Best practice sharing within the company
One success story from our Spanish facility in Argentona started in 2011. A new way of handling the siliconized release paper, which is e.g. produced as a by-product of the plaster production process, was developed. Instead of being landfilled, the release paper is now collected separately and sent to a recycling company in Austria, where it is turned into high-quality recycled paper products. In 2012 our other production centers in Europe started to follow the Spanish lead. For example, Beiersdorf Manufacturing Hamburg, our largest production site, sends 20 pallets to the Austrian recycling firm every two weeks. That adds up to 160 tons of waste per year that are saved by a small idea with a huge impact on the environment.
Avoid waste and increasing our recycling rate
In order to increase our recycling rate, we have introduced recycling projects in many countries. In Argentona, Spain, our production facility decreased the volume of waste by analyzing all points where waste generation is concentrated along the packaging line. This has resulted in a reduction of 40% waste costs.
At our production facility in Tres Cantos, Spain, we set up specially labeled collection bins for each type of plastic in 2011, and trained employees regarding the new waste-sorting concept. Our office in Italy has placed recycling bins to enable employees to separate waste such as plastic, paper and plastic cups. In addition, a compactor machine for paper and board was installed in the offices in 2012. This machine facilitates the reduction of the volume of waste paper and packaging. Our production center in Indonesia also started to reduce the amount of waste generated during the coating process by installing a Jumbo roll holder for continuous coating.
Leftover food used in a responsible way
The food waste generated in our production center restaurant in Brazil is being composted. This initiative, which started in 2012, reduces the volume of waste and therefore the amount of transportation required to bring the waste to landfill. Beiersdorf Catering in our Headquarters in Hamburg, Germany, has been giving its excess prepared food to “CaFée mit Herz” since 2010. This serves the poor, unemployed and homeless people in the near vicinity whose personal circumstances require them to turn to others for assistance.
If you are interested in knowing how much waste you generate, visit www.myimpactontheplanet.com and learn how to reduce it.
