Hofer has decided on an ambitious packaging strategy.
- Reduction in packaging volume by 30 percent by 2025
- Recyclability of 100 percent of its packaging by 2022
For several years now, Hofer has been working on reducing the use of packaging materials, or making them more sustainable. This is a part of the "Project 2020" sustainability initiative.
With the project "The HOFER packaging mission: Avoid. Reuse. Recycle. " Hofer tackles the subject of packaging at three levels in the waste hierarchy. Overall, by 2025, the use of own-label packaging should be reduced by 30 percent. By 2022, moreover, 100 percent of private label packaging should be recyclable.
"With this specific objective, we will continue our commitment to reducing packaging waste even more consistently. For example, by eliminating disposable plastic bags and plastic wrap, we will save more than 100 tonnes of plastic a year on bananas," states Hofer Director General Günther Helm.
Avoiding packaging and reducing material usage
Hofer plans to reduce packaging volumes as far as possible, with a particular focus on fruit and vegetables, of course taking product quality and food losses into account.
At the same time, the range of unpackaged products is to be steadily expanded. As a measure in the fruit & vegetable sector, Hofer has recently been testing the laser branding of products so that the required information no longer needs to be applied to the fruit by means of packaging film or stickers.
The first products with such a laser branding are pomegranates and kiwis. Other examples of the reduction in plastic waste in Hofer products include the ban on packaging film for bananas - the switch to environmentally friendly paper stickers will save almost 50 tons of plastic annually.