Column: Circular Economy Solutions and Eco-Friendly Renewable Materials Drive Packaging Development at Valio

Have you ever sighed in front of the trash bin, trying to solve the everyday puzzle of which waste goes into which container? Don’t worry—you’re not alone. Even professionals sometimes get lost in the recycling jungle. But why is it worth recycling packaging, and how are we at Valio involved?

Plastic Is Needed—But as Little as Possible

Let’s start from the basics: the primary purpose of packaging is to protect food, because the biggest waste occurs when food spoils and is thrown away. Plastic is still the best material for safe food packaging and preventing food waste. That’s why we aim to use it more wisely and efficiently at Valio. We’ve thinned cheese packages and cups, removed disposable plastic spoons and lids, and started using recycled plastic in our packaging.

For long-shelf-life products, plastic cannot yet be completely eliminated, but even small actions have a big impact when the scale is large. We’re working on this literally with the full strength of Valio. This summer, our staff tested and gave feedback on even thinner cheese slice packaging. Does it still do its job as a protector and preserver? Could we make such a change?

Cardboard Is the Next King

For some products, replacing plastic with cardboard is already possible. We first switched to recyclable cardboard cups in our Luonnonjogurtti+ products and will expand their use to other product groups this autumn. A cardboard cup looks and feels almost the same as a plastic one, so when you’re at the trash bin, check the side of the cup twice before tossing it into the plastic waste.

The gable-top cartons we use are made entirely from renewable materials—including the caps—and have been since 2018. The carton must be lined with a thin plastic film to hold liquid, but this film is bioethanol-based, plant-derived—just like the cap. Small actions have a big impact when the scale is large: this saves Valio several thousand tons of CO₂ emissions compared to fossil-based plastic.

Is Home Recycling Just a Hobby?

People sometimes wonder if it really matters whether they recycle packaging at home. The answer is a resounding yes!

For packaging material—as with any material—availability matters. And where would the industry get recycled material if recycling wasn’t done? Finland’s recycling system works efficiently, and one person’s trash truly is another’s treasure.

Valio’s packaging development is moving forward quickly. We’re looking toward new opportunities to participate in the circular economy and reduce the use of virgin and fossil-based natural resources by every possible means.

Written by Juhana Pilkama, Head of Packaging Development at Valio.