Sanlu, Ecolean promote sustainable packaging in China

Dairy-products manufacturer Sanlu and sustainable-packaging producer Ecolean have been awarded the ‘Sino-Swedish Green Cooperation Model’. The companies earned the accolade for the domestic sale of 100 million ‘Fresh Kettle’ yoghurts.

The partnership started when Sanlu decided to offer its products in environmentally-friendly packaging. The company was so reportedly so impressed with its results that it set aside a set of manufacturing equipment valued at over $390,000 that did not produce degradable packaging. .

“Our emphasis is the long-term benefit of our healthy growth, following on the heels of social and consumer recognition,” explains Zhang Zhenling, vice general manager of Sanlu.

China’s ‘Eleventh Five-Year Plan’ has formulated explicit targets for energy saving, waste and pollution reduction. In it the late Premier Wen Jiabao emphasized the importance of environmental protection and food safety.

Currently, 99 percent of ‘white pollution’ consists of packages and plastic bags, while the remaining one percent is throwaway plastic containers.

Ecolean’s packaging is based on calcium carbonate, which is commonly known as chalk. After disposal, the calcium carbonate is returned to nature and the polymer binding agent is transformed into water vapor and carbon dioxide after complete degradation (e.g. after incineration).