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Our client Beiersdorf has set ambitious sustainability targets, including using 50% less fossil-based virgin plastic by 2025. In light of this target, they needed to find a new material which would perform as well as plastic packaging, but with a reduced environmental impact, for the new NIVEA Naturally Good product range. After extensive research and testing, they decided upon renewable polypropylene for their packaging materials. In the production of renewable polypropylene, an equivalent amount of a renewable feedstock which is classified as a residue from the forest industry, is used in the plastic production instead of virgin crude oil.

Beiersdorf wanted to ensure that the material they were using was from a trusted source and could be certified as 100% renewable polypropylene, so they came to Control Union for certification of the material against the International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC Plus) scheme. For them, the ISCC Certification allows the traceability of flow & compliance of the sustainable material throughout the whole supply chain. This provides them with security and gives the consumer confidence in the eco-credentials of the packaging, which otherwise looks, feels and acts like fossil-based plastic.

ISCC Plus was the right certification for Beiersdorf because it is becoming increasingly well known and relevant across supply chains, meaning their materials suppliers and converters were also able to track and trace the use of renewable material through the ISCC Plus scheme.

The NIVEA Naturally Good range will use ISCC Plus certified renewable polypropylene for its packaging

Hannah Rasel, Senior Packaging Specialist at Beiersdorf says:

“For our company, the ISCC Plus certification enables us to use new credible, traceable, sustainable materials, which then help to decrease the environmental impact of our packaging. It enables us to have access to verified sustainable materials as an alternative to today’s fossil fuel-based plastics.”

Using the ISCC Plus certified renewable polypropylene has had an added benefit for Beiersdorf, as it helped to reduce the carbon footprint of their packaging for this product line. Approximately 76 g of CO₂ are saved per jar produced, a reduction of around 60% compared to the fossil-based jar. The project therefore also contributes to the company's climate target of reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 30% absolutely across the entire value chain by 2025 vs. 2018.

If you would like to know more about the ISCC Plus scheme please contact us on certificationsuk@controlunion.com