Every year, Earth Day brings sustainability into sharper focus. Across the food industry, packaging is often at the centre of that conversation — from recyclability and materials to environmental responsibility.
For many businesses, however, the challenge is no longer awareness. It is understanding where impact truly sits — and how to reduce it in a way that is practical, measurable, and scalable.
Starting with Data, Not Assumptions
At Coppice, sustainability begins with measurement.
In 2023, we completed a full baseline of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across the business. This provided a clear benchmark and, more importantly, helped identify where the greatest opportunities for improvement exist.
The findings are clear.
Where Impact Really Sits
Our emissions data shows that raw materials — particularly metals — account for approximately 69% of total emissions, significantly outweighing energy, transport, and operational impacts.
This insight reframes the sustainability conversation.
Rather than focusing only on downstream improvements, the greatest opportunity lies in:
- Using materials more efficiently
- Reducing waste across production
- Keeping resources within the value chain
A Practical Approach to Materials
Aluminium continues to play an important role in food packaging, not just because of its performance, but because of its lifecycle.
- Infinitely recyclable without loss of quality
- Supported by established recycling infrastructure
- Retains value, supporting high recovery rates
In fact, around 75% of all aluminium ever produced is still in use today, demonstrating its role in a functioning circular system.
At Coppice, this is supported by responsible sourcing, with aluminium containing 70–80% recycled content, alongside continued efforts to increase recycled input where possible.
Reducing Waste Through Operational Innovation
While materials drive impact, how they are used matters just as much.
We continue to invest in systems that reduce waste and improve efficiency across production:
- Split Detection Systems now operate on 84% of smoothwall presses, identifying defects early and preventing unnecessary waste
- Aluminium waste is collected, compacted, and returned to suppliers, supporting closed-loop reuse within the supply chain
- Continuous improvement has reduced aluminium scrap rates from 22.9% to 20.8% year-on-year, with further reductions targeted
These improvements not only reduce environmental impact but also improve product quality, reduce transport inefficiencies, and support better outcomes across the supply chain.
Energy and Operational Efficiency
Alongside material improvements, we continue to reduce energy consumption and operational emissions:
- A 27% reduction in electrical consumption between 2022 and 2023
- Energy-saving initiatives including LED upgrades, efficient machinery, and improved heating systems
- Ongoing investment in equipment, infrastructure, and energy management systems
These actions form part of a broader decarbonisation strategy, with a target to reduce GHG emissions by 50% by 2030.
Reducing Waste Beyond the Pack
Packaging plays a critical role not only in sustainability, but in preventing waste more broadly.
High-performance packaging helps protect product quality, extend shelf life, and reduce avoidable food waste across the supply chain.
By focusing on consistency, strength, and functionality, packaging becomes part of the solution — not just part of the conversation.
Looking Beyond Earth Day
Sustainability is not a single initiative or moment in time. As outlined in our latest report, it is a continuous journey built on measurement, innovation, and collaboration.
At Coppice, our focus remains on:
- Understanding impact through data
- Prioritising the areas that drive the greatest change
- Delivering improvements that are both practical and scalable
If you would like to explore this in more detail, including our full sustainability strategy, targets, and ongoing initiatives, visit our Sustainability Hub.