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FrieslandCampina Interview

Smithers are excited to share an exclusive 60 second keynote interview from Sustainability in Packaging Europe 2019 with Tim Mulder, Packaging Development Manager, FrieslandCampina. 



Q. Your presentation will discuss “Driving responsible packaging development with science-based eco-design tool” can you give us a sneak peak of what delegates will hear?

We will tell the story how we tackled responsible packaging development in FrieslandCampina, and how quantification changed how we deal with sustainability. We will share the learnings we got during this exciting journey to help the delegates to drive sustainability in their own respective companies.

Q. Why did you choose to tackle this topic?

Integrating sustainability into your organisation is key to make sustainability a success in your organisation. 

Q. Plastic waste is one of the biggest sustainability issues the world is facing today. What are FrieslandCampina commitment to reduce, re-use and recycle? 

Plastic waste is definitely a big sustainability challenge. Yet another critical sustainability issue is food waste, and those are highly related. As FrieslandCampina, our aim is to feed our growing world population, and packaging is key in reducing food waste. We are clearly looking to reduce our packaging, make them fully recyclable and aim for reusable models where applicable, as we have also committed through the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. But we will always balance our packaging efforts with the impact on potential food waste, to make sure we are sustainable across the entire board. 

Q. Could you give us an short overview of FrieslandCampina sustainability program and your objectives?

FrieslandCampina works on all mayor sustainability topics, think of ambitions like electricity neutral (2025), carbon neutral (2050), packaging (Ellen MacArthur Foundation, Plastic Pact), nutrition, human rights, etc. And do take in mind that our company of over 22,000 employees is owned by a cooperative of over 18,000 member farmers. So we are working on a very large chain, from grass to glass, we want to make sustainable. As there are many initiatives ongoing, I kindly invite you to our website: https://www.frieslandcampina.com/en/sustainability/ 

Q. What do you see as the most significant changes coming up in packaging industry in the next 12-24 months?

In the next 12-24 months, I expect to see an increased level of collaboration in the packaging industry to make packaging better recyclable. I’m not expecting anything disruptive at this point. We cannot just design packaging for the current waste management systems, because their technologies are also evolving. Together we have to make sure that we can reduce packaging waste and lower our footprint. Collaboration, R&D, knowledge and data will be critical elements for these developments.

Q. Why do you feel it’s important for companies to attend the Sustainability in Packaging EU?

Collaboration will be key to speed up sustainability in packaging. And the only way to do that, is by meeting each other and to find common grounds for development. It’s important that the whole chain is represented, from raw material and packaging producers, to retailers and the waste management industry. Together we have to act and then we make the best impact.