Lever 3

Creating a true circular

economy for packaging

Agriplas-Sotralentz Packaging, our

subsidiary specialising in plastic packaging,

is fully committed to the creation

of a sustainable and circular industry.

It prioritises the use of recycled materials

and end-of-life product recovery. The

construction of a new regranulation and

sterilisation line at Drulingen illustrates the

extent of this commitment. This interview

with QHSE Director Sabrina Molac and

Agriplas-Sotralentz Packaging CEO Thibaud

Durand explores the issues concerned

in greater detail.

The sourcing of recycled materials

and eco-design

Agriplas-SNSP is stepping up its recycling

commitment and adding value to its HDPE

(high-density polyethylene) packaging

by incorporating recycled raw materials.

“Supply quality is assured through partnerships with

recycled material suppliers and accreditation bodies,

and regulated under the terms of quality assurance

plans approved by all parties”, explains Thibaud

Durand. Mechanical recycling of HDPE effectively

extends the life of packaging containers. As part of its

commitment to eco-design, our packaging subsidiary

is developing single-material packs to simplify waste

sorting, reducing its product ranges and promoting

recyclable barrier technologies, such as plasma.

Working to create closed-loop recycling

In 2021, our Drulingen facility installed a

new machine for granulating post-consumer

recycled plastic f lakes and two new sterilisers.

This investment gave recycling specialists the

opportunity they needed to recycle the packaging

waste they collect, and offered customers a

complete closed-loop ‘packaging to packaging’

solution, opening the way for a fully circular

economy for plastics. “This initiative is a direct

response to growing customer demand for greater

recycling of packaging in preparation for the

introduction of new environmental standards”,

explains Sabrina Molac. “The optimisation process

has also reduced the levels of VOCs (Volatile Organic

Compounds) and allergens to provide the assurance

of safer, more durable products”.

Innovation and greater ecosystem awareness

At the same time as increasing the volume of

packaging produced using regranulated and

sterilised materials, we are expanding our range with

three new jerrycans and drums. “Recently approved

for use with hazardous substances, these new

products contain between 30% and 100% recycled

materials”, says Thibaud Durand. “We’re also

exploring the promising possibility of introducing an

optical sorting system to separate f lakes by colour

in response to market demand for specif ic colours of

packaging”. This introduction of a circular economy

for plastic packaging must also be accompanied

by a heightened level of ecosystem awareness at

every link in the value chain. So a webinar was held

to help customers get up to speed with changes

in regulations and the solutions introduced by

the company to incorporate increasing levels of

recycled materials in its products�

75%

of products are sold

in 100% recyclable

kraft paper bags

(Maison Colibri)

2.6%

of plastic packaging

incorporates recycled

raw materials

The target for 2025

is 25%

Technical solutions that

meet market expectations

In September 2023, Pâtisseries

Gourmandes launched its sharing

pack of Ker Cadelac madeleines in

largely recyclable resealable bags.

During the year, the subsidiary also

invested in new manufacturing

facilities to deliver this innovative

new product having completed

an extensive testing programme

on the full effectiveness of its

resealing design. Alongside

the new Petits Beurres biscuit

packaging, which combines a

cardboard tray with a recyclable

and resealable outer, this latest

solution illustrates our total

commitment to meeting consumer

expectations of practicality and

recyclability�

897 tonnes

of closed-loop recycled

material produced

by our Packaging

division (75% use of

the regranulation line)

The Agriplas-SNSP

commitment to responsible

packaging

Founded in 1988, Agriplas-Sotralentz Founded in 1988, Agriplas-Sotralentz

Packaging designs and manufactures Packaging designs and manufactures

plastic packaging ranging in plastic packaging ranging in

capacity from 15 ml to 225 litres. capacity from 15 ml to 225 litres.

All its products are tailormade to All its products are tailormade to

customer specif ication from the customer specif ication from the

design phase through to series design phase through to series

production using extrusion blow-production using extrusion blow-

moulding and injection moulding moulding and injection moulding

technologies. For several years now, technologies. For several years now,

Agriplas-SNSP has played an active Agriplas-SNSP has played an active

role in transforming the industry and role in transforming the industry and

developing a circular economy model developing a circular economy model

to respond effectively not only to the to respond effectively not only to the

expectations of society, but also to expectations of society, but also to

the rising price of new raw materials.the rising price of new raw materials.

Non-Financial Performance Statement 2023 17