The Berry Superfos food packaging facility in Corby, UK has been awarded ISO 14001 certification

A well-established list of achievements

The food packaging specialists at the Corby facility have already acquired numerous certificates in quality (ISO 9001) and energy (ISO 150001), as well as the BRC certificate (Grade AA in the high hygiene packaging category).

It is therefore almost a formality that the establishment has been awarded the ISO 14001 certificate: it is the most prevalent of the standards in the ISO 14000 series relating to environmental management in 171 countries. It is based on the principle of continuous improvement of environmental performance by controlling the impacts linked to the company’s activity, an approach which is often represented by the Deming wheel through the stages “plan-do-check-act.”

But like all the other certificates, the award of this new document is clearly much more than a simple formality. In fact, all testify to the Corby facility’s sustained effort to reduce its environmental footprint ever more effectively at all levels of production, while maintaining the quality of its packaging. Protecting the environment and the climate by reducing waste, energy consumption and consumption of raw materials: this is the goal.

Since 2007, the Corby facility has distinguished itself in particular by its notable participation in Operation Clean Sweep, a campaign which promotes the non-waste of plastic resins during the handling or transformation operations they undergo during factory processes. This approach fully signs up to the philosophy adopted by Berry Superfos, which operates production sites throughout Europe, many of which are already ISO 14001 certified.

Factory manager of the Berry Superfos Corby facility, James Wigglesworth, explains: “To excel in environmental performance is a very important priority of Berry Superfos. Now, with ISO 14001, we officially document that we follow an internationally recognised framework for environmental management.”

Berry Superfos’s continual quest for environmental excellence

However, this is just one more step on a path where the effort must never relax. James Wigglesworth is aware of this and adds: “We seek for continual improvement of our environmental performance. Our next step in Corby, later this year, will be to achieve the ‘Zero Waste to Landfill accreditation’. The Corby facility is signed up to Berry Superfos’ strategy of active initiatives aimed at rationalising the use of resources.”

A strategy claimed by Berry Superfos right down to product design, with initiatives such as the “SuperCup”, a plastic cup for beers and sodas that is reusable, resistant, stackable, but also and above all infinitely recyclable. The plastic cup, once considered a financial burden or a potential waste, is now part of a virtuous economic model in which the SuperCup can potentially be used, rinsed and reused indefinitely.

LIGHTER AND INFINITELY RECYCLABLE

The Berry Superfos SuperCup also has the not insignificant advantage of being at least 30% lighter while remaining just as strong as other standard reusable cups on the market.

They are made of recyclable polypropylene, which makes them accessible to recycle after use, even though the cups can be reused indefinitely. These cups can also be made from recycled plastics offering the same quality as new materials, making this solution ideal for a circular and sustainable economy.

“As a successful and responsible business, we use our resources efficiently. This applies to energy, water, raw materials, and many other aspects. As part of these efforts, we are also increasing the percentage of reused materials in our raw material mix and are working to keep on reducing the weight of our packaging. This work is an inherent part of our strategy and helps us deliver high-quality packaging solutions as environmentally efficiently as possible,” says James Wigglesworth.