Sidel initiative to help processor sustainability, says firm

Beverage packaging is under intensifying environmental scrutiny and the reduction in the consumption of raw materials, energy, water and chemicals has become a top concern for the entire industry. Sidel said that it has appointed Luc Desoutter, who has in-depth knowledge of the sector, to the new role, which for the first time in the group's history directly address customer's sustainablity concerns. Meet expectations​ "All our customers have a sustainablity agenda, which is driven by consumer demands. We want to ensure that we meet their high expectations​," Luc Desoutter told FoodProductionDaily.com "I will be meeting beverage processors, listening to their requirements in regards to their environmental footprint goals and collecting data that will directly inform the development of sustainable equipment and packaging from Sidel​," added Desoutter. "I will also be working closely with organisations such as Plastics Euorpe and Napcor to create greater awareness around PET and its recycling capabilities,"​ added Desoutter. Desoutter said that sustainability initiatives can also increase Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) for processors: "the ability of manufacturers to minimize the impact of rising costs by decreasing waste, improving equipment efficiency and lowering material bills will be crucial for their long-term survival."​Life-cycle analyses​He said that Sidel has already initiated life-cycle analyses on its equipment and packaging range to make it greener. "If you don't measure what you are doing, you cannot improve it,"​ argues Desoutter. Track record​The company claims that its own track record underscores its concerns for the environment, particularly in regard to its recent NoBottle development in PET bottle lightweighting, which it says uses up to 40 per cent less plastic. In contrast with conventional bottle decontamination processes, Sidel's dry preform decontamination technology, Predis, uses few chemicals and no water, said the company. Sidel added that its upgrade kits enable manufacturers to improve existing equipment with modifications that offer significant water or energy savings. The group believes this focus means producers can reduce their equipment's impact on the environment and get a quick return on investment at the same time.