Dairy Gropper obtains independent certification for rPET
Dairy Gropper has had the use of rPET recyclate in its PET bottle range certified by the independent seal “Flustix Recycled – DIN tested”. With the successful certification of rPET usage in bottles through this seal, the actor in the beverage and dairy industry intends to provide its customers with transparency for product labelling of their packaging in terms of responsible resource management. The customer base of the traditional dairy includes international retail conglomerates as well as the largest German retailers, including Lidl or Aldi. With the certification, the company, headquartered in Bissingen, Germany, ensures that a variety of packaging is produced as sustainably as possible and can be communicated to consumers at the point of sale as a more sustainable alternative to comparable products. “Our goal is the cycle. Plastic is ideal for preserving the safety and high quality of our food and is therefore an important resource. That’s why we have been working with recycled PET for years – out of conviction,” says Heinrich Gropper.
A particular advantage for retailers sourcing products from Gropper: If they wish to continue highlighting the use of recyclates in their own brands and communicate this to consumers, this can be done with a simple fast-track procedure. “Buyers can sub-certify their own brands produced at Gropper and now pre-certified. This offers, for example, the LEH the opportunity to use the recognised seal and thus communicate their sustainability commitment to consumers, also within the framework of the upcoming EU Green Claims Directive, with a certified seal,” says Malte Biss, founder of the Flustix initiative. “In a time when consumers are increasingly skeptical of self-declarations, the independent certification implemented by us simplifies the offering of credible and recognised sustainability claims for our customers’ own brands,” explains Wolfgang Hoff, managing director of Gropper. “With this step, we are preparing: even before the EU Green Claims Directive comes into effect, we offer a fast and easy-to-implement sub-licensing system with Flustix. This minimises the effort for our customers.” The Flustix Recycled certification covers the recyclate content of 50% & 100% rPET (PCR) in all transparent and light blue rPET bottles of Gropper products in 14 sizes ranging from 90 ml to 1,500 ml.
About Molkerei Gropper GmbH & Co. KG
The dairy Gropper was founded in 1929 in Berg near Donauwörth. Since 1973, the company has been headquartered in Bissingen. Today, the company is one of the leading German providers of private labels. The company’s customers now include all major European food retailers and discounters. In addition to the production of private labels, the company’s core business includes copacking for branded goods companies. The product range of the dairy specialist includes milk and milk drinks, yogurt, pudding, and other desserts, as well as coffee milk blends, chilled juices, smoothies, and organic mineral water.
About Flustix
The Flustix initiative offers certifications in the field of plastic sustainability to achieve responsible handling of the valuable material plastic. For this purpose, there are six different Flustix seals; in cooperation with accredited test laboratories and DIN CERTCO, a conformity assessment body (TÜV Rheinland), certify the cumulative product as well as the packaging or product, as well as product contents without microplastics. The Flustix Recycled – DIN tested seal certifies recyclates, semi-finished products, and products or packaging with a recyclate content. Flustix Recyclable – DIN plus confirms and communicates the recyclability of packaging. The seals serve as guidance for consumers for sustainable purchasing decisions and support companies in a sustainability-oriented corporate strategy.
Photo: Milk bottling at Gropper (Source: flustix x Gropper)
