18 Jul More sustainable labels

As suppliers of labels and packaging to the market, Rieusset has a social and environmental responsibility; people are not unfamiliar with the reality that exists behind each product they buy.

The future of labels and packaging involves sustainability, a term that is widely used in the market and which shares the stage with other terms such as ecologic, renewable, organic, efficient, green, etc.  Sustainability, in terms of objectives, means satisfying the needs of the current generations, but without affecting the capacity of future ones, and in operational terms, promoting economic and social progress, respecting the natural ecosystems and the quality of the environment.

The base of this concept is not solely the environment; the economy and society are equally important in this equation. It is thus necessary to find a balance.

Placing sustainable labels or packaging on the market involves the optimization of the design, the choice of raw materials and production:

Sustainability in the design

Already from the conception of the label or packaging, the necessary awareness must be present in order to carry it out in such a way that there is minimal impact on the environment, that the customer assumes his responsibility in the final management and that it makes sense economically. In this sense, in Rieusset we work together with the customer in developments aimed at reducing thickness/weight of the material used, as well as in concrete developments, for example in linerless self-adhesive labels that have clear sustainable advantages.

Sustainability in the choice of raw materials

Keeping in mind that one of the main raw materials used in Rieusset is paper and in order to help in managing forest resources responsibly and sustainably on a world-wide level, we are proud to mention our FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certificate.

FSC paper is paper that comes from forests managed by an international organization that promotes an environmentally responsible model of forest management. This means that the same number of trees are planted as are cut down, thus contributing in the fight against forest degradation, deforestation and poverty.

Products that bear this certificate guarantee consumers that they are dealing with products coming from sustainably managed forests.

Sustainability in production

The production process has many aspects that suppose an increase in the economic and environmental impact of the final product.

Together with quality, innovation and technology, in Rieusset we work with other parameters whose aim is to assure the sustainable development of our company and minimize the environmental impact of the products that leave our premises. On the productive level we are introducing standards to use natural resources such as water, electricity or gas responsibly, as well as to manage the waste we generate on a day-to-day basis, with a commitment to the minimization and selective collection thereof.

As for atmospheric emissions, we have a solvent recovery plant that in addition to allowing us to reuse residual solvents avoids releasing volatile organic compounds into the air.

We are implementing the ISO 14001 environmental management standard as proof that our company complies with all the established standards and with the current legislation, showing that better results can be achieved by embracing environmental and entrepreneurial efficiency.

Sustainability is a reality and it does not mean getting one more certification, but rather that we are dealing with a gradual change in our way of producing and consuming that will allow us to ensure the continuity of the system.