Polystyrene box replaced – benefiting both customers and the climate

For fish wholesalers Bröderna Hanssons, the sea is their livelihood. People have been enjoying their fish and shellfish since the company began in 1880. To ensure that also future generations can enjoy their seafood, Bröderna Hanssons focus not only on the fish, but also sustainability. One step in taking better care of the sea was to replace the polystyrene box with a fiber-based fish box made of corrugated board.

Bröderna Hanssons are leaders in the fishing industry, and are passionate about producing, refining and selling fresh fish and shellfish products to their customers. The majority of the company’s sales go to grocery companies such as ICA, Coop and Axfood, but customers also include restaurants, schools and large-scale kitchens. Bröderna Hanssons care about the climate, and are constantly looking for more eco-friendly means of production and distribution.

“We want to take responsibility for fish and shellfish production, in order to preserve the ecosystem and make sure that future generations can enjoy the fruits of the sea too. And we welcome our customers and partners to join us in this endeavour!” says Daniel Thunberg, Head of Marketing at Bröderna Hanssons.

So what exactly are they doing?
The products are loaded very carefully so that as few trucks as possible are out on the roads. They’re trying to shorten transportation routes, and have improved their equipment so that it packs the fish in a more sustainable way. They’re also striving to reduce the use of plastic and polystyrene. By replacing the polystyrene boxes traditionally used in the industry with the fibre-based EcoFishBox, made mainly from renewable materials, the company has found a more climate-friendly alternative. And the switch has brought other benefits as well.

Customer demands make EcoFishBox a simple choice
The grocery trade is constantly working to reduce the use of plastic throughout the value chain. Many of Bröderna Hanssons’ customers have trouble dealing with all the waste and they no longer accept polystyrene. “We were forced to find a different solution with the same properties as polystyrene. We needed a box that maintains moisture and temperature well, but is also made of a material that makes handling and recycling easier for our customers. EcoFishBox meets all these demands, so it was a simple choice,” Daniel explains.

Bröderna Hanssons can now also have more box-filled pallets delivered, since EcoFishBox is delivered flat rather than ready-folded.

“We used to get big deliveries of polystyrene boxes, which kept half or sometimes all of our staff busy receiving them, carrying them in and finding space. Now the boxes come directly into our packing stations, right where we need them, so that staff can focus on other things,” says Daniel. He continues:

“The customers are happy as it’s easier for them to handle and store their seafood products. Also, the boxes are easy to recycle and they have better durability than the polystyrene ones. If a polystyrene box gets too heavy it can break, while corrugated board can take the weight.”

“We are of course delighted, and I’m convinced that this could be a good solution for everyone in the industry,” Daniel Thunberg concludes.

The packaging also features high-quality print, which gives Bröderna Hanssons a way to strenghten their brand. It also helps with impressing their customers when the products are delivered.
https://www.storaenso.com/en/newsroom/news/2021/12/polystyrene-box-replaced—for-customers-and-the-climate