For our series ‘From Factory to Trees', we interview several of our partners in the packaging chain. This time we had the pleasure to interview one of ZeroPackaging's own co-owners, Jerom van Beuzekom.
ZeroPackaging offers sustainable and high quality packaging solutions. Their aim is to create a more sustainable world by advising, designing, and delivering tailor-made packaging solutions with zero impact. Looking at the entire supply chain, impact is minimised by calculating the current impact and improvements, efficient designs, local production, recycled materials and compensation solutions.
1. Can you tell us something about yourself and ZeroPackaging? How did it start and what is your role in the company?
My career started 25 years ago at PaperFoam, and I have been working in the sustainable packaging industry ever since. Our way of working always used to be reactive to the questions of our customers. However, at one point during a four day dropping in Scotland without any food or water, I realised that I wanted to be more proactively related to sustainability. I wanted to help large companies move towards zero-impact packaging, by having all tools available to them. That is when I came up with the idea of ZeroPackaging. I combined this new concept with the packaging development skills we already possessed for high-end packaging, and this makes that we can now offer brand owners super premium packaging with the lowest possible impact.
2. Can you describe a project in which you have been involved where you are most proud of?
I am mostly proud that we have such in-depth knowledge within our team, that we are able to advise and support large multinational companies from all over the world. Our added value has a global reach, which allows us to help our customers with their complete packaging process, from design till delivery.
3. Which current technology or trend do you think has the most positive impact on long-term sustainability?
In our sector, localisation and mono-materials that are non-plastic have the most positive impact on long-term sustainability. We are continuously searching for new technologies with low energy consumption, which sometimes can be found close by.
4. What do you think the world will look like 10 years from now when it comes to sustainability? And how do you hope it will look like?
Ten years from now, I hope that customers will see and pay the real price, so that brand owners are triggered to design their product and supply chain in a sustainable way. Not just from a CO2 and cost point-of-view, but also from an ecological and social perspective.
5. What advice would you like to give to people and customers operating in your industry regarding sustainability?
My advice would be for people to consume less and focus on quality products that you can truly enjoy and that will last. Nowadays, everyone claims to be (or move towards) sustainability, but be aware and dig deeper to find out what impact that product truly has on the environment.