Starlinger releases first 2022 sustainability report to promote corporate social responsibility

14 Mar 2023 --- Starlinger has presented its first sustainability report for 2022, in which it details plans to reduce its environmental footprint through a number of measures across the company’s supply chain.

The report provides information about the corporate social responsibility (CSR) policy that Starlinger has included in its corporate strategy and its implemented measures. 

“Starlinger’s first sustainability sets out the CSR policy that we have defined for our company concerning environment and society and provides an overview of measures which have already been taken in various areas such as resource and energy management, procurement, training and professional development or health and safety,” says Clarissa Graf, responsible for CSR at Starlinger.

The measures recorded in the Sustainability Report 2022 and implemented in the company’s system include the use of renewable energies, a waste management system, environmentally sustainable procurement from local and regional suppliers or the reduction of business trips through the increased use of video conferences and virtual reality glasses for remote support in solving technical problems.

Goals for the future
Starlinger’s subsidiaries include Starlinger textile packaging, Starlinger recycling technology and Starlinger viscotec. The company has an export rate of 99% and generated sales of £356 million (US$432.5 million) in the 2021/22 financial year. 

The company plans to promote increased environmental awareness among its employees and provide learning opportunities to increase competency. 

Starlinger aims to optimize its circularity by using PP and rPP pellets. Through its machine manufacturing, Starlinger  intends  to pursue energy, water and waste efficiencies through a comprehensive resource management framework with a monitoring system. A way to do so will be implementing regular checks of water maintenance to detect leaks early. 

Furthermore, the company says it will lay the groundwork to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and pollution in all parts of its operations. It is set to install photovoltaic and heating systems powered by wood chips and LED lighting in production halls. 

To strengthen circular economy principles and promote the recyclability of post-consumer and post-industrial waste materials, Stralinger will use PP and rPP pellets to reduce virgin plastic use and make necessary upgrades to increase the lifespan of machinery. 

“Within a given cycle, all chain segments must work in harmony and cooperatively to make a fully closed loop system,” writes the company. 

Key performance indicators will be created to keep track of the company’s progress which will be included in future reports. 

Efforts throughout the ages
Since March 2022, Starlinger has been one of the signatory companies of the UN Global Compact, a global pact between the UN and over 16,000 business members working toward an environmentally and socially sustainable future.

Starlinger says environmental and social sustainability has been “a topic for decades” within the company.

The first Starlinger recycling lines were built in 1987 to make full use of the production waste in woven bag manufacture. Today, machines for the recycling and refining of a wide range of plastics are managed under separate business units.

Edited by Sabine Waldeck