Greener Packaging originated in Sweden in 2013. Established as a solution to high costs and CO2 levels when packaging products, Greener Packaging’s container supply systems make it easier than ever for companies to simplify their product packaging operations. CEO and Sales Manager of Greener Packaging UK Julie Checkley discussed the company’s latest investments, in a report by Imogen Ward.
All companies are catered for at Greener Packaging, no matter their size or production capabilities. The company’s compact and innovative packaging supply systems ensure that even smaller clients can benefit from manufacturing packaging in-house.
“We use the smallest, most compact blowing machines on the market,” CEO and Sales Manager of Greener Packaging UK Julie Checkley said. “This enables us to be extremely flexible, because we can change from one container design to another in 15 minutes. This means
customers can adjust bottle colour, material and production additives whenever they require it. If the company has a limited production line space, our systems accommodate this and enable them to switch quickly to alternatives. This feature is something a lot of clients haven’t had before, and our system offers extremely competitive pricing too, often lowering our customers’ costs by about 20%.”
Greener Packaging’s supply systems have been revolutionising customers’ production lines since it was first established in 2013. From there, the company expanded beyond Sweden, targeting the wider Scandinavian market. Currently, the company is emerging in the UK and Ireland, with plans to target the USA in 2024.
“We serve customers worldwide from our 24 manufacturing locations,” Ms Checkley said. “For our larger customers, we supply bottles and jars from directly within their sites. This is an entirely in-house process that is incredibly sustain able and cost-effective for clients. They also have the option to sell their surplus manufacturing time to neighbouring companies. We automate and digitise the process to maintain optimum efficiency, and we are a very streamlined company, which allows us to remain fast-paced and dynamic.”
Greener Packaging has an easy-to-use customer interface, giving customers complete freedom to control their orders and track the bottle production performance (order fill rate OFR). An OFR of 99% is consistently achieved. “Our customers have full access to the customer interface at all times,” Ms Checkley explained. “They can upload their forecasts for production schedules, place orders and review invoices on the same platform. A forecast ensures we provide them with enough preforms for their requirements and helps reduce their dependence on complex supply chains.”
Recent additions
The company recently invested over €1 million into improving its prototyping process. “We can make a bottle from concept to
working prototypes within seven weeks,” Ms Checkley said. “We are one of the fastest packaging developers on the market. We have also successfully introduced a new concept to the market: a dedicated Greener Packaging Container supply system with integrated autoquality control.”
This system produces highquality, cost-effective packaging. The auto-quality machine relies on AI technology to automatically assess the quality of the produced bottles. This saves time, as it removes the need for manual quality control at each stage of the produc tion process.
“The auto-quality machine checks several different areas of the bottle,” Ms Checkley said. “It automatically checks wall thickness and cools the bottles to make the process of leak inspection more time efficient. This guarantees quality and consistency across the manufacturing process.”
Compact capabilities
Greener Packaging’s container supply systems are one of the smallest, most compact options currently available on the market. Remarkably, the machines are about three-times smaller than the industry standard and have opened doors for several small businesses.
Previously, packaging supply systems were a luxury only granted to large-scale
“Previously, packaging supply systems were a luxury only granted to large-scale companies; Greener Packaging, however, is working hard to change that”
c ompanies; Greener Packaging, however, is working hard to change that. The company recently installed a highly-versatile compact PET packaging production line at Maustaja –a private-label manufacturer of condiments and seasonings. The customer had specific spatial requirements that Greener Packaging was more than happy to accommodate.
“ As part of our agreement with Maustaja, Greener Packaging is responsible for the full-bottle production on the site and maintenance of the equipment, including new bottle development and technical upgrades,” Ms Checkley said. “This solution resulted in a reduction in Maustaja’s transportation and packaging costs, because it removed the requirement to ship empty bottles before the filling process.
“Another positive outcome of our inhouse bottle supply system is the removal of customers’ reliance on complex
multiple supply sources. As a result, there are fewer disruptions in our clients’ supply chains, and they have witnessed a reduction in lead times and a simplification of their buying process, saving time and money.”
Greener Packaging is a platform business and allows customers to receive an instant online quotation for their container requirements directly on Greener Packaging’s website, for both readymade container deliveries and in-house operations The company also works in partnership with a large combination of cap suppliers, offering the complete packaging solution to all clients directly from its website. These suppliers are vital to Greener Packaging’s operation. Developed from customer service and the desire to build long-term relationships, the company maintains
meaningful partnerships with businesses that match its values and high-quality standards, making Greener Packaging customers' lives easier.
rPET to the rescue
2022 saw Greener Packaging help convert more customers’ bottles from glass to rPET than ever before. This increasingly popular option has several benefits for both the client and the environment.
Greener Packaging uses rPET as its preferred medium – the material’s recyclable nature makes it kinder to the planet and more cost-efficient. “There are several r easons why our customers are choosing to move away from glass production,” Ms Checkley said. “There is the glass shortage for starters, sending costs soaring. Glass production also requires a lot of energy; with gas prices skyrocketing, glass bottles are highly inefficient in terms of both price and sustainability.
“Customers are also concerned about glass breakage on their filling lines causing difficulties in the production process. rPET not only prevents this issue, but also opens new opportunities within export sales due to the durability of rPET.
We are currently undertaking a lot of conversions for companies who produce jams, peanut butters or alcohol.
“Another trend we are witnessing is the transition from HDPE bottles. These are much heavier than rPET; as a result, conversion to rPET helps reduce our customers’ carbon footprint and lowers their costs. Another issue with HDPE bottles is their tendency to leak. This doesn’t happen with rPET, so wastage levels are significantly reduced.” rPET also offers more freedom in design and makes the customer's product stand out on the shelves.
No two days are the same at Greener Packaging: “Every day we speak to new people and work to solve different scenarios,” Ms Checkley concluded. “Each company’s needs are very diverse, which is part of what makes the job so worthwhile. On top of that, the knowledge that we are helping protect the environment is a huge factor. Our in-house design team works extremely hard to minimise the amount of non-recycled plastic used for our bottles and jars – in the design phase alone they can remove 20% of the plastic.
“We think it’s really important for our customers to be given the opportunity to see the benefits of plastic when it is used properly.”
