The Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) at Trivium Packaging, Jenny Wassenaar, recently discussed achieving circularity and advancing sustainability in the packaging industry with Sustainability Magazine.
Trivium Packaging is a company that specializes in sustainable packaging. It is known for its focus on metal packaging, especially aluminium, which is highly recyclable. In fact, around 75% of all the aluminium produced is still being used today, which shows that it is a great material for circularity.
Trivium's CSO highlighted the challenges in making packaging net-zero and waste-negative, given the difficulties in recycling certain materials at a global level. However, she noted that steel and aluminium, which are commonly used in packaging, have a clearer path to achieving net-zero status due to their high recyclability and the maintained quality of the material through recycling processes.
The conversation also explored the concept of closing the material loop, emphasizing the importance of local recycling and the use of materials to minimize transport CO2 and costs. Trivium's efforts towards full circularity include working with recycling companies to secure high-purity aluminium from post-consumer waste and engaging in urban mining to efficiently recycle household waste.