This article first appeared in the October issue of ProPack.pro.

Spicers Australia is leading the way when it comes to integrating sustainability and sustainable practices into not only its own company, but also into the businesses of its customers and their clients.

As a leading wholesaler and distributor of commercial print, labelling, signage, and visual display solutions such as packaging, a key sustainability focus for Spicers Australia is to continually improve the supply chains for its operations.

“Our products are sourced with consideration of environmental factors. Measures to improve environmental impact, such as the use of certified forest fibres, alternative renewable energy sources, reducing chemical, energy and water usage and effluent, and manufacturing products that contain recycled content are discussed with key suppliers,” Spicers general manager of products and marketing Ken Booth said.

To spread the sustainability message to its customers and the end clients, Spicers Australia has released its Environs Volume 3 pack, which outlined some consumer insights about sustainable packaging, its 2023 Greenfleet impact summary, its sustainable targets and 2024 goals, and details of the sustainable choices it has on offer.

Environs Volume 3 focuses on its labels and packaging products, while Volume 1 and Volume 2 details Spicers Australia’s wide format products and commercial and digital products respectively.

“We promote sustainable business practices across the organisation, ensuring that we conduct ourselves responsibly and ethically, and are continually looking for opportunities to strengthen the sustainability of our supply chain. We make available the latest environmental and technical information on our products to customers, staff and stakeholders through training and education,” Booth said.

“The ongoing development of sustainable products and services assist our customers and their clients to achieve their sustainability goals as well as their print and production requirements. By thinking and acting sustainably, we strive to deliver excellent customer service and position the company and industry for a strong future.”

Spicers’ focus on the packaging space was amplified following its acquisition of Direct Paper in 2020. The purchase added new dimensions to Spicers’ offering, with packaging board supply being one of the key reasons it found Direct Paper to be a natural fit.

Since then, the acquisition has supported Spicers’ business position, especially in packaging, and with food services products.

Spicers has gone on to further solidify its packaging portfolio with several acquisitions, the most recent being Signet Packaging, a supplier of packaging, protective papers, marking, and other business supplies.

“We have a strategy out to 2030 and this helps us on that journey. If you look at our history over the last three years, we have added a number of strategic brands. Within packaging, there are several ways we can broaden the portfolio and that will mean more to the customers,” Spicers Group CEO David Martin said.

“There is a high proportion of the Spicers business that is fibre-based – and not just within our local portfolio, but globally. We are a strong supplier of fibre-based products whether it is paper, board or rolls.”

Spicers Australia’s products are sourced from manufacturers and suppliers that are committed to smart and greener practices. It takes a minimalist, less is more approach to packaging design and emphases the simplicity of a product and how it can reduce material usage.

Ninety per cent of Spicers Australia’s featured packaging range is biodegradable and 90 per cent of its featured packaging range is fully kerbside recyclable. In addition, 58 per cent of its featured label range is EcoVadis Platinum rated, sourced from supplier Manter by Fedrigoni Self-Adhesives. Eighty per cent of the company’s print range contains recycled content, while 95 per cent of its print range is FSC and PEFC certified.

Consumer insights

Within Environs Volume 3, Spicers Australia has identified consumer insights in response to sustainable packaging. It said these findings support elements to consider during the design process:

• 74 per cent of Australians think recycling on a regular basis is the most effective thing they can do for the environment, with product packaging being the most common source of recycling information.
• 63 per cent of consumers say they try to buy products packaged with renewable materials.
• In Australia, 72 per cent of paper packaging is recycled. Paper, along with aluminium, is the most recycled material.
• 79 per cent of consumers are looking for products in sustainable packaging, with 82 per cent willing to pay more for sustainable packaging (including low-income earners).
• While higher prices affected consumer spending to some degree, 70 per cent of consumers chose not to swap sustainably packaged products for alternatives. As sustainable habits have become a normal part of many consumers’ lives and dictate their product choices, they continue to favour these types of goods and services, even during economic struggles.
• 86 per cent of consumers say they check product information before buying to make informed and sustainable choices. The FSC label is the most recognised, rigorous and trusted mark of sustainable forestry. Consumers know they are taking positive action when they choose FSC-certified products.

“By identifying the environmental impacts of a product, businesses can consider ways to reduce these impacts without compromising the product’s quality,” Booth said.

“Sustainable product design considers the environmental impacts of the entire product lifecycle – from conception to disposal. It’s focussed on ensuring that natural resources are only used at the same rate as they can be replenished.

“Sustainable product design means better environmental outcomes and can also reduce operating costs by lowering energy consumption.”

Greenfleet

Another step that Spicers Australia has taken to contribute to a more sustainable future is its partnership with Greenfleet.

All Spicers warehouses, offices, and deliveries are now fully carbon-neutral, thanks to the company’s commitment to sustainability and its partnership with the leading not-for-profit environmental organisation. Since 2022, Spicers has worked closely with Greenfleet to offset the total carbon footprint of its operations, ensuring that every aspect, from footprint to delivery, contributes to a more sustainable future.

It does this by planting native biodiverse forests to capture carbon emissions and help fight the impacts of climate change.

Greenfleet’s remarkable efforts include the revegetation of land in Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and New Zealand. The forests it plants will be protected beyond this century and are projected to remove nearly 513,887 tonnes of carbon as they grow. This initiative not only offsets Spicers’ emissions but also contributes to the long-term health and sustainability of the environment.

Greenfleet has restored 493 hectares of koala habitat in 2023, planted more than 550 native Australian forests and planted 10.8 million native trees. Spicers Australia’s staff also participate in the Greenfleet tree planting days and in total, the company has contributed towards projects that have helped to remove more than 356,700 tonnes of CO2 emissions from the atmosphere – this is equivalent to removing more than 82,000 average cars from Australia’s roads for a whole year.

Spicers’ 2023 Greenfleet impact saw 1,962 tonnes of carbon offset, adding to its current lifetime impact of 4,042 tonnes of carbon offset since it partnered with Greenfleet in 2022.

“By partnering with Greenfleet, we are confident that our climate action provides genuine and lasting environmental benefits,” Martin said.

“We are proud of the impact we have made and that we will continue to make into the future. By offsetting our emissions with Greenfleet, we are taking practical action against climate change to help restore Australia’s forests, recreate crucial habitat for native wildlife and transform degraded land back to its natural state.

Spicers is prioritising sustainability and actively pursuing initiatives to reduce its environmental footprint to a more sustainable size.

Eco-friendly products

Spicers Australia provides a wide range of products with strong sustainability and environmental credentials, particularly recycled paper products and alternative fibre products such as cotton, hemp or bamboo.

One of the most recent products from Spicers Australia within its packaging category is Allyking Cream – a coated carton board which has exceptional bulk, strength and printability. It ensures high performance in finishing and on packaging lines.

Made from PEFC-certified virgin fibres, Allyking Cream is ISEGA certified, OBA free and hard sized to resist water. Economically priced and ideal for a wide range of packaging applications, it is recyclable, compostable and biodegradable. It is also FDA approved for direct food contact.

Some applications that Allyking Cream is suitable for include: confectionery and bakery boxes, fragrance packaging, cosmetics packaging, pharmaceutical packaging, posters, swing tags, point-of-sale products and multimedia products.

Another of Spicers Australia’s go-to products is Carta Solida, a versatile packaging board that offers durability and sustainability. It is a fully coated bleached carton board with a smooth finish on the top side and a clean, white surface on the reverse.

Offering outstanding brightness, smoothness and stiffness, Carta Solida is PEFC certified, fully recyclable and home compostable. It is ideal for cosmetics, skincare, and fragrance packaging, delivering on high-end packaging, and is available in digital sheets.

A popular product within its packaging category is Zenith – a two-sided bleach board with a premium coated print surface and light-coated reverse side.

Zenith is ultra smooth, bright white and designed for any high-quality printing and packaging requirements. Economical and without compromising on quality, Zenith is crafted using PEFC certified virgin fibres to hit sustainability targets and is FDA approved. In addition, it is food safe, fully kerbside recyclable, biodegradable and compostable.

Zenith is suitable for a range of applications including graphical print for postcards, business cards, folders, book covers, point-of-sale, swing tags and posters, packaging for fragrance products, cosmetics, toiletries, confectionery and dry goods, and is suitable for all conventional printing methods.

Other key products within Spicers Australia’s packaging range include (but not limited to) Eclipse Greyback, Customkote, Kraftpak and RC Kraft.

Within its labels category, Manter Tintoretto Gesso Recycled H+O Ultra has become one of the most popular products.

A 100 per cent pure ECF pulp recycled paper, it is felt-marked on both sides. It has a high opacity (H+O) treatment and is FSC certified.

Displaying a natural and elegant texture, this stock is specially designed for high-end bottled products including wine and spirits, cosmetics and health care. It is suitable for flexo, UV, screen, foil and offset printing. However, it is not suitable for very small radius applications.

Specially developed for neck labelling and the perfect match to Manter Tintoretto Gesso Recycled is Manter Tintoretto Gesso Neck Label H+O WS. This pure ECF pulp paper includes wet strength treatment and ensures a high opacity in wet conditions. It also is highly durable and is suited to small radius applications.

In addition, it has excellent water resistance with good stability even after immersion in ice and water.

Some other key products within Spicers Australia’s labels range are: Manter Cotone Bianco Ultra, and Verdure Harvest Ultra.