PRESS RELEASE
Pagter Innovations, producer of sustainable and innovative packaging systems for cut flowers in water, is launching a Carbon Footprint Tool for its Procona container at the International Floriculture Trade Fair (IFTF) in Vijfhuizen. This provides full insight into the environmental impact of this reusable packaging compared to single-use packaging.
For thirty years, Pagter Innovations has been developing and producing sustainable and innovative packaging concepts for cut flowers in water. Pagter's products are used worldwide by growers, distributors, (online) florists and retailers for quality improvement, cost savings and increased sales. Pagters Procona is a sturdy container that can be used and rotated several times. Due to the rectangular shape and perfect stackability, they also give a better loading than round buckets. The packaging is therefore very durable and efficient. Until now, however, Pagter was unable to provide insight into how much more sustainable Procona is compared to single-use flower packaging. Thanks to the Procona Carbon Footprint Tool, this is now possible, says director Loes van der Toolen.
Procona is measurably more sustainable
Transport and packaging can have a large share in the footprint of companies and products. “Because our Procona container can be reused 80 times or more, it replaces single use packaging for several years during its lifecycle. Thanks to its rectangular shape and perfect stackability, Procona is more efficient in transport. This reduces CO2 mission and saves costs. We have known this ourselves for some time, but we have not yet been able to substantiate the sustainability claims. Together with Pinguin Projects and Greenhouse Marketeers, we have therefore developed a tool that provides insight into the environmental impact. With this tool we can easily calculate how sustainable Procona is, compared to disposable buckets and boxes. The tool will be introduced during IFTF, where we can show customers how Procona contributes to the reduction of environmental impact.”
The Procona Carbon Footprint Tool takes into account the complete cycle that the containers go through, from production to transport to warehouse, flower companies, retail chains and return for reuse. “It was a complex challenge, in which we had to take many aspects into account. For example, the tool also makes a distinction between regular trucks and refrigerated transport. We can now include the specific factors in the calculation for each user and situation, so that a realistic picture is given of the CO2 emissions," says Van der Toolen. “And the great thing is that Procona emerges as the most sustainable option in all the different scenarios.”
Calculate yourself on IFTF
Van der Toolen looks back with satisfaction on the collaboration with Pinguin Projects and Greenhouse Marketeers, who were able to realize the tool relatively quickly thanks to their joint knowledge and expertise. Pinguin Projects was mainly associated with the project on a process basis. Greenhouse Marketeers, as a specialist in the field of footprinting, was responsible for developing the calculation tool. During the IFTF, from 9 to 11 November in Vijfhuizen, visitors will be given the opportunity to make their own calculation on an input screen. This is possible at the Pagter Innovations stand (A2.32). Van der Toolen invites interested parties to come by and see for themselves . “We were surprised to see the reduction in Co2 emissions after just a few rotations. In addition to the other advantages, we can now truly say that Procona is the sustainable alternative.”
