close the loop

Molded fiber technology – paving the way for a more circular economy

Year by year the population of the Earth increases and along with it the demand for raw materials. The current linear economic models “take – make – discard” deplete raw materials faster than they are replenished, thus posing major economic and environmental challenges to modern industries.

On the other hand, with packaging now accounting for half of the world’s annual waste, modern societies are confronted with the volumes of waste they generate. As a result packaging producers receive significant pressure from consumers and governments to limit the packaging going to landfills. Modern packaging, apart from nicely showcasing and protecting the packed goods throughout the supply chain, must be sustainable, recyclable and biodegradable, as to ensure minimum environmental impact and to efficiently protect the flora and fauna in case of its incorrect disposal.

Based on the above, the need for industries and packaging industries in particular to adopt a new economic model is imperative. A new circular economy model, whose raw materials will come from reuse or recycling, in order to reduce the use of new natural resources, and whose final products will be environmentally friendly enabling reuse or recycling.

Heracles Packaging SA, ever since its foundation in 1979, had recognized the significant economic and environmental benefits of paper recycling. Our specialized molded fiber technology follows a circular economy model that through the protection of the environment actively supports the society. The key elements of our circular economy model are the following:

  1. Our products are 100% recyclable and for their production 100% recycled paper (newspaper and corrugated board) is being used. Paper fibers can be recovered 4-6 times on average before they lose their strength, a fact that makes recovered paper a rich raw material, all while safeguarding valuable natural resources.
  2. Paper, as a plant material, is sustainable and by its nature biodegradable. While a plastic product takes decades, even centuries, to biodegrade, paper’s rate follows that of the wood’s natural biodegradation in natural soil. Therefore, molded pulp products do not pose a threat to the environment even in case of incorrect disposal.
  3. Our entire production process has been designed in such a way as to minimize resource consumption and waste. Water used for paper dilution is reused in the production process. Products that fail quality control are returned to the pulper for recycling, so that nothing is thrown away. Any impurities of the raw materials, such as plastic tapes and straps, are collected and sent for recycling to approved collection centers. Finally the thermal load generated from the drying of the products is exhaustively used to preheat parts of the production process for maximum efficiency, before its discharge into the atmosphere in the form of water vapors.

Contact us today to discuss the ways in which molded fiber can help your company.

Circular Economy Cover