Environment

A&R Carton has outlined its sustainable development in a report issued this week.

The Swedish carton manufacturer said the demand for sustainable packaging was growing, spurred on by greater environmental awareness among customers and consumers.

It added that profitable growth was a prerequisite for sustainable development and reported sales of €352m (£279m) in 2007 and organic growth of 11%, driven by emerging markets such as Russia. The firm has a long-term aim to grow sales to €500m by the end of 2012.

A&R Carton chief executive Per Lundeen said the firm had "high ambitions" when it came to doing business sustainably and responsibly.

He said the firm promoted sustainability across all aspects of its business from material used, to energy and water use, emissions and waste and recycling.

A&R currently uses 32% recycled fibre in its production, which is lower than the board industry's average, but the firm said the main reason for this was that it produced cartons for the food industry, which preferred materials made from virgin fibres to eliminate the risk of contaminants.

One of the company's sustainable innovations included a two-piece open basket carrier for beer bottles, which Heineken found led to a material reduction of more than 20%.

The firm hopes the report, which will be followed by regular updates, will work as an incentive, both within the company and across the supply chain, to drive sustainable developments and further improvements.