As our planet deals with the escalating climate crisis, the urgency for sustainable practices has never been more apparent. The year 2023 shattered global temperature records, with NASA and NOAA reporting it as the hottest year ever recorded, and 2024 is sure to follow. Extreme heat waves are sweeping across Southern Europe, North Africa, and parts of Asia, while greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere continue their relentless climb. Against this backdrop of environmental challenges, we are choosing to increase our efforts, with many new sustainable projects.
Our Polypropylene (PP) Initiatives and solutions
In a move towards better internal practices, we are taking a more proactive stance, initiating the collection of used disposable PP drinking cups from various office buildings that collaborate with us. Another project is our use of ISCC Plus certified recycled PP derived from decontaminated cooking oil. Using the Mass Balance approach, we not only reduce our reliance on virgin materials but also give a second life to what would otherwise be discarded.
Our SustainaPPack series is one of our top sustainable solutions. This super lightweight tray is a fully recyclable mono polypropylene product that offers enhanced insulation properties for both hot and cold food applications. Its design not only ensures recyclability but also achieves a significant 10% to 30% weight reduction through a foaming process, resulting in a substantial decrease in carbon footprint.
Additionally, we are in the process of developing foamed cups designed for hot liquids, collaborating with an academic institution to create a viable alternative to both paper and foamed polystyrene cups. These innovative PP cups boast 100% recyclability, excellent thermal insulation, and high-temperature resistance.
Our PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) solutions
In the realm of PET products, our RePET line of products incorporates rCPET (recycled Crystalline PET) material, with plastic trays containing an impressive 30-70 percent recycled content. These initiatives not only reduce the demand for virgin PET but also help to close the loop in plastic recycling and advance us towards a circular economy approach in all aspects of our product range.
Our Polystyrene (PS) Initiatives
MPP Group's sustainability efforts extend to polystyrene, and we are taking strides in our recycling efforts. A special note is our partnerships with Israel's leading dairies. PS is particularly common in dairy product packaging. We are receiving and recycling polystyrene waste generated after the thermoforming process during production, working with the VPM Company to shred and pelletize the material. This collaborative approach ensures that industrial waste is repurposed rather than discarded.
Also, in collaboration with Tamir Packaging Recycling Corporation, we have received shipments of shredded post-consumer recycled (PCR) PS. This waste, along with Post Industrial Recycling (PIR) from our own industrial waste stream, is incorporated into our products. We aim to eventually establish local PS recycling capabilities, reducing the environmental impact of this widely used plastic.