Interview with: Simo Heljanko, Managing Director & Mårten Karlsson, Sales Manager, Muovi-Heljanko OY

1. Interview with: Simo Heljanko,
Managing Director & Mårten
Karlsson, Sales Manager, Muovi-
Heljanko OY
“The recycling system in Europe must
improve, as China has stopped accept-
ing plastic waste. Europe has to get
better at collecting and making use of
recycled materials. By 2030, all packag-
ing must be at least partly made of
recycled material,” says Simo Heljanko,
Managing Director, Muovi-Heljanko
OY.
“There are many sustainable materials
and innovative applications that packag-
ing directors can consider. They must
make this change soon, as consumers
are demanding it,” adds Mårten Karls-
son, Sales Manager.
Muovi-Heljanko OY is a sponsor com-
pany at the marcus evans EuroPack
Summit 2018, taking place in
Montreux, Switzerland, 3 – 4 Septem-
ber.
What can the rest of Europe learn
from Finland?
Karlsson: Collection of plastics from
consumers in Finland is more efficiently
done than in many European countries.
There is a lot of talk about sustainability
and recycling. The problem is not the
plastic itself, as it has a smaller CO2
footprint than glass and does not break,
but the collection of plastic, as it only
seems to work in Finland and the Nordic
countries. All collected plastic bottles
used to get shipped to China, but now
China is not accepting them anymore.
Europe has to come up with its own
recycling system.
Heljanko: This means that the material
is here and there is enough for every-
one, at least at the moment. Everyone
wants to save this planet, and there are
plenty of sustainable materials and
applications for packaging executives to
make use of.
What new materials and innovative
applications could they consider?
Karlsson: There are two new raw
materials or applications in Europe.
There are recycled plastic granules and
flakes, which can be used to partly
make new packaging. There are also bio
materials based on sugar cane instead
of oil, that can be used for different
applications. That can make up 100
percent of a new bottle, but most
companies use 50 percent bio. We will
launch a new application for the techno-
chemical market later this year.
What are the biggest limitations to
using these materials? Is there a
way around these issues?
Heljanko: They are more expensive at
the moment. Everyone wants to use
them until they hear how much they
cost. Bio materials can cost double that
of other materials. That is why we do
not do 100 percent. Recycled materials
are not as expensive, but companies
have to consider their CO2 footprint and
so on.
Karlsson: The price of bio and recycled
raw materials will drop when there is
more competition in the market.
Heljanko: Packaging with recycled
materials has certain advantages. The
problem with some plastics today is that
some solvents and aggressive products
can leak through the walls of the bottle
or package. We have been able to stop
that from happening with our green
packaging.
Companies could redesign their pack-
ages to decrease the weight of the
materials they use, which would lower
costs and save plastic. It all depends on
what application it is for.
There is no way around this. By law,
they will have to use more recycled
materials. With more consumers
demanding this, there could be an
opportunity to sell more products if they
start using the materials sooner than
others.
With more
consumers
demanding this,
there could be
an opportunity
to sell more
products
Sustainable Product
Packaging in Europe Today

2. The marcus evans Summits
group delivers peer-to-peer
information on strategic matters,
p r o f e s s i o n a l t r e n d s a n d
breakthrough innovations.
Please note that the Summit is a
closed business event and the
number of participants strictly
limited.
About the EuroPack Summit 2018
The EuroPack Summit is a premium forum bringing elite buyers and sellers
together. The Summit offers FMCG packaging executives and suppliers and solution
providers an intimate environment for a focused discussion on how to win the battle
for market and mind share through packaging. Taking place at Fairmont Le
Montreux Palace, Montreux, Switzerland, 3 – 4 September, the Summit includes
presentations on maximising the brand experience, stimulating engagement,
bridging online and offline, advancing sustainability, and orchestrating compliance.
www.europacksummit.com
About Muovi-Heljanko OY
Muovi-Heljanko OY is a family company founded 1985 and based in Finland near Helsinki.
Muovi-Heljanko OY produces plastic bottles, jars and jerry cans. Main materials are HDPE and PET.
As a family company, we are very flexible. We have top quality and 100% delivery reliability. We also have a highly automated
production and a fully automated warehouse.
www.muovi-heljanko.fi
About marcus evans Summits
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individually tailor their schedules of keynote presentations, case studies, roundtables and one-to-one business meetings.
For more information, please visit: www.marcusevans.com
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Contact
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