Established in 1996 in Songgang, Shenzhen, YUTO is an industry-leading provider of printing and packaging solutions. The company offers a full service, with eco-friendly innovations and intelligent manufacturing. European Sales Director Thorsten Niehues discussed sustainable initiatives and low-impact packaging, in conversation with Antonia Cole.
ASa company, YUTO operates under three pillars of excellence: quality, service and value, European Sales Director Thorsten Niehues said: “All of our products and solutions are based upon these three pillars in order to meet each client’s unique needs. We have been very successful in achieving this thus far, generating a gross revenue of 15.223 billion CNY in 2023. YUTO expects this to grow as we actively expand into overseas markets this year.”
Between 2001 and 2005, YUTO began offering customised solutions to key clients, with its first subsidiary established in Suzhou in 2004. This expanded YUTO’s domestic footprint, which then grew into Vietnam in 2010 and enabled the company’s professional services to be accessed worldwide. In 2016, YUTO was listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange, becoming a leader of the print and packaging industry.
Now, the company operates across 40 cities in 10 nations, including China, the US, Mexico, Australia, Germany, Vietnam, India, Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia. YUTO has over 20,000 skilled employees working in more than 50 production sites, as well as in excess of 70 Heidelberg presses, 17 MAN Roland presses and 250 paper pulp press machines.
“At YUTO we are focused on providing smart and sustainable solutions for our customers,” added Mr Niehues. “We have two smart factories, with more expected to come. This allows us to minimise our environmental impact whilst offering packaging that helps our customers to be more sustainable too. We offer paper-based and eco-friendly plant fibre packaging, as well as ancillary products. This combination contributes to the decarbonisation of the packaging industry.”
Environmental initiatives
YUTO has a comprehensive sustainability development strategy, featuring a broad portfolio of initiatives that limit the company’s impact. To conserve energy and reduce emissions, YUTO has optimised the efficiency of equipment and techniques Additionally, the company is exploring the use of renewable energy in operations.
In the near future, the company will install more solar panels to sites and create more green factories. YUTO is committed to minimising carbon emissions and promoting clean energy use according to SBTi Initiatives.
The company has also increased the proportion of eco-friendly raw materials, such as paper pulp in packaging and products. Through investing into R&D, YUTO has been able to apply these sustainable materials and limit the impact of products.
“We have identified key areas for sustainable development,” explained Mr Niehues. “From eco-friendly materials, climate impact management and innovative
design to employee health and training, we have set goals and formulated action plans to ensure steady advancement.”
Currently, YUTO has several sites with platinum or gold Zero Waste to Landfill certifications and is aiming to expand this achievement into more facilities. As well as this, the company has committed to become carbon neutral by 2040 with the Science Based Targets Initiative. Carbon audits, reduction targets and employee engagement all combine to form an effective sustainability action plan.
“YUTO will continue to expand our research and development into sustainable materials, energy conservation and emission reduction,” continued Mr Niehues. “We obtained the CDP climate change questionnaire B grade and, by consistently evolving our environmental measures, YUTO expects to see more achievements like this in the future.”
Research and innovation
The company’s investments into R&D have resulted in innovations like YUTO’s biodegradable film bag and plant fibre
moulding packaging materials. These projects have helped customers to meet their sustainability goals and become more environmentally friendly, whilst meeting mass production needs.
As an expansion to this, YUTO has also implemented bio-based functional chemicals into operations. This technique meets stringent environmental regulations, as well as improving cost and efficiency.
“We insist on using eco-friendly coatings in design and taking full account of the carbon footprint of products throughout the manufacturing process , meeting the climate requirements of our customers,” commented Mr Niehues “For example, with one of our clients, we replaced nonenvironmentally friendly plastic packaging with eco-friendly corrugated paper to reduce plastic usage while providing excellent product protection.”
Another innovation is plant fibre cat litter, which is the world’s first bio-based, double-certified plant fibre environmental cat litter. This was created from YUTO’s
own research and has made a significant impact on the sector.
“We have a number of core competitive advantages as a company,” added Mr Niehues. “YUTO offers a customer-centred approach that delivers an integrated and in-depth service, from design, R&D and mass production, JIT delivery and more. Our industry recognition is growing every year due to our long-term development strategies. Incorporating sustainability, innovation and internationalisation into all of our decisions has strengthened us as global competitors.”
International development
To achieve sustainable partnerships, YUTO establishes longstanding relationships with companies that share similar values of environmental conservation. YUTO works with suppliers that are aiming to operate more sustainably in order to progress its own environmental journey.
“We facilitate open and honest cooperation in our partnerships,” said Mr Niehues
“It is important to be fair, as these collaborations are essential to the future of the environment and the company.
“Today's printing and packaging industry in China has just begun the process of deep integration with the upstream pulp and paper industry. Without an integrated industrial chain, large enterprises not only lack the security of supply, but also the competitiveness of low-cost and differentiated raw materials, which makes it difficult to achieve sustainable development. This is why our partnerships are so vital.”
Recently, YUTO has been increasing investments and actively expanding into overseas markets, such as in Malaysia, Vietnam and India, to improve its global service network. Additionally, the company is starting to further explore local manufacture base both in Mexico and the Philippines, which will be put into production in the coming Q3. Not only will this increase YUTO’s global capacity, but upgraded facilities will also expand its portfolio of products. Sites across Europe will be improved in the near future too.
“The international market is only going to pay more attention to carbon impacts, ” explained Mr Niehues, in conclusion. “We will therefore continue to promote the reduction of Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions in our operations. This will be a complex and challenging task, but as part of a great company with talented and professional colleagues, I am confident that we will be able to achieve significant progress.” n
