Charoen Pokphand Foods Public Company Limited (CP Foods) is to achieve its sustainable packaging targets and announced that the company has adopted new eco-friendly materials including bioplastics in an effort to bolster the circular economy.

CP Foods’ all food packaging are to be reusable, recyclable, reusable, and compostable by 2025 in Thailand and by 2030 for overseas operations.

CP Foods’ Assistant Vice-President Kitti Wangwiwatsilp says the company has placed importance on food packaging development and management throughout the value chain in accordance with the Sustainable Packaging Policy and the circular economy principle. He added that these sustainability targets bolster Thailand’s BCG (Bio-Circular-Green Economy) model. 

Mr. Kitti explained that the company has initiated the “FEE concept” as a core guideline of the design and development of its food packaging. FEE concept consists of F-Functional, the design food packaging concerns on its main function that helps extend the life of food to reduce the problem of food waste. Secondly, E- Ethics, emphasizes the safety of food and consumers by using “Food Grade” materials that can prevent food contamination. The last E is Emotion, packaging designs that are attractive and make products stand out on the shelves.

“Right now, 99.9% of the company’s plastic packaging for food products in Thailand can be reusable or recyclable or compostable. The company is trying to find a sustainable way to reach the goal of using plastic packaging that is 100% environmentally friendly by 2025 for Thai businesses and by 2030 for overseas businesses," said Mr. Kitti. 

To achieve such a goal, CP Foods promotes the use of renewable materials and increases the proportion of recycled materials in food packaging without compromising on quality and food safety. In addition, combustible packaging waste is being used as a means of generating energy (energy recovery).

Also, CP Foods has collaborated with partners to develop packaging by using mono plastic material of the multi-layer plastic film so that this packaging is 100% recyclable. This innovation will help the recycling process easier and lead to the reduction of the amount of waste to landfill as much as possible. 

Aside from eco-friendly plastic, CP Foods adopts alternative packaging materials that are environmentally friendly. All Cage-Free eggs are packed in trays made from 100% recycled paper. The company has increased the proportion of recycled plastic for PET plastic egg trays to 80%. The recycled plastic was contained in the inner layer of the PET plastic egg tray that do not be in direct contact with eggs. 

At the retail end, the company discontinued single-use plastic and try more environmentally friendly solutions. Star Coffee, one of CP Foods' business units, has developed biodegradable coffee cups, caps, and straws by using polylactic acid (PLA). 

The drinking glass lids are specially designed so that the glasses can be lifted up for drinking instead of using plastic straws.

It is important to noted that CP Foods is the first food company in Thailand that use package from the plant-based PLA material for chilled pork and chicken sold in selected supermarkets in Thailand since 2015.