Smurfit Kappa has joined forces with the Plastic Soup Foundation to stress the growing need for sustainable packaging.

The Plastic Soup Foundation is a Dutch organisation which campaigns for an end to the pollution of the world’s oceans. The term ‘plastic soup’, which first became popular in the late 1990s, refers to the pollution of the oceans by plastic including large pieces and tiny micro-plastic and nano-plastic particles, both floating and sunken.

A strong synergy exists between the Plastic Soup Foundation’s mission to stop the plastic soup at the source and Smurfit Kappa’s Better Planet Packaging initiative which aims to address the challenge of packaging waste and litter that ends up in oceans and landfill.

The packaging leader recently hosted an event organised by the Plastic Soup Foundation with the theme: ‘Changing the future of packaging.’ The day, which attracted a wide cross-section of guests from retailers, producers and banks, explored a range of topics related to sustainable packaging.

Speaking about the partnership, Harmen Spek, Innovations & Solutions Manager of The Plastic Soup Foundation, said: “We have long been familiar with Smurfit Kappa’s sustainability credentials but were even more interested in working with them when we read about how much they are doing to create paper-based alternatives for plastic.”

Saverio Mayer, CEO of Smurfit Kappa Europe, added: “An integral part of our Better Planet Packaging initiative is to collaborate with new partners like the Plastic Soup Foundation to inspire innovative new ideas and encourage change.

“The challenge of ocean pollution is something that can only be solved with open dialogue between multiple stakeholders. We were happy to facilitate last week’s event in our Global Experience Centre to drive awareness and sow the seeds for change.”

Image: Saverio Mayer, CEO, Smurfit Kappa Europe