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practices. In countries lacking such
processes, the Group seeks to initiate its
own charters, which take specific local
conditions into account.
Packaging
Packaging plays a key role in Bel cheeses
and the services the Group offers to
consumers. Most of Bel’s retail products
are presented in the individual portions
format, which preserves the integrity of
the cheese until it is eaten and offers
just the right amount of product. Bel
actively works to optimize its packaging
solutions, always remaining mindful of
source reduction and materials
selection, two key elements in its
ecodesign process.
- 200
metric tons
Western Europe reduced
the amount of its paper and
cardboard packaging by over
200 metric tons in 2011
CSR labels for
Point of Sale (POS)
displays
Bel France decided to grade
the impact of its POS displays
from A to D, with A being the most
environmentally friendly score.
The longer-term goal is to use only A
or B-rated POS displays. Bel is also
studying POS display designs that
are sturdy enough to be reused.
interview
What is Bel’s policy for
ecodesign packaging?
Our policy is based on a comprehensive
approach that adheres to several sound
principles. We have to remember that
packaging plays a vital role, and Bel does
not compromise on packaging where the
preservation of its cheese and consumer
user-friendliness are concerned. Our goal
is to reduce the environmental impact of
our products over their entire life cycles by
optimizing our packaging. Our thinking and
efforts cover the entire packaging system,
not just the packaging seen by the
consumer, but the packaging used for
transport and storage as well. Last but
not least, our approach gets internal
stakeholders like marketing, development
and manufacturing involved and
empowers them, along with our suppliers.
Is the single-serving portions
concept the main obstacle
to ecodesign?
No. On the contrary, beyond its practical
advantages, the portions format is a means
for limiting food waste, which is a fi rstorder
environmental challenge. According
to the FAO*, dairy sector food waste
amounts to 10% to 25% of production,
depending on the geographical region.
In developing countries, the losses occur
mostly at the distribution stage.
In industrialized countries, the waste is
generated primarily on the consumer side
through opened but unfi nished products,
or exceeded expiration dates.
Our portions packaging ensures that the
cheese is preserved until it is consumed
— often over long periods of time and often
without the need to keep it cold —
providing a real solution to the problem.
* Food and Agriculture Organisation.
A comprehensive approach
to ecodesign packaging
JEAN-PAUL DUQUET, Head of Group ecodesign packaging
Bel produces 12 billion cheese portions
annually. They form the core of our
business model. Our goal is to optimize
our packaging solutions around this great
concept, anticipate trends and invent
the packaging of tomorrow.
Can you give us an example of an
achievement in 2011?
We have been working on minimizing the
amount of material used in our packaging
for several years now. In 2011, we reduced
the thickness of the aluminum foil used
to wrap Kiri ® portions from 12 microns to
10 microns. This decrease, made possible
by the manufacturing teams at the
Sablé-sur-Sarthe plant in France, enabled
us to lower our aluminum consumption
by 35 metric tons a year. In addition to the
savings, the reduction has had a direct
impact on the environment because it cuts
resource usage at various life cycle stages,
with less packaging to be produced and
transported, and less waste to be
processed. Of course our ecodesign
efforts go beyond source reduction.
We are also actively involved in aluminum
recycling challenges. The Group is
a member of the CELAA club for light
aluminum and steel packaging, through
which we fi nance research and aluminum
collection and recycling initiatives in
France, including the aluminum foil
wrapped around our portions.
Bel Group 2011 • 41