The decision aligns with CP Foods' sustainability aim of making all of the company's plastic packaging reusable, recyclable, upcyclable, or compostable by 2030
CP Foods applies 3R approach in packaging design to reduce virgin plastic packaging footprint. (Credit: Charoen Pokphand Foods PCL.)
Charoen Pokphand Foods Public Company (CP Foods) has applied 3R approach in packaging design to reduce virgin plastic packaging footprint and solve the plastic waste problem.
The 3R approach: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle is designed for PET plastic with 80% recycled plastic in the packaging design.
The decision aligns with CP Foods’ sustainability aim of making all of the company’s plastic packaging reusable, recyclable, upcyclable, or compostable by 2030.
The company has used Design for Recycling guidelines to ensure the circular transition of its plastic packaging. Its egg trays are based on 3R approach, which is one of many initiatives.
CP Foods said that its plastic food packaging is currently reusable, recyclable, upcyclable, or compostable in 99.9% of cases.
The firm is implementing a strategy to limit the consumption of virgin plastics by increasing the proportion of recycled materials in egg packaging while maintaining food quality and safety.
CP Foods assistant vice-president Kitti Wangwiwatsilp said: “Due to continuous effort, 80% of the plastic packaging used for our egg products is made of recycled plastic.
“We only use 20% of virgin plastic material for food safety reasons. Our recycled materials have been tested and verified by a laboratory of a trustable third party.”
Kitti added: “This ensures that the plastic material used in the production of egg packaging is safe and does not affect the quality of the food.”
In 2021, recycled content assisted CP Foods to reduce the use of virgin plastic for its egg tray by 373 tonnes, resulting in a reduction of 583 tonnes of CO2 emissions each year.
CP Foods was able to reduce paper usage by 889 tonnes and plastic usage by 672 tonnes in the previous year.
The company is continuing to research and engage with partners to develop eco-friendly packaging to meet the objective of lowering the usage of plastic and paper in food packaging by 1,000 tonnes by 2025.