Use less, keep more, waste nothing
Our commitment to circularity is grounded in a holistic circular economy approach, focused on material innovation, reducing operational waste, improving end-of-life, and designing packaging solutions with circularity at their core.
75 % af salget af emballageløsninger er mere bæredygtigt
As part of our circularity strategy, we are piloting take-back and reuse programs in close collaboration with customers to recover used packaging, extend product end-of-life, and reintegrate materials into the value chain. These initiatives support waste prevention and material circularity through practical and scalable approaches. Leveraging our global footprint and local expertise, we prioritize circular improvements that build on existing packaging designs. To support our long-term sustainability objectives, we have set a target that by 2030, 75% of our packaging sales shall be more sustainable by meeting at least one of four defined sustainability criteria.
- Reduktion af CO2eq-udledning
- Reducerer mængden af affald på lossepladsen
- Øget indhold af genbrugsmaterialer
- Materialer fra ansvarligt forvaltede skove
Lukker kredsløbet for en bedre fremtid
Circularity is positioned at the top of Nefab’s sustainability strategy and is a foundational pillar of our sustainability framework. Our focus has evolved from enabling circular solutions to actively prioritizing resource efficiency and waste prevention, ensuring that circular principles guide decision-making across design, materials, and operations.
Our circularity approach follows a clear resource-efficiency hierarchy aligned with circular economy principles. The most sustainable outcome is achieved by reducing material use through optimized design and the elimination of unnecessary packaging. Where feasible, reuse is prioritized in the design and materials to extend the functional life of packaging within closed-loop systems, preventing waste generation. When reuse is not possible, recycling enables materials to remain in the economy by recovering value and reducing the need for virgin resources. By applying this hierarchy consistently, we support waste prevention, efficient resource use, and the transition toward more circular packaging systems.
Cirkulær designtilgang
When developing sustainable solutions at Nefab, we apply a circular economy approach based on the 3Rs and the circular butterfly model, considering the full life cycle of packaging, from material sourcing and production to distribution and end of life.
Ved hjælp af værktøjer som GreenCalc følger vores ingeniører tre designprincipper:
- Design to Reduce
Reducing material use and transportation resources is a core principle of the 3Rs. At Nefab, we apply strategies such as load optimization and efficient packaging handling to minimize material consumption, lower transport-related environmental impacts, and maintain product protection while improving operational efficiency. - Design to Reuse
Designing for reuse is a key lever for resource conservation. Nefab promotes reusable packaging by extending packaging lifetimes, efficiently managing returnable pools, and selecting designs that can be repaired and reused across the supply chain, reducing waste generation. - Design to Recycle
When reuse is not feasible, Nefab prioritizes packaging materials with high recycled content that are designed for recyclability. This approach supports material recovery and contributes to circular material flows at end of life.
5-step approach to an optimized sustainable packaging solution
Every product and supply chain presents unique challenges that must be addressed. It’s essential for a packaging solution to be designed with the entire supply chain in mind, effectively tackling these challenges. At Nefab, we follow a five-step process to optimize your product’s journey through the supply chain.
Fremme af cirkularitet gennem Nefabs servicecenter
Nefab’s Service Centers play a central role in translating circular economy principles into daily operations. Since 2023, the Service Center in Atlanta, Georgia has supported customers by extending the functional life of industrial
wooden packaging and enabling more responsible end-of-life management of packaging materials.
At the core of this model is industrial crate repair. By repairing and returning wooden crates to service, Nefab reduces the need for new packaging production while helping customers lower waste generation and associated
emissions. Repair-first solutions keep material loops short and deliver both environmental and cost benefits compared to single-use alternatives.
Beyond repair, the Service Center functions as an operational hub for material recovery. Through close collaboration with customers, the Atlanta Service Center processed 46,141 crates in 2025, with nearly 90% successfully repaired and returned to use.
Affaldshåndtering i Nefab-driften (som en del af vores Scope 3)
Reducing operational waste is a core part of Nefab’s circularity approach and a key pillar of our sustainability framework.
Across nearly all Nefab sites globally, teams are actively identifying and implementing improvements to waste management practices, aiming to reduce waste generation and increase diversion from landfill. To support this, Nefab continues to strengthen its approach through a combination of employee engagement, operational initiatives, and external partnerships:
- Employee engagement and capability building
- Operational waste reduction initiatives
- Partnership development for verified recycling
- Waste-to-value and high-diversion projects
Through these ongoing efforts, Nefab demonstrates that continuous improvement in waste management is achievable across diverse geographies and operations.
Charles de Muizon
Direktør for bæredygtighed i koncernen