Implementation of Stretch Foil Wrapping in Packaging - A Step Taken by Latvijas Finieris in Consensus with the EU Plastic Strategy
In mid-March, a stretch foil wrapping machine starts running at Kohila Mill, one of 4 birch plywood production mills of the Latvijas Finieris Group. This move marks another step in completing Latvijas Finieris Group’s customer-oriented approach, guaranteeing sustainable and functional solutions supporting circular economy.
The stretch foil, which will be used for wrapping, contains 30% bio-circular raw material and is certified as a sustainable product. The renewable raw material, derived from tall oil, is mixed with a fossil-based virgin plastic raw material thereby creating a hybrid product which curbs the CO2 footprint, but doesn’t lose its technical properties. Such uniform packaging is easily recyclable with other plastic materials and supports the goals stated in the EU Plastics Strategy 2030 – “all plastics packaging placed on the EU market is either reusable or can be recycled in a cost-effective manner”*. A cross-industry cooperation will play a key role in a circular economy for plastics.
Convenient for transportation and storage
The stretch packaging film will ensure that Riga Wood birch plywood products are protected from moist, dirt and dust while transported or stored at warehouses. Correctly applied, the new type of packaging allows to save space during transportation and storing, as well as to easily access the goods by unpacking necessary quantity and storing the rest of it in the same clean and dry packaging. Furthermore, elastic wrapping applied in several layers offers a protective surface.
Increasing efficiency and reducing costs in mid/long term
The advantage of new packaging goes further than handy storage or transportation of goods. It brings cost- and resource-effective benefits - the packing process will require less of a workforce, which has become an essential factor in nowadays, when pandemic is heavily affecting the availability of skilled workforce. The advanced technologies will also save time spent for wrapping goods and reduce energy consumption, thereby increasing the overall efficiency, making the packing and wrapping processes friendlier to the environment.
The stretch foil packaging, as a wrapping option, will be gradually implemented in other Latvijas Finieris birch plywood production mills too.
Besides, such an initiative where easily recyclable packing materials are used and can be embed back in circular economy, will help us to do our part and be in line with commitments under the Paris Agreement and reduce CO2 emissions, as well as to follow the EU Green Deal guidelines.
*source: https://www.europarc.org/