Symrise is bringing industry perspectives to COP30 and connected events in Belém, underscoring a strong commitment to climate action and biodiversity. A major highlight includes the TED Countdown session, where Symrise – together with partner CO2 AI – launches the Houston platform, a digital tool for measuring carbon footprints at both product and corporate level. The company also co-chaired the Sustainable Business Bioeconomy Working Group. With these actions, Symrise demonstrates how digital innovation, cross-sector collaboration, and practical solutions drive measurable progress for climate, nature, and local communities across priority supply chains.
By hosting the TED Countdown event “The Essence of Carbon” with CO2 AI, Symrise underlines its commitment to data-driven climate action. At the session, held during COP30, the partners will launch the Houston platform and present it to a select group of customers and guests – marking a major step in Symrise’s sustainability journey. Both parties will showcase how digital tools accelerate decarbonisation in operations and products, supporting credible, scalable transparency on emissions along the value chain.
The digital tool enables Symrise to measure and manage product- and corporate-level carbon footprints with precision and efficiency. By integrating this carbon data, Houston empowers teams to gain real-time insights, prioritise impactful interventions, and ensure compliance with evolving regulations. The platform’s robust governance structure supports traceability and transparency, reinforcing Symrise’s ambition to advance in scalable decarbonisation.
Prior to the COP30 conference, Symrise also co-chaired the Sustainable Business Bioeconomy Working Group. This role allowed the company to contribute private-sector perspectives that link climate action, biodiversity, and social progress. Promoting the bioeconomy within the COP solutions agenda enables Symrise to enter into collaborative partnerships with global organisations and share practical experience from inclusive sourcing programs and circular technologies.
“Launching the Houston platform marks a milestone in our decarbonisation journey. CO2 AI’s platform acts as enabler to accelerate our vision of one carbon accounting language serving both corporate and product purposes. By integrating this robust solution, we empower our organisation and partners to make data-driven decisions with full confidence and to accelerate progress on our sustainability goals,” says Dr Isabella Tonaco, Chief Sustainability Officer at Symrise. “As co-chair of the Bioeconomy Working Group, I joined industry peers to accelerate progress together advancing collaborative work that turns proven pilots into scalable practice.”
Symrise’s engagement at COP30 also extends to the BMZ/GIZ Combú Island dialogue. It is joining a select group of stakeholders – including the German Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development – to advance public-private bilateral dialogues between German and Brazil to foster economic development and strengthen both nations partnership “Bridging the Gap” initiative. “Our partnership with Symrise and Natura shows how inclusive business models work in practice – bringing indigenous and local products to market, raising and stabilising incomes, and empowering the guardians of the Amazon Rainforest”, says Reem Alabali Radovan, German Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development. The program empowers local communities in the Amazon through deforestation-free, traceable value chains and regenerative agriculture. Each project aims to turn collaboration into practical outcomes for climate, nature, and people. Also, within the series of events at COP30, Symrise has signed a letter of intent and partners with Deutsche Bank and other industry players to mobilise financial support for rainforest protection for Honduras and Suriname.
“COP30 convenes leaders ready to scale what works. Our programs aim to unite climate action, biodiversity protection, and social progress – so customers and communities thrive together,” explains Dr Stephanie Cossmann, Member of the Executive Board for Human Resources (Labour Director), Legal and Sustainability. “At Symrise, we see biodiversity as fundamental to our business and our commitment to sustainability. We act with purpose to drive effective measures that reduce global emissions and protect our planet for future generations.”
Berglandmilch, Austria’s leading dairy company, is the first in Austria to choose SIG Terra Alu-free + Full barrier, the world’s first full barrier aseptic carton packaging material with no aluminum layer. Berglandmilch will offer white milk from its premium brand “Schärdinger Formil” in SIG Terra MidiBloc Alu-free + Full barrier reducing the already low carbon footprint of standard SIG aseptic cartons by 22 %1. The environmental benefit is communicated directly to consumers on the packaging.
SIG Terra Alu-free + Full barrier is a huge step forward in the push to decarbonise the food and beverage industry. By removing the aluminum layer used in conventional aseptic carton packs to protect milk or oxygen-sensitive products such as juices or plant-based beverages, SIG has reduced the number of raw materials from 3 to 2. The new packaging material is primarily made of paper and uses ultra-thin polymer barriers, that protect the product against oxygen, light, moisture and aroma loss. It offers the same product shelf life of up to 12 months and the same product protection as standard full-barrier materials, that use aluminum as a protective layer, while significantly reducing the carbon footprint. Although aluminum accounts for just around 5 % of a standard aseptic carton, it accounts for up to 25 % of its carbon footprint in a full-barrier package. Removing it represents a major gain for environmental performance.
1based on an independent ISO-compliant life-cycle assessment: https://go.sig.biz/l/251992/2025-07-15/7s4grv/251992/1752591448sah1vmYy/LCA_SIG_Terra_Alu_free_Full_barrier_and_SIG_Terra_Alu_free_Full_barrie.pdf
GNT has passed the halfway mark in its mission to reduce carbon intensity at its EXBERRY® colour factories by 50 % over the course of the current decade.
Based on volume of product sold, GNT cut carbon emissions at its production sites in the Netherlands, Germany, and United States by 26 % between 2020 and 2024. This achievement is particularly significant in light of the company’s growth during the same period.
Global sales for plant-based EXBERRY® colours have increased more than 50 % since 2020. Under normal circumstances, such growth would have driven a substantial increase in total carbon emissions due to increased production demands. However, by improving efficiency and investing in sustainable technologies, GNT has been able to keep overall emissions in check.
GNT’s new sustainability report reveals there has been strong progress toward many of the 17 sustainability targets it is working to achieve by 2030.
Water efficiency at its factories has improved by 30 % compared to 2020, which already surpasses the original 20 % goal. The company is also committed to ensuring every contract farmer growing fruits, vegetables, and plants for EXBERRY® colours enrolls in sustainable agriculture training programs. By the end of 2024, 80 % had achieved the level of FSA (Farm Sustainability Assessment) Silver or Gold.
In addition to its environmental aims, GNT’s targets include measures to benefit people throughout the EXBERRY® value chain. In 2024, the lost-time accident rate at the factories fell to 25 % below the industry average. The company also helped organise a three-day leadership training program in Peru as part of its commitment to supporting social livelihood projects in its sourcing areas.
Hendrik Hoeck, CEO at GNT Group, said: “We are proud to say that we are still delivering on our ambitious plans to protect people and planet while achieving significant global growth. Our 2024 report underlines our continued determination to lead the food colouring industry on sustainability and ensure that GNT is in a position to thrive for generations to come.”
GNT secured an EcoVadis gold medal last year for its environmental and ethical activities, with its score placing the company among the top 3 % in the food manufacturing industry.
It is now working on plans to go even further in 2025. With GNT on track to meet its CO2 targets at its factories, the top priority going forward is to reduce indirect emissions from throughout its wider value chain.
Rutger de Kort, Sustainability Manager at GNT Group, said: “We have made excellent progress at our production sites and now need to work with our suppliers to achieve reductions in other areas. This is more challenging as these emissions are outside our direct control, but our closely managed supply chain gives us a real advantage and we are developing plans to address the biggest hotspots.”
In line with its commitment to transparency, GNT secures independent verification for its emissions data. It also offers its customers Product Environmental Footprint information across scopes 1, 2, and 3 for EXBERRY® colours.
Rutger de Kort added: “Trust is hugely important to us. This is why we publish independently audited Greenhouse Gas Verification Statements and provide our customers with the data they need to make informed decisions about how to optimise their recipes.”
To read GNT’s ‘Sustainability report 2024,’ visit: https://exberry.com/en/sustainability-report-2024
Elopak, a leading global supplier of carton packaging and filling equipment, has published its 2020 Sustainability Report. The successes in the report include an 11 % decrease in greenhouse gas emissions against a 2017 baseline, marking great progress towards the Science Based Target (SBT) goal of 55 % reduction. In addition, Elopak reports on increasing sales of fully renewable cartons for fresh milk in Europe, reaching 18 % in 2020, compared to 8 % in 2018, as well as the continued use of 100 % renewable energy and carbon neutrality throughout the company since 2016.
The 2020 report is the company’s first fully digital sustainability report and has been conducted in accordance with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) framework. It covers planet, people and profit, setting out the company’s 2020 performance in the context of past progress and future ambitions; sharing case studies that identify some of the drivers behind progress, as well as identifying the remaining challenges as the company works to become Net Zero.
Speaking on the launch of the report, Elopak’s Sustainability Director Marianne Groven stated, “2020 was an exceptional year in many respects, but critically it marked the beginning of the climate decade. At Elopak we believe that now is the time to shift our focus from simply doing less harm towards doing more good. Our 2020 Sustainability Report sets out our latest performance and ambitions on this front.”
Progress in 2020 was achieved through a combination of innovation and initiatives. For example, at Elopak’s Aarhus facility in Denmark there was a switch from fossil fuel to electric energy on one of the production converters, as well as the adoption of intelligent LED lighting to reduce the power consumption of the facility’s lighting system by 78.4 %. Meanwhile, we have reduced the energy per carton by 13 % since 2017 and by 23 % since 2008.
Prior to 2020 Elopak had already achieved a reduction in the carbon footprint of an average carton with a closure, from 32 g CO2e in 2014 to 25 g CO2e in 2020. The carbon footprint of a carton without a closure is much lower at 17 g CO2e. In 2020 Elopak launched the Pure-Pak® Imagine carton, which is designed with a new easy open feature instead of a plastic screw cap. This carton contains 46 % less plastic and is fully forest based.
Elopak maintained its strong focus on people in 2020, investing in the training and education of its employees. The company recorded 5,300 course completions during the year, with 80 % employees receiving one or more trainings. Elopak also participated in wider community initiatives, in particular related to the Covid-19 pandemic, such as working with customers to provide milk to food banks in France and donating water boxes to hospitals in Spain.
Commenting on the publication of the report CEO Thomas Körmendi set out the company’s determination to push its sustainability performance further stating, “Despite the challenges of 2020 we remained focused on our vision – chosen by people, packaged by nature. Today we celebrate the progress we have made in recent years, including five years of carbon neutrality. However, with the climate decade upon us we must continue our work to advance a low carbon circular economy.”
In recognition of its commitment to advancing sustainability and working collaboratively in pursuit of the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Elopak earlier this year announced it has joined the UN Global Compact as a participant.
The full report is available at: elopak.com
The volume of Elopak’s Natural Brown Board cartons surpassed one billion units in February 2021. The milestone is good news for the company’s sustainability efforts, as the lower CO2 footprint of these cartons means an estimated 3,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions have been avoided as a result. The reduction in CO2 emissions resulting from the use of Natural Brown Board is equivalent to approximately 1,400 round trip flights for one person London – New York.
The news comes after Elopak recorded a significant increase in its sale of Natural Brown Board cartons in 2019, with brands responding to increased consumer interest in the environmental credentials of their products by making the transition to sustainable packaging solutions. Today approximately 20 % of the Pure-Pak® milk cartons Elopak sells in Western Europe are produced with Natural Brown Board.
Launched in 2017, in partnership with supplier Stora Enso, Elopak was the first packaging company to provide gable top cartons made with Natural Brown Board. These Pure-Pak® cartons are renewable and recyclable. They have a lower CO2 footprint owing to reduced wood consumption and the elimination of the bleaching process. Their rustic, natural look effectively communicates this commitment to sustainability and instantly stands out on the shelves.
Several customers were quick to embrace the Natural Brown Board with Arla being the first major brand to adopt the innovation for its line of organic EKO products in Sweden. In June 2018, when Arla launched its Arla Organic range of milk and drinking yoghurts, the brand opted again for one litre Pure-Pak® cartons with Natural Brown Board, which were rolled out across the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Germany and Finland.
Some customers have taken the concept further and removed the renewable plastic cap. Norwegian dairy, TINE, transitioned from a white carton with a cap to a Natural Brown Board carton without a cap, resulting in a carbon footprint reduction of around 40 %. Sweden’s second-largest dairy Skånemejerier has also removed the caps on all their Hjordnära organic milk one-liter cartons, launching its organic milk in new Pure-Pak® cartons with an easy opening funnel feature to replace the plastic closure.
Since its launch, Elopak’s Natural Brown Board cartons has served as a platform for further sustainability-focused innovations, including the Pure-Pak® Imagine launched in 2020. The carton is a modern version of the company’s original Pure-Pak® carton, containing 46 % less plastic and designed with a new easy open feature. It has no plastic screw cap and is 100 % forest-based made with Natural Brown Board, making it Elopak’s most environmentally friendly carton to date.
There is currently a shortage of carbon dioxide in Northern Europe due to the closure of several CO2 production sites, for various reasons including maintenance and refurbishment.
Gavin Partington, Director General at British Soft Drinks Association, responded to the situation:
“The shortage of CO2 across Northern Europe is impacting a wide range of businesses across the food and drink sector.
“Soft drinks producers in the UK are taking active steps to maintain their service to customers including working with their suppliers to mitigate the impact as well as looking at alternative sources.”
