Stora Enso: Combatting Post-Black Friday Packaging Waste

Black Friday is a global shopping phenomenon, triggering remarkable spikes in consumer spending across numerous retail sectors.

The aftermath, however, is less than desirable: a profound amount of packaging waste. 

In 2023, the contrast between online and in-person shopping in the US was stark. Last year 90.6 million people opted to buy online, with their overall purchases totalling US$9.8bn, a 7.5% jump from the previous year.

Buying online means more deliveries, which inevitably leads to greater packaging waste and adverse environmental impacts. The conversation around the future of packaging is especially important in light of the breakdown of the Global Plastics Treaty. 

Many manufacturers called for stringent and definitive rules on plastic use, as part of meeting broader sustainability goals, but with the breakdown of negotiations, clarity on the future of plastic lays out of reach. 

But this shouldn't stop manufacturers from being proactive and seeking to evolve their approach to packaging now.

Stora Enso: Tackling the impact of Black Friday

Annually, the retail industry is responsible for a quarter of global carbon emissions, with Black Friday contributing significantly through deliveries amounting to an estimated 429,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases each year.

This global event's reach extends well beyond the US, affecting logistics and packaging at a large scale.

Inside the UK, the parcel count also escalates dramatically around this period with more than 3.1 million packages handled due to increased online shopper activity.

This period requires urgent attention across multiple dimensions including production, fashion cycles, sustainable sourcing and emissions from extensive supply chains.

Particularly, our focus turns toward the role of packaging during these high-volume shopping events.

At the forefront of addressing these challenges is Stora Enso, a paper and packaging manufacturer known for its commitment to sustainability.

The company has embarked on a mission to revolutionise e-commerce packaging by integrating circular economy principles into its products.

This initiative not only aims to diminish waste but also paves the way for setting new industrial benchmarks for sustainable packaging.

“My role is to support our customers in achieving the best possible sustainability value for their packaging applications,” says Simo Siitonen, Director of Sustainability and Head of Customer Value at Stora Enso, Packaging Materials.

“Switching to bio-based packaging, particularly fiber-based packaging, can, in the best cases, fully replace the use of non-renewable, fossil-based materials with renewable sources."

“This often leads to significantly lower carbon emissions, helping to mitigate the impact of climate change. Additionally, bio-based packaging frequently supports circularity by offering better recyclability compared to many fossil-based alternatives.”

The potential of bio materials

Central to Stora Enso's strategy is the promotion of bio-based packaging solutions.

These resources serve as viable alternatives to the predominantly used non-recyclable packaging materials that contribute heavily to waste during peak shopping times like Black Friday.

Despite the benefits, wider adoption of bio-based alternatives has been slow, primarily due to performance challenges.

Moving forward, the packaging sector is mandated to delve deeper into identifying and utilising new bio-based materials. 

It's evident that to counteract the ongoing packaging problems, continuous innovation is essential.

Through their pioneering work, companies like Stora Enso play a crucial role in widening the acceptance and implementation of sustainable packaging solutions, thereby leading the charge towards a more sustainable e-commerce environment.

“In addition to advancements in barrier technologies, there is a noticeable trend toward light-weighting in fiber-based packaging,” says Simo. 

“Virgin fibre-based board materials often provide much better material usage yields compared to many recycled fibre grades, which can contribute to lower carbon emissions.

"This makes light-weighting a key focus area in the industry.

“Another significant trend will be designing packaging for improved recyclability. This shift is being driven by regulatory requirements, as well as companies setting their own targets to enhance the circularity of their packaging solutions. 

“Overall, there is an increasing emphasis on fit-for-purpose design, which considers factors such as eco-design, light-weighting and avoiding over-engineering.”​​​​​​​

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