No Plastic Project

27-06-2023

EMA’S plastic reduction targets:

In April 2018 EMA’S started a project to reduce imported plastic packings, focused on our import of ginger.

We started by converting the Chinese ginger containers to shipping ginger on racks instead of in the traditional plastic boxes. We quickly found out that the Co2 emissions were too high considering that we had to ship the empty racks back to China. We changed the racks into shipping ginger in big open cardboard crates and repacked them into recycle boxes in Holland to meet our goal of not importing ginger in plastic boxes. The empty cardboard crates are sent for recycling in Holland after they are emptied.

Similar to the project from China, we have insisted on receiving our ginger from Peru also in big cardboard crates, rather than the traditional plastic net boxes used in Peru. The plastic saving from this added project is also counted in our savings overview below.

Check the excel sheet for results and future goals:

Following up on last year’s plastic packing saving goal on our ginger arrivals from China and Peru:

We had targets of saving 50.000 kg plastic and managed to reach 68103 kg in 2020 which was a success for us.
Our target in 2020/2021 on the plastic saving was set to save 50.000 kg. Due to corona lockdowns, consumers had time to stay home an focus on their health which meant that the demand and sales of ginger increased a lot. This continued into 2021 which also resulted in bigger ginger sales and therefore more plastic saving.
Target for 2022 was reduced to 30000kg which was due to the expected less demand for ginger from customers combined with high prices for produce, shipping costs etc. EMA’S achieved the goal.
Target for 2023 has been reduced to 25000kg based on the ginger imports. Global demand for ginger in retail stores has dropped due to high prices and a change in customer trends. We will see if this changes end of 2023.

To save packing materials we have more clients who have adjusted and are now working with recycle crates and pallets. This means that we can offer all items packed in IFCO, SRS and EPS boxes and likewise using Euro, SRS, DPS, and IFCO pallets.

We are currently working on further ideas to reduce plastic packings on our imports. Our Brazilian papaya are since July 2021 wrapped in paper instead of foam nets and without stickers on the fruits.

We are promoting sales of exotics in loose boxes rather than consumer units to minimize the use of packing materials and promoting the consumers option to choose themselves how much they want to buy / need and in that way avoid food waste.

We always welcome other ideas or wishes to reduce plastic packing on our products so do not hesitate to contact us so we can take this in consideration.

Your EMA’S Team in Holland and Denmark.

Strandvejen 19
DK-8400 Ebeltoft

And

ABC Westland 210
2685dc Poeldijk