Practical Insights: Sustainable Innovations in the Packaging Industry
Following a welcome address by Prof. Dr Jens Kolb, Vice-President for Knowledge Transfer and Continuing Education at HNU, the event began with a round of introductions, which encouraged discussion among the participants. Dr Anna Hörner, Innovation Manager at the Uhlmann Group, then set a practical focus with her keynote speech on sustainable innovations in the packaging industry. She highlighted that material consumption and waste generation in particular are key levers for environmental sustainability. Hörner emphasised the importance of holistic approaches – from material selection and recyclability to life-cycle analysis.
Embedding sustainability within organisations
Another key focus was on how sustainability can be embedded within an organisation. Andreas Mayer, Senior Director of Corporate Sustainability at PERI SE, emphasised that sustainable transformation can only succeed with clear governance structures. These include defined target systems, clear lines of responsibility, transparent budgets, integrated processes, and consistent monitoring and reporting. Sustainability must be strategically embedded within the company and permeate all areas – from product development to corporate culture.
Dialogue Session: Success Factors and Challenges
During the subsequent dialogue session, participants engaged in an in-depth discussion about the factors contributing to success and the obstacles to implementing sustainable strategies. It became clear that conflicting objectives, differing time horizons and organisational silos make it difficult to integrate sustainability. At the same time, it was emphasised that strong embedding within core processes, as well as a combination of top-down management and bottom-up initiatives, are crucial for long-term success. The role of corporate culture was discussed in particular depth.
Cooperation as the key to sustainable transformation
The Sustainability Innovation Circle once again provided a valuable platform for interdisciplinary exchange and networking. The event highlighted the vital importance of collaboration between academia and industry in driving forward sustainable innovation and developing concrete solutions. The evening drew to a close with a networking session – sending a clear message that the transition to a sustainable economy requires ongoing dialogue, bold initiatives and collective action.
