"We generally produce food-compliant packaging, mainly customised products that are precisely tailored to the needs of our customers," says Tahsin Dag, founder and CEO of PAPACKS. The Cologne-based company offers plastic-free food packaging made from renewable raw materials for the fruit and vegetable sector, among others "Although we also offer some standard fruit trays, the majority of our products are customised. Whether it's for a specific fruit, a suitable portion size or packaging, the customer has come to the right place. Even if a customer wants a standard that we don't yet have, we can produce it from sustainable and renewable raw materials."
This means that almost every industry can be served, because "we examine each enquiry individually to determine the extent to which we can implement it". There are also no limits to the design of the packaging: "We can customise and adapt everything if our customer wants to work with us," he emphasises.
"We have many seasonal products such as Advent calendars, nacho bowls and fruit bowls. The largest area is customised products, tailored to the customer, which are in the ongoing acceptance process. These are therefore also the best-selling. We produce and develop exactly what our customers need, and they usually need a lot of it."
"Previous standards could not fulfil requirements"
PAPACKS uses virgin fibre raw materials and combines them with plastic-free coatings for direct food contact. "The process is based on many years of development and does not comply with any existing standard. The previous standards could not fulfil our requirements with our basic raw material. Our current development is plant-based and fulfils similar or better values for both OTR and WVTR than plastic alternative products."
"Each product is customised and then tested extensively in the laboratory. Together with our customers, we will then finalise the design and requirements. Our customers are ultimately responsible for the final product they deliver. That's why we work with the customer to ensure safety and test both short-term and long-term situations with the product. The tests vary depending on the product. For example, an open bowl for grapes requires fewer tests than a cup for a yoghurt filling with a best-before date of months."
Coating is an option for anyone "who wants sustainable packaging and no more plastic or aluminium in their packaging. Of course, you have to be willing to try something new. There are phases of analysis, development, laboratory tests, prototype construction and final production. This can be completed in twelve weeks, but can also take longer, depending on various factors in collaboration with the customer."
Sensible plastic replacement
In order to be able to guarantee its customers a pioneering role, Papacks monitors the markets and examines possibilities and opportunities to replace existing plastic or EPS products. "We do this where there are industrial quantities that can be changed in terms of sustainability and where we see a sensible need to replace the product. We don't see the need to replace a straw or cotton bud, for example, as life can go on without these products without any problems," Dag points out.
PAPACKS also has various relevant certificates for its food packaging. "We have been certified according to the Global Standard for Packaging Materials with an A++ grade from the BRCGS. We also have an ongoing certification process in accordance with ISO 9001:2015 and offer FSC®-certified products. We have received numerous awards and other certifications such as the DGNB certificate in gold for our production buildings and won the Worldstar Award 2024, as well as every year in succession since 2020." Tahsin Dag himself was honoured as CEO of the Year in 2024. "We hold almost 75 patent families worldwide from our developments and innovations and have won more than 35 awards and prizes," he reports.
PAPACKS is currently expanding. "We have also been offering licence models for some time now. If there is large production at a location worldwide where the customer still has space for fibre-casting production and packaging directly on site to save on transport, we are happy to help and place production directly in their vicinity. We supply the expertise, the machines, the raw material and the tools. The customer receives everything they need to get started directly in their own production."
"Specifically, we have planned a new product that will replace EPS boxes, mainly for the fish and seafood industry and its transport. However, this new box is certainly also suitable for many other applications," concludes Dag.
Pictures: PAPACKS Sales GmbH
For more information:
Manuel Leibrock (CMO)
PAPACKS SALES GmbH
Headquarters Germany
Von-Hünefeld-Str. 1
50829 Cologne
Tel: +49-221-30163006
Email: [email protected]
www.papacks.com