Mekoprint has switched to Sustainable packaging
Mekoprint has switched 95% of its annual packaging spend of over DKK 6 million to more sustainable alternatives. The switch has been surprisingly easy and cost-neutral, and it is now hoped that this green transition will inspire similar initiatives in other companies.
There is great potential and need for a green transition in the business community. At the same time Sustainability is a key priority at Mekoprint, so it was decided to rethink the company’s large packaging expenditure and take the lead with greener packaging alternatives for the industry:
“At the beginning of 2021, we set ourselves the specific goal that sustainable alternatives should be used for 90 % of our annual packaging purchases by the end of the year. We have now converted 95 %, and for the rest of 2022 will review the remaining item numbers, which are primarily a high number of small purchases that can be standardised with fewer and much more environmentally friendly alternatives. This must of course be done in close collaboration with our suppliers in order to get as close to 100 % as possible, considering the alternatives that are available now and in the long term”, says Anders Kold, CEO of Mekoprint.
The transition to greener alternatives at Mekoprint is based on UN SDG #12 on responsible consumption and production. It has been implemented by switching to e.g. recycled cardboard, recycled plastic or, in some cases, bioplastic, as well as a move from disposable pallets to recycled pallets in FSC-certified wood.
No influence on overall price level
To ensure financial balance in this exercise, purchasing volumes and supplier prices have been optimised. In addition, procurement has been standardised by using fewer variants of each packaging type. Therefore, having goods delivered in green packaging did not lead to increased costs for customers, despite green alternatives typically being slightly more expensive.
“That said, some of our items have become significantly more expensive. We made a value-based decision to make this transition, and the majority of packaging purchases of frequently used items have become correspondingly cheaper overall. We therefore hope that the green transition at Mekoprint can inspire others. Although it is a somewhat time-consuming process, our experience tells us that it can be done efficiently as part of daily operations by gradually evaluating alternatives throughout the year. We have been pleasantly surprised by how fast things have gone, so our best advice is just to dive straight in”, Anders Kold concludes.
For further information, please contact
- Anders Kold, CEO Mekoprint A/S, tel. +45 2088 8820, ak@mekoprint.com
