In the search for alternatives to plastic, many new solutions have enriched the market in recent years, whether corrugated or fibre wood pulp trays and inserts, paper inserts, and an increasing number of PVC-free films. Particularly considering the Packaging Ordinance, which will come into force on 1 January 2030, new, sustainable solutions are more in demand than ever. "We see it as our responsibility to act in good time and to prepare ourselves as well as possible for the new legislation by ensuring that we use and offer materials that are as recyclable as possible," explains Christoph Witte, who is the third-generation of his family to run the packaging company of the same name, based in Jork, Germany.
The company, based in the heart of the Altes Land region, has a total of three divisions: a fruit wholesale business, a packaging division, and a machine rental service. "This means that we have the advantage of being constantly present in all the important markets and being able to react to changes in good time. It is also advantageous to have the packaging for the fruit and vegetables that are to be packed in stock, or to be able to obtain it from suppliers at short notice. If a packing station fails, we can quickly create an alternative with our own machinery."
The Witte company is primarily represented in northern Germany, but also has customers in the rest of the country.
Corrugated board on the rise
As a long-standing supplier to numerous producers, cooperatives, wholesalers, and importers, Witte has observed a trend towards smaller packaging units. "Just ten years ago, there were 5 kg cardboard or 3 kg basket promotions, whereas now, 2 kg carrier bags or 1 kg foodtainers are mainly used. Nevertheless, we assume that solutions made of corrugated cardboard and fibre wood pulp will continue to gain importance, if only for reasons of recyclability. According to one study, goods stay fresh for up to three to four days longer on average in a corrugated cardboard crate than in plastic crates. This in turn means that the respective retailer would have more time to sell the product and ultimately would have to dispose of fewer goods. We see the deposit system as more difficult in practice, in that you sometimes have to pay up to six weeks in advance before you get the credit. This ties up a lot of capital, and availability is often a problem, especially before the holidays."
Witte also draws attention to the ongoing optimization of the recycling processes for corrugated boards. "If you consider how much water used to be needed to break down the waste paper, whereas today only about 10 per cent of that amount is needed, we are on the right track compared to plastic, which also has to be washed. Furthermore, the recycling rate for waste paper is currently 95 per cent, which in turn means that the recycling cycle can be repeated over 20 times before the raw material becomes a newspaper or toilet paper."
Aerial view of the company headquarters in Jork-Borstel, in the heart of the Altes Land.
To further utilize the growth potential, the company has recently started to work with its partner Fischermann & van Hulst to distribute fibre wood pulp packaging. "We have been working very well with Mr. Fischermann in other areas for almost 20 years, and for this reason, we have decided to tackle the topic of fibre wood pulp together. We are convinced that by cooperating in this area, we will be able to offer our customers a reasonable service and a wide range of products. The ability to quickly reproduce printed fibre trays, while many competitors are already looking to conclude annual contracts in December, gives us a competitive advantage, especially with customers who have limited space. In addition, we hope to be able to further establish ourselves in the market with the fibre wood pulp products, to be able to offer our machine and fruit wholesale customers a wide range of solutions in the future as well."
Christoph Witte and Michael Fischermann of the partner company Fischermann & Van Hulst were exhibiting at expoSE in Karlsruhe for the first time. They enjoyed a high level of interest and many enquiries about sustainable packaging alternatives, such as the new fibre pulp trays.
Photo credit: Witte GmbH & Co KG
For more information:
Christoph Witte
Witte GmbH & Co KG
Verpackungen und Maschinenvermietung
Wisch 2
21635 Jork
Tel. +49 04162 25454 0
Fax +49 04162 25454 29
[email protected]
https://www.witte-jork.de/