Sofrigam defines three-pillar green approach

Rueil Malmaison, France: – Temperature-controlled logistics and pharmaceutical cold chain packaging specialist Sofrigam S.A. has been laying out an environmental approach for years to limit the impact of the production and the transport of its packaging on the environment. This environmentally-friendly policy is based on three central tenet commitments:

• To reduce its environmental footprint
• To adopt environmentally-friendly manufacturing processes
• To preserve biodiversity

Reducing environmental footprint

Sofrigam has already made progress towards minimizing its environmental footprint (impact on ecosystems and resources) by increasing its recycling of waste and re-use of materials to an estimated 45 tonnes in the latest calendar year. In 2019, it reduced the amount of waste generated by around 25 per cent. Kit has also increased its use of renewable energy, with some 10 per cent of its annual electricity use sourced from the wind turbine at its Ruel Malmaison production site in France.

Greener manufacturing

For the past few years, Sofrigam has adopted increasingly environmentally sensitive product designs and manufacturing processes.

It now seeks to measure and evaluate all its solutions for their ecological footprint and environmental impacts as well as embracing ‘eco-design’ principles that seek to reduce material consumption and limit waste wherever possible.

Sofrigam also scrupulously selects the best insulated and cold chain materials available in the market in order to reduce the quantity of material used, thus reducing the weight of the packaging and increasing the useful volume available for the products transported.

Product designs also stress possibilities to make components and materials reusable and recyclable wherever possible.

Examples of this approach include the multi-use Pallet Shipper range and increased emphasis on using transport and logistics space in the most efficient way.

Preserving biodiversity

Sofrigam also takes its responsibilities to help preserve biodiversity seriously. In 2017, it installed beehives around its production sites and this year plans to plant fruit trees on its estates as well, to encourage further pollination.

“Aware of the importance of biodiversity within our ecosystem, we are committed to preserving it and raising awareness among all our employees,” Sofrigam told social media followers in a post.

Environmental studies

Several years ago, Sofrigam commissioned consultants Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC) to produce a carbon balance for its production sites to identify the main units emitting greenhouse effect gases.

It also called upon independent partnership Enviro Conseil to undertake an environmental study on the impacts of its packaging manufacturing processes.

“This study has established that our manufacturing processes make very little impact on the environment, since it does not use water and does not discharge any gas into the atmosphere,” said Sofrigam.

About Sofrigam

With more than 40 years of experience, Sofrigam provide a comprehensive portfolio of innovative packaging and related solutions that allow pharmaceutical and other clients to optimize their temperature-controlled logistic supply chains.

From its French roots, Sofrigam has become a global company, operating in the USA, Canada, UK and across Europe, with manufacturing centers in North America and Europe.

Sofrigam is now an international group whose four entities meet the cold chain management needs of the entire pharmaceutical supply chain, from drug production to last-mile logistics.

Sofrigam designs and develops cold chain management solutions (containers, packaging, bags and pouches) for pharmaceutical, biotechnology and chemical manufacturers. Initially a specialist in passive packaging, Sofrigam is now moving towards innovative active technologies with its Coldway Technologies unit. The synergy between the technicality of Sofrigam packaging and the Coldway Inside technology, an autonomous thermal energy production system, represents a major innovation in cold production and storage.

For those involved in ‘last mile’ logistics and urban deliveries in the health and agri-food sectors, Coldway Technologies solution provides a disruptive refrigeration system: self-contained, eco-friendly and adaptable to any type of container or vehicle.

All the solutions proposed by the Sofrigam Group entities are tested, pre-qualified and validated by the Ater Metrology thermal testing laboratory in order to guarantee their quality and performance.

Further information at: www.sofrigam.com

Resources

Click on Sofrigam environmental approach for further details.