Packaging
Responsible packaging. Improving together.
Packaging and sustainability at Wollenhaupt
At Wollenhaupt, we believe that anyone who offers luxury products bears responsibility - for quality, for people and for the environment. That's why we develop packaging solutions that make a difference: safe, well thought-out and as environmentally friendly as possible. We actively shape change in close dialog with our customers and partners. At trade fairs, in projects and through continuous further development, we create packaging solutions that not only impress today - but will continue to do so tomorrow.
Sustainability starts with the packaging - and with the attitude behind it.
General market data and sustainability trends
According to Statista, 46 to 64% of consumers worldwide value environmentally friendly packaging - in India the figure is as high as 64% and in Germany around 49%. Companies that rely on sustainable packaging solutions are not only in tune with the times, but are also strengthening their market position.(de.statista.com).
The tea industry is also in the spotlight: in 2023, tea consumption in Germany averaged 68.2 liters per capita, including 40.5 liters of herbal and fruit tea and 27.7 liters of black and green tea. According to the German Tea & Herbal Tea Association, the industry is increasingly focusing on topics such as sustainability, ecological transformation and social responsibility along the supply chain(Tea Report 2024).
The political direction is also clear: the EU plans to reduce packaging waste by at least 15% by 2040 compared to 2018. From 2030, all packaging must be recyclable - including in the tea sector. In future, there could even be mandatory compostability requirements for tea packaging and tea bags(EU Parliament, 2023).
©Anna/Adobe Stock
Resource conservation and recycling
Sustainable packaging starts with the choice of materials - for example, by using recycled plastics or wood-based alternatives. Returning packaging to the recycling loop is just as important.
However, standardized disposal recommendations are difficult to implement as they depend on local disposal structures. Compostable films pose a particular challenge here: Even EN 13432-certified materials are not correctly recognized in some facilities and removed from biowaste before it is composted.
Despite these hurdles, we consider the use of such materials to be an important step. Their production saves resources and their use provides impetus for further innovations in the packaging industry.
©Maksim Pasko/Adobe Stock
Product protection combined with sustainability
Protecting the product is our top priority. Because quality, food safety and taste are Wollenhaupt's top priorities. At the same time, we rely on environmentally friendly packaging that meets these requirements. That's why we only offer materials that are ideal for tea products and meet our high quality standards.
4 steps to more sustainability in packaging
Sustainability doesn't just start with the material - it is reflected in the way we handle packaging as a whole. Compostable materials are one option, but by no means the only one. Existing packaging materials can be made significantly more sustainable through targeted measures.
Reduce
Reuse
Replace
Replacing multi-layer composite materials with more sustainable alternatives such as mono films or films made from renewable raw materials makes an important contribution. We continuously monitor market innovations and rigorously test new materials for their suitability for tea - so that quality and sustainability go hand in hand.
Awards and logos
When claiming sustainability aspects for packaging, we recommend referring to the relevant guidelines and standards. This is the only way to communicate the benefits of your packaging to consumers transparently and reliably. If you would like to know more and have special requirements, please contact us.
FSC logo
The FSC® logo guarantees that the paper raw material wood comes from responsibly managed forests. Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) is an international non-governmental organization that promotes environmentally sound, socially responsible and economically viable management of the world's forests.
You can find more information at www.fsc-deutschland.de.
Wherever possible, we use FSC-certified products for our paper requirements.
DIN EN 13432
The standard DIN EN 13432:2000-12 includes requirements for the recycling of packaging by composting and biodegradation as well as the test scheme and evaluation criteria for the classification of packaging. The requirements for industrial composting according to DIN EN 13432 are fulfilled if 90% of the material is degraded within 12 weeks according to defined environmental parameters.
If a packaging material (composite) including printing inks, adhesives, etc. demonstrably meets the requirements of EN 13432, the Keimling logo may be printed and the claim of industrial compostability is permitted.
Keimling logo
The Keimling logo shows that a packaging material is biodegradable in an industrial composting plant in accordance with the requirements of EN 13432. Due to their plastic-like appearance, some industrially compostable films are not immediately distinguishable from conventional films.
The Keimling logo helps end consumers to identify industrially compostable materials.
Our packaging at a glance
Our packaging range includes compostable bags and packaging made from sustainable raw materials. When making our selection, we focused on the origin of the materials as well as environmentally friendly disposal.
Glassine bag
Paper bags made from agricultural waste
The bags made of two-ply material are made from renewable raw materials. The raw material used is paper with cellulose from 100% agricultural waste. The bag therefore offers aroma protection and is compostable in accordance with EN 13432.
What is agricultural waste?
100% cellulose from agricultural waste from the food industry is used for the paper of the bag. The use of this waste results in a low environmental impact compared to FSC-certified wood fibers. The inner film is made of PLA (colloquially known as polylactic acid), which is biodegradable due to its molecular structure.
Pyramid bag
Pyramid bags:
We offer pyramid bags made from renewable raw materials. The filter material is made from sustainable PLA (commonly known as polylactic acid) and is biodegradable due to its molecular structure.
Aroma preservation outer bags for pyramid bags:
We offer aroma protection outer bags in various designs. The paper pouches are recyclable and can be disposed of with the paper waste. The cellulose-based film pouches are made from over 90% renewable raw materials and are biodegradable.
Transparent cellulose bag
Soda paper bag with PLA film
Soda paper bag with cellulose film
Thinking more sustainably together
Let's rethink packaging together - responsibly, sustainably and close to the product.
Discover our sustainable packaging solutions - directly in the webshop.➡️Order now in the webshop
A selection of our sustainable packaging at a glance
Together, with small steps, we achieve great things.
