Packaging policy
This policy concerns the retail packaging for our own brand products. It also concerns logistics packaging and shopping bags offered to consumers. Our plastics policy describes in more detail the use of plastic in our products and packaging.
The logistical chain of a product involves various forms of packaging, including pallets, transport packaging, store packaging and consumer packaging. Appropriate packaging makes product handling easier throughout the supply chain.
Commonly used packaging materials include plastics, wood and wood-based cardboard, paperboard and paper, glass, aluminium and other metals.
Packaging must protect the product from the environment and the environment from the product. It must provide information on the product and its use and communicate the product brand.
Packaging plays an important role in preventing food waste, as the right kind of packaging keeps food items safe and edible for longer.
We take environmental issues into account in making packaging decisions
We avoid the use of excess packaging materials and are reducing the use of plastic in our packaging.
Our packaging must be recyclable or reusable.
We favour renewable packaging materials: cardboard, paperboard, paper and bio-based plastics.
In wood-based packaging, we favour solutions that are of sustainable origin (FSC or PEFC certified) or made from recycled material.
We make sure that pests cannot travel between countries by requiring that wooden packaging materials meet the requirements of ISPM 15 (Regulation of wood packaging material in international trade).
Our biodegradable plastic packaging must meet the compostability requirements of ISO 13432 (Packaging Recoverable Through Composting & Biodegradation).
We reduce the amount of packaging material
Our packaging design takes into account the overall impact on the environment, minimising the amount of packaging material used while maintaining the basic functions of packaging and minimising product waste.
We do not overpackage or use excess layers of packaging.
|
Objective |
Progress |
|
Reducing plastic in packaging |
We aim to reduce the amount of plastic in our packaging by 20 % by the end of 2025 (compared to the 2019 base level). |
|
The aim of the EU packaging directive is that the annual consumption level does not exceed 40 plastic bags per person by the end of 2025. In Finland, this means a reduction of some 40 % compared to the 2017 level. We are committed to promoting the achievement of this target. |
Our packaging is recyclable
We will include clear instructions for recycling in all our packaging.
We help our customers recycle packaging waste by providing them with RINKI eco take-back points at K Group store locations.
We also recognise our responsibility as a producer in online sales, and take care of the collection of packaging materials at RINKI eco take-back points as well as paying the producer responsibility fees for our packaging.
Kesko Logistics’ reverse logistics transport beverage containers and boxes from K Group stores and HoReCa customers for reuse and recovery.
|
Objective |
Progress |
|
Our packaging is recyclable |
Our objective is that by the end of 2025, all our packaging will be recyclable or reusable. |
|
Food sector commitment to material efficiency (in Finnish) |
The commitment strives to increase recycling and increase the efficiency of material use. The recycling rate in grocery trade will be raised to 78 % by 2021, i.e. by 4 % from the 2016 base level. |
We increase the use of recycled materials in our packaging
We are constantly increasing the use of packaging made from recycled plastic and recycled cardboard.
The use of recycled materials in food packaging is regulated by EU legislation (EC No 1935/2004 and 282/2008 and complementary regulations).
Our packaging is reusable
We offer durable shopping bags to our customers.
In our procurement and distribution logistics, we use over ten million reusable plastic transport packages.
In some of our grocery stores, customers can bring their own reusable plastic containers for items bought at service counters and salad bars. This requires absolute good hygiene practices from our customers.
We take part in packaging research
We participate in research projects that aim to find sustainable and/or alternative new packaging solutions.
|
Research project |
Progress in research project |
|
The project examines and develops solutions to reduce waste from food packaging. More knowledge is needed about the environmental impacts of different packaging materials and solutions, about ways to commercialise new packaging innovations as well as about consumer preferences and issues slowing down change. The five-year project was launched at the start of 2019 and will finish by the end of 2023. |
|
|
Circular economy pilot for used coffee packaging |
K Group, Paulig and Globe Hope conducted a circular economy pilot in Finland, encouraging consumers to return used coffee packaging, and then using the recycled material to make accessories. Globe Hope turned the used coffee packaging into eight types of recycled design products, including bags, shopping totes, pencil cases and wallets. |
The packaging policy was published on 3 July 2020.
Progress of the objectives of the packaging policy in 2023
In 2023, we made changes to the packaging of a total of 93 own brand products in compliance with our packaging and plastics policies. 43 of the changes were made to the packaging of own brand products in Kesko’s grocery trade and 50 to the packaging of Kespro’s own brand products.
Progress 2019-2023:
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |
| Number of own brand products for which changes to development of packaging were made in compliance with our packaging and plastics policy |
93 | 55* | 49 | 77 | - |
*figure includes Kespro for the first time
