” said Mr Dass. “We achieve this by using
lower-density films and downgauging the materials within the labels themselves. This means less waste being created in the long run and an eco-friendlier packaging option.”
The ‘reuse’ strategy involves the use of biodegradable and compostable materials within labels, including both papers and adhesive.
“One option we offer involves a wash-off adhesive,” said Mr Dass. “This contributes to the promotion of sustainable packaging by allowing 100 per cent recycling of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) containers to the highest grade.”
Finally, the ‘recycle’ method of creating eco-friendly packaging is directed towards materials in labels and involves materials that include
PCR (post-consumer resin) and PIR (post-industrial recycled content). Contributing to a circular life cycle of materials results in less waste and increased sustainability.
Building supplier involvement Springfield Solutions also work with CERM to automate its workflows. This creates additional efficiency in the company’s processes, especially utilising tools CERM MIS and Web4Labels. From a sustainability point of view, the large reduction in back and forth emailing between customers and the customer service team not only saves time, but also has a positive impact on carbon emissions.
Eco-friendly initiatives at the Hull premises include investing in sub-metering
of major plant equipment to make data-led choices that reduce carbon emissions, 96 solar panels located on the roof of the building and further training of staff on sustainability.
Needless to say, a strong internal drive powers Springfield's sustainability ethic.
“Empowerment and staff involvement in these goals increases understanding, and encourages more environmentally friendly habits,” Mr Dass continued.
“In each area of the business we have a dedicated 'Climate Champion', individuals who have a passion for the environment and are instrumental in our journey to becoming carbon neutral.
“At Springfield Solutions, we are on a journey of sustainability.. As we have progressed and learned more about climate change and where we need to
get to, we have brought this into our mission statement.
“My passion is innovation and sustainability, investigating new technologies and equipment, along with new ways of working. Here at Springfield Solutions, as part of the All4Labels Global Packaging Group, we aim to achieve carbon neutrality (scope 1 and 2) by 2030. This includes some ambitious targets for 2024, including looking at our next step change as a business in terms of digital innovation.“Sustainability is the key driver in how we invest going forward, in the discussions we have with our customers, and how we market and sell ourselves,” he said, in conclusion. “All this falls in line with our mission statement: digital, innovative, sustainable packaging.” n
