Sidel enables customers to reduce their climate impact
Through a holistic approach to sustainability that includes packaging and equipment efficiency, Sidel has an essential role in helping customers to drive climate action.
Our double materiality assessment identified climate change as our most relevant environmental topic. Sidel has the target to reduce its scope 3 emissions, which originate from sources outside the company’s direct control, by 27.5 per cent by 2030 compared with 2019. This target has been validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).
Climate mitigation is an important part of Sidel’s ESG work but is just one element of its holistic perspective on sustainable development. Other environmental topics include circularity, waste and water, which also have important climate dimensions in customer operations.
“The climate impact of the packaging our customers use in their lines is up to ten times greater than the impact from the energy used by their equipment,” explained Francesca Bellucci, Director Sustainability. “We help customers mitigate climate impact in both these areas by developing more sustainable packaging solutions and providing more energy-efficient equipment.”
Reduced climate impact through more sustainable packaging
Sidel works with customers to develop different packaging solutions that are cost and resource efficient by using less plastic, glass, aluminium and cardboard. This not only involves improving the packaging solution, but also adapting packaging lines to lighter packaging.
“By developing lighter packages, we use less resources and decrease climate impact as well as reduce transport-related emissions,” said Bellucci. “We also integrate circularity into our equipment by increasing durability and repairability – to ultimately make them last longer.”
More efficient packaging equipment
“We have been helping customers to reduce their packaging line energy use for decades – historically from a cost-saving perspective, but increasingly from a climate impact perspective too,” said Bellucci. “Our Product Development Plan (PDP) guides the development of more energy-efficient products. We currently have tens of projects in the pipeline, across different technologies and all product lines, and we are assessing and prioritising the most interesting ones.”
Recent Sidel solutions that have enabled customers to reduce energy include Sidel’s EvoFilm® Stretch secondary packaging solution that uses 90 per cent less energy compared with traditional solutions.1 More compact conveyers use around 70 per cent less energy compared with the market standard2 and innovative blower solutions can help customers use 45 per cent less energy3 compared with Sidel’s previous models. In 2023, Sidel empowered its customers to drive energy efficiency and reduce their emissions by around 6,540 tonnes of CO2.4
Circularity is a key focus area when considering the entire
lifecycle of Sidel’s business to ensure it considers the materials it uses in products and that they are designed for repair, refurbishment and ultimately recycling. Sidel’s equipment as a service business model promotes circularity by optimising and extending the lifespan of equipment.
Sidel also offers various solutions that reduce water use, such as dry aseptic and sterilisation solutions that use no water at all, which can offer significant benefits in water-scarce regions.
Collaboration is key
Working together with partners throughout the food and beverage value chain is essential for Sidel to be able to reduce its climate impact.
“We work closely with customers to develop, implement and further refine climate-smart solutions,” said Bellucci. “We also closely involve our suppliers and other partners to innovate and drive positive change throughout our entire value chain.”
Sidel has many innovative solutions that help customers to mitigate their climate impact5
- Pasteurising solutions – use 25 per cent less energy and 60 per cent less water.
- Hydra Ultrasonic bottle washing – reduces steam by 20 per cent and water by 15 per cent.
- Aseptic Combi Predis dry sterilisation – uses 100 per cent less water.
- AQFlex® product handling and accumulation – achieves energy savings of 70 per cent.
- EvoBLOW – uses 45 per cent less energy and 23 per cent less plastic.
- EvoFILL filling machines – reduce energy by 50 per cent, water by 30 per cent and chemicals by 36 per cent.
- EvoFilm packing solution – cuts energy by 50 per cent and plastic film by 15 per cent and can use 100 per cent recycled film.
Towards the decarbonisation of Sidel’s operations
Sidel’s decarbonisation strategy includes a 50 per cent reduction target for scope 1 and 2 emissions (which arise from the organisation’s operations and energy consumption) by 2030 compared with 2019. The targets have been approved by the SBTi and align Sidel’s operations with the Paris climate agreement.
“Our operations only account for a small proportion of our life cycle climate footprint, but we still have a responsibility to minimise this impact as much as possible – particularly as it is under our direct control,” said Bellucci. “We are implementing a multifaceted approach to optimise energy efficiency across our manufacturing processes, source renewable energy, and explore innovative technologies to reduce emissions.”
Sidel’s decarbonisation journey touches everyone across our sites globally. Through training programmes and awareness campaigns, Sidel empowers colleagues to play their part in contributing to its decarbonisation goals. This not only enhances operational efficiency but also strengthens the ESG culture at Sidel.
“Through our bold decarbonisation targets, we will not only contribute to global efforts to combat climate change but also position ourselves as an industry leader in sustainability,” concluded Bellucci. “Responsible business practices and environmental stewardship are at the core of our corporate identity.”
1 EvoFilm® Stretch consumption compared with EvoFilm standard shrink solution.
2 AQFlex® Accumulation system consumption compared with standard conveying solution.
3 EvoBLOW with eco-oven and air recovery system compared with the previous generation of Sidel blowers.
4 Data based on eco-options and upgrades sold in 2023 assuming 5,000 working hours and using Terna 2019 emission factors.
5All figures are calculated customer savings compared with traditional solutions or Sidel’s previous model. Savings may vary depending on the particular customer line.