Extended Producer Responsibility
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is a new piece of legislation coming into effect in the UK in 2023. The policy introduced within EPR represents the most significant change in the...
Services
Sustainability
At Hazel 4D we take our environmental responsibilities seriously
We’re committed to operating in a responsible, sustainable way, recognising the economic, social and environmental impact of our activities. As it’s in everyone’s best interests that we do this, we both apply our knowledge and expertise to ensure a responsible approach to our own business and support our suppliers, partners and customers to reach their environmental goals, too.
Why sustainability matters
The environmental impact of single-use plastics and waste pollution is becoming increasingly apparent, making sustainability a hot topic around the world.
Not only are businesses facing increased pressure from customers to be more environmentally friendly and reduce waste, but the introduction of new environmental regulations and taxes means that companies also need to become more sustainable to stay on the right side of the law, and protect their bottom line.
With so many quality recyclable and recycled products out there, there’s no need for our actions to cause harm. So how can we help your business become more sustainable?
Plastic Vs Paper
Plastic is often seen as the enemy of sustainability. But reports have suggested that paper isn’t as eco-friendly as it may seem.
Plastic is a terrible waste polluter, but paper requires more energy to produce – navigating choices can be a real challenge!
| Plastic | Paper |
|---|---|
| LOWER CARBON FOOTPRINT: | HIGHER CARBON FOOTPRINT: |
| 4 x less energy is used to produce a plastic bag than a paper bag | 4 x more energy is used to produce a paper bag than a plastic bag |
| Plastic is lighter than paper so less fuel is used to transport it | You would need to use a paper bag at least to make it more environmentally friendly than a plastic bag |
| WASTE & DISPOSAL: | WASTE & DISPOSAL: |
| Most types of plastic can be recycled | Paper is biodegradable and more widely recyclable than plastic |
| Plastic can take years to decompose and micro plastics contribute to the tonnes of waste flowing into our oceans each year | Trees are a renewable resource and can be replanted We actively contribute to tree regeneration by donating to charities like Trees for Cities |
Sustainable packaging consultations
So that we can fully understand your business and your company’s environmental goals, an experienced Hazel 4D consultant will visit you to assess how sustainable your current products and processes are, as well as looking at your costs, what’s working well for you and what can be improved. Then we’ll make recommendations, help you implement them and provide you with ongoing support.
We can help you become more environmentally friendly by:
- Reducing product damages – decreasing returns and the associated use of extra resources
- Minimising energy use – by upgrading outdated machinery and making processes more efficient
- Recommending sustainable products and machinery and helping you introduce them
Read how installing Nuevopak™ X-Fill™ machines helped a cosmetics distributor reduce their plastic consumption, decrease damages in transit and eliminate customer complaints.
How we’ve helped our customers
Reducing plastic waste and eliminating harmful gases
A bathroom product supplier was wasting a lot of plastic by applying one size of shrink hood to all of their pallets. Hazel 4D consultants installed energy efficient pallet wrappers using Extremus stretch film instead of shrink hoods, giving them great stability and a cut in plastic use. Plus they no longer needed to use propane gas shrink guns to fit hoods. In total they saved £60,000 a year and reduced the amount of plastic they use by around 80% per pallet.
Reducing plastic waste through preventative maintenance
Dirty pre-stretch rollers were causing a snack manufacturer’s pallet wrappers to run at half their efficiency and waste plastic film through slippage. By regularly servicing their machines, our consultants reduced their plastic waste and helped them save around £28,000 a year on stretch film.
Reducing plastic waste and CO2 impact
Worn pallet wrappers meant a customer was wasting huge amounts of plastic stretch film. Their shipments were being returned due to damage to point-of-sale packaging. By installing new pallet wrappers, optimising their machine settings and swapping their film for Extremus stretch film, Hazel 4D reduced their CO2 impact by 65%, cut plastic use by 66% and eliminated their product returns.
OUR LATEST ON SUSTAINABILITY
ESG-Opportunity or Threat?
Most people are pretty familiar with the concept of CSR - or Corporate and Social Responsibility - as it's a term that's been around for a long time. ESG, on...
What is the Plastic Tax?
The introduction of new government taxes will have wide-reaching impacts on manufacturers, importers and customers alike. Specifically, the Plastic Packaging Tax coming into effect in April 2022 will introduce the...
Paper v Plastic – the packaging sustainability question
The debate around the pros and cons of paper versus plastic packaging has intensified in the last few years. Widespread headlines questioning the use of plastics have encouraged businesses to...