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ENVIRONMENT
Since 1959 Evertis strives to protect the environment through operational excellences that value nature. This commitment remains on our Code of Business Ethics that is disseminated to all employees, in which Evertis defines comprehensive principles to act on behalf of minimizing our environmental footprint across our value chain.
Evertis efforts go a step further than just understanding the environmental impact of our products and our operations as producers of PET films. Under our environmental policy, Evertis defines its engagement on increasing the value of goods and services using less resources and minimizing environmental impacts, while contributing to regulatory compliance to deliver business value by giving priority to projects, guidelines and initiatives that are resilient to ecosystems.
This environmental management system is based on a strategy of eco-efficiency that demonstrate our efforts on steering towards a clean future.
Solar energy has the least negative impact on the environment, and it’s the energy source we are investing in to meet the objectives set out in the United Nations 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement to decarbonise energy.In November 2021 we started to build our first solar park at our industrial site in Portugal, with the objective of rolling-out this strategy to our other production sites.
Our first solar park has an electrical power of 3.35 MWh and will be able to produce 5.65 GWh per year; reducing our CO2 emissions by 2,657 tonnes CO2 per year. This is equivalent to charging over 328 million smartphones. We will continue the project with a second phase to be developed over the next two years. We also hope to implement solar parks at the rest of our industrial sites.
Our solar park is a clear example of our commitment in achieving our goal of relying only on self-generated renewable energy sources in the long term. In 2021, the share of renewable sources in the national energy mix came down from 60% to 36%,due to climate change related conditions, such as less rain, and lower wind power, amongst others. This indicates that our plans to reach carbon neutrality through self-generated renewable energy sources, are in the right direction, whilst making us more sustainable and self-sufficient.
Evertis PET films are designed to be recyclable and environmentally friendly. Recycling is an essential part of a circular economy, ensuring that resources are valued not wasted, or ending up in our natural environment.
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Evertis PET films are designed to be recyclable and environmentally friendly. Recycling is a critical part of a circular economy, ensuring that resources are valued not wasted, or ending up in our natural environment.
PET can be continuously recovered and recycled into new PET packaging, carpet, clothing, industrial strapping, rope, fiberfill for winter jackets and sleeping bags, automotive parts, and even construction materials.More than 1 billion pounds of used PET bottles and containers are collected in the U.S. each year for recycling. PET is the most recycled plastic in America.
Life cycle studies of PET have consistently confirmed the environmental benefits of PET as a packaging material:According to the EPA, recycling one pound of PET bottles (that’s about 12 one-liter soda bottles) would save approximately 12,000 BTUs of energy.According to PETRA, PET bottles generated lower levels of greenhouse gas emissions, required less energy and resulted in less post-consumer solid waste.
A 2010 life-cycle study on recycled PET found that producing one ton of recycled PET in place of virgin PET saved an additional 48 million BTUs of energy and reduced greenhouse gas emissions by another 3,000 pounds.
Despite the thought that PET plastics are the most common form of litter, according to Napcor, discarded cigarette butts are actually the world’s leading form of litter.
Evertis’ eco-efficiency strategy stands on top of our mind on our decisions and innovative projects. We aim to design PET films that minimize environmental impact by using the minimum amount of resources possible.
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According to PETRA, life cycle studies of PET have consistently confirmed the environmental benefits of PET as a packaging material.
PET has a low carbon footprint. But if just 200,000 people each recycled one more PET bottle plastic per day, we would eliminate 1,150 tons of greenhouse gases.
PET is extremely lightweight, easy and efficient to transport, as well as shatterproof, which means major energy efficiency, allowing for more products to be delivered in less packaging and using less fuel for transport.
Food packaging plays a critical role in environmental protection: the reduction of food waste. According to materials published by the World Wildlife Fund, one-third of the world’s food - 1.3 billion tons - is lost or wasted at a cost of $750 billion annually.
PET has inherent barrier properties that naturally protect food. Additional barriers are included in Evertis film's formulations to further extend product shelf life and guarantee preservation and freshness, directly contributing to the reduction of the environmental footprint and fight climate change – our main goal. This is paramount since the carbon impact of the product generally far outweighs that of the packaging.
Evertis teams work closely with our customers to optimize barrier properties fit to each food product and meet specific shelf life requirements.
Demonstrating our real commitment on fighting food waste, Evertis has prioritized Sustainable Development Goal 2 End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture.
Preventing food loss and waste is one of the most effective ways to fight climate change due to the resources allocated for its production (Source WWF report):
1.4 billion hectares of land, which is equivalent to 28% of the world’s agricultural area or 200 Irelands.
If we compare food waste to the size of a country, it would come third on the ranking of the largest contributors to global greenhouse gas emissions, with 3,3 billion tons of CO2 per year, after America and China. This is approximately 10% of global carbon emissions.
At Evertis, as we look into the future, we see ourselves not only contributing to the Sustainability Goals but also adopting a Regenerative mindset and applying regenerative principles. By this we mean acknowledging our place in greater systems, beyond the market, and taking action in the restoration of ecosystems. We want to move from a model based on competition, scarcity and negative externalities, to a new approach that is based on collaboration, the use of abundant and renewable resources, and the generation of positive externalities.
Listen to the podcast where Evertis' Sustainability Program Coordinator discusses our regenerative approach and talks about taking inspiration from nature when it comes to developing new packaging solutions:
At Evertis we want to help shape a better and more sustainable world. We play our part in rebuilding habitats and avoiding degradation, as well as balance environmental threats to protect the health of species, as we believe their health is directly connected to ours. Take a deeper look at how we are making a difference:
At Evertis we believe in nature-based solutions to solve climate change and that’s why we have reforestation programs in several areas. These programs are denominated offsetting as the planting of trees occur in different locations from where our company’s greenhouse gas emissions originate; offsetting the company’s greenhouse emissions elsewhere.
Trees have several environmental benefits. They combat climate change, clean the air, prevent water pollution, soil erosion, and provide a canopy and a habitat for wildlife. However, trees go beyond their environmental positive impact:
Trees heal: studies have shown that patients with views of trees outside of their windows heal faster and with less complications. Additionally, exposure to trees and nature aids concentration by reducing mental fatigue.
Trees bring groups of people together as tree planting provide an opportunity for community involvement and empowerment that improves the quality of life in our neighborhoods.
Evertis is committed to:
Forest restoration in areas affected by natural disasters
Plantation of new trees to tackle climate crisis by drawing carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere
Maintenance and enhancement of natural ecosystems
At Evertis we believe in nature-based solutions to solve climate change. In a win-win initiative, we planted 4,000 trees in Portugal, bringing benefits to farmers and the local community. Farms become more efficient, more climate friendly, as trees absorb CO2, release oxygen and return carbon to the soil, as well as store water.
Evertis planted 1,000 trees in Costa Alegre, an area highly affected by hurricanes, having suffered 3 in the last 10 years. This initiative is in place in an effort to replace trees downed by the hurricanes, one of them being the strongest storm ever recorded, reaching a wind speed of 345 km/h.
