CO2 reduction in practice: 5 questions and answers

At Smart Packaging Solutions, sustainability is more than just about the product we make, it’s about how we make it. At our plants we produce new solid board packaging from recycled paper. We also focus on ways to conserve energy and further reduce our CO₂ emissions.

That’s why our plant in Loenen is applying for CO₂ reduction management certification, an extension of the ISO 14001 certificate. We’re taking this step in readiness for future legislation. What exactly does this certification involve? Why are we investing in it now? And how does this benefit customers? 5 questions and answers.

Smart Packaging Solutions has held ISO 14001 certification for many years. ISO 14001 is an international standard for environmental management systems that enables organisations to demonstrate how they manage and improve their environmental performance. The CO₂ Reduction Management Certificate with ISO 14001 is an extension of the environmental management system. This certification shows that your organisation is working systematically to reduce CO₂ emissions. Although results are important, the emphasis is on gaining insights and making ongoing improvements. As a company, you need to know exactly:

• Where energy is consumed
• Where CO₂ emissions come from
• Which measures you can take to reduce emissions
• How you can achieve further reductions step by step

In other words, it’s not a one-off project but a continuous process of measuring, improving and making processes more sustainable.

For many years, Smart Packaging Solutions has worked on making its production processes more sustainable. This certification is in line with measures we‘ve taken recently to reduce our energy consumption and CO₂ emissions. So, what changes have we made to our plant in Loenen?

• Installed LED lighting
• Improved the insulation of buildings and process plant
• Replaced heaters
• Implemented process optimalisations
• Solar panels on roofs (planned for 2026)

We’ve also taken measures to improve our production process. For instance, we’ve modified a drying screen to drain water more efficiently from the fibres we use to make new packaging. Now, less heat is required for evaporation, which significantly reduces our energy consumption. We made improvements to the fibre-sorting system, too, which has facilitated the decommissioning of another system in this production process.

Significantly lower annual CO₂ emissions will result from the measures already in place along with those that are soon to be introduced:

• Improved drying screen: CO₂ emissions reduced by 382 tonnes
• Decommissioned system: CO₂ emissions reduced by 283 tonnes
• Solar panels: CO₂ emissions reduced by 183 tonnes
• Process insulation: CO₂ emissions reduced by 156 tonnes
• LED lighting: CO₂ emissions reduced by 63 tonnes
• New, more energy-efficient heaters: CO₂ emissions reduced by 15 tonnes

By way of comparison: each year the average household emits 16,500 kg of CO₂*. So, the CO₂ savings we’ve achieved solely from these initiatives are comparable to the emissions of about 66 homes.

*Source: https://www.milieucentraal.nl/klimaat-en-aarde/klimaatverandering/wat-is-je-co2-voetafdruk/

For customers, this certification means they’re working with a supplier that prioritises sustainability. Throughout the supply chain, more and more companies are setting requirements for CO₂ reduction, transparency and sustainability. Smart Packaging Solutions helps customers to achieve their own sustainability goals and reporting obligations by actively investing in CO₂ reduction management. The certification also demonstrates that sustainability isn’t just an ambition, it’s built into our day-to-day processes.

Companies with high energy consumption must have an energy management system in place by 11 October 2027. The CO₂ reduction management certification scheme with ISO 14001 is an internationally recognised standard for environmental management systems. Although certification isn’t mandatory yet, Smart Packaging Solutions has opted to act now, in readiness for future legislation and regulations. Through investing proactively in CO₂ reduction management, Smart Packaging Solutions forges ahead with the sustainability of its organisation.