PAC K AG I N G
The Globus bakeries strategy Against the backdrop of climate protection discussions, the Globus retail group relies on recyclable or recycled packaging materials for its own products. Plastic is being saved, but not completely banned. Globus bakeries have also made the switch.
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Around 80% of the fresh bakery and confectionery products produced in Globus bakeries arrive packaged on the shelves of the retail group. The topic of packaging is therefore relevant for scratch bakeries. The packaging for cheesecakes, sand cakes and donuts has been rethought. Instead of plastic, they are made of two materials: cardboard and a plastic viewing window. The consumer can detach both from each other after use and dispose of them separately (waste paper, plastic waste). Recyclability is important, but so is customer benefit. Globus, therefore, did not want to do without the plastic viewing window. “Test phases have shown that our customers want to see the goods,” says Alexander Heinrich, who manages the bakeries at Globus. The packaging changeover saves the company around 600,000 plastic packages a year for donuts alone. That corresponds to about 40 tons of plastic. Paper packaging: natural brown instead of orange The paper packaging is no longer orange, but natural brown. Without coloring, the paper can be better recycled, Heinrich reports. “For our breads and rolls, we use bags made from 100% recycled paper. For the remaining baked goods, we use packaging material made from recycled plastic. With the
Globus uses blister packaging made from recycled plastic for cakes
innovation of using recycled materials, we want to push the recycling cycle.” This is a goal that the Recyclate Forum, of which the retail group has been a member since 2018 – has set itself (see box on page 36.) Different foods, different demands Even though plastic is not a renewable resource like paper, it has advantages in terms of hygiene and product protection. Globus finds that plastics are better than their reputation. Alexander Heinrich: “Different foods have different requirements. Oily, greasy and moist foods have to be packaged in such a way that they are transportable, food-safe and suitable for storage. For this reason, it is not advisable to completely avoid plastic packaging.” It depends on the type of plastic and the subsequent recycling process, he said. “Instead of black plastic, we now go for ivory plastic. This is more recyclable, can be better recognized by sorting plants at recycling companies and consists of recyclate. So the plastic has gone
Scratch bakeries are part of the hypermarket concept
© Globus
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www.bakingbiscuit.com 05/2021
