Sorma Group drives sustainable packaging and energy efficiency in its circular industrial model

Sustainable Packaging and Material Reduction

Sorma Group integrates sustainability across various areas of its activity, with particular focus on the development of more efficient packaging solutions, the optimisation of production processes, and energy consumption control. Through its Netpack division, the company has been working for years on the evolution of fruit and vegetable packaging, aiming to reduce raw material usage, improve packaging recyclability, and simplify end-of-life management.

Lighter Packaging Design

Where technically possible, packaging is designed with reduced thicknesses and lighter structures, thereby reducing the amount of plastic used per pack without compromising resistance, breathability, or functionality. In recent years, monomaterial packaging has been developed, both in HDPE2 and LDPE4, progressively replacing composite solutions made from multiple materials that are more difficult to recycle.

Format Optimisation

A significant example is the weight reduction of some historical formats, such as the Vertbag: over time, the net weight has been reduced from approximately 70–80 g/m² to current values of around 40 g/m², while film thickness has decreased from 70 microns to approximately 45 microns. These improvements allow for reduced raw material usage while maintaining market-required performance.

Sustainable Solutions and European Regulation

Alongside these advances, Sorma offers solutions tailored to specific sustainability needs, such as paper-based packaging, compostable materials, plastic-free proposals, and single-material packaging. The company is also closely monitoring the evolution of European regulations, including the PPWR regulation, and provides solutions designed to meet the growing demand for more recyclable packaging aligned with circular economy principles.

Energy Efficiency in Production Processes

This commitment also extends to production processes: the company’s policy includes the progressive upgrade of machinery and technical equipment across the plant, from service infrastructure—such as lighting and compressed air systems—to production technologies, prioritising more efficient solutions capable of reducing energy consumption. This process is monitored through regular energy audits, which help analyse consumption trends and identify new areas for improvement. Among the implemented and planned measures are lighting efficiency improvements, optimisation of compressed air systems through leak detection and reduction, and the study of installing a photovoltaic system with an on-site generator to produce and optimise renewable energy for the plant.

Certified Environmental Management

Netpack has also implemented an Environmental Management System certified according to ISO 14001, confirming the company’s commitment to the prevention, control, and continuous improvement of the environmental impact associated with its activity. The system also involves operators and employees through training activities, corrective measures, environmental and fire emergency drills, and awareness initiatives.

Industrial Sustainability and Innovation

All these actions are specifically focused on sustainability areas linked to innovation and industrial processes, responsible consumption and production, energy efficiency, and environmental impact reduction.

More information at Sorma Group