Helping to turn the tide on ocean plastic
Plastic Neutral Net Bags
Plastic Neutral Net Bags
LC Packaging and M.B. Nieuwenhuijse B.V. have partnered with Plastic Bank to help stem the tide on ocean plastic to secure a sustainable future for generations to come.
Onions (and their packaging) against plastic soup
During a period of one year, LC Packaging and M.B. Nieuwenhuijse have contributed to the extraction of the equivalent of 2,500,000 plastic bottles from the environment, while improving lives in collaboration with Plastic Bank. Each net bag supplied by LC Packaging to M.B. Nieuwenhuijse prevented 56 grams of plastic, or 2.8 single-use plastic bottles from entering the ocean. The onion bags involved are Certified Plastic Neutral by Plastic Bank.
In total, 382 collectors from 70 local communities have been able to benefit. Collectors hand in plastic waste at Plastic Bank and receive bonuses for the materials they collect. This helps them provide basic family necessities such as groceries, cooking fuel, school tuition, and health insurance.
Collecting 50,000 kilos of plastic: our collection locations
The collection and recycling challenge
Because of its effectiveness and efficiency, net bags supplied by LC Packaging protect the onions of M.B.Nieuwenhuijse B.V., maintains product quality, and thus prevents spoilage and food waste.
The nets, however, are made from plastic that is difficult to recycle due to the structure of the material and could therefore negatively impact the environment after use. This has motivated the partnership to work towards limiting the damage.
European countries usually have proper systems for collecting and recycling waste. There is, however, an inadequate waste collection and recycling infrastructure in many African and developing countries where M.B.Nieuwenhuijse B.V. exports its onions. Consequently, used net bags could pollute the environment and even end up as ocean plastic.
From compliance to purpose: contributing to a world without waste
“LC Packaging is committed to contribute to a world without waste. This partnership fits very well into our 2030 Ambition that includes goals in the field of Living Wage, Circularity and Climate Action”, states Lucas Lammers, LC Packaging’s CEO. “We would like to thank M.B. Nieuwenhuijse for joining us in minimising the potential negative impact of the net bags on the environment by neutralising these bags in collaboration with Plastic Bank.”
Koen Nieuwenhuijse, Director of M.B. Nieuwenhuijse, looks back at a successful partnership: “This partnership has been an effective way of reducing the environmental impact of the packaging we use, while also supporting local communities."
About Plastic Bank
Plastic Bank® empowers the regenerative society. We build ethical recycling ecosystems in coastal communities and reprocess the materials for reintroduction into the global supply chain as Social Plastic®. Collectors receive bonuses for the materials they collect which helps them provide basic family necessities such as groceries, cooking fuel, school tuition, and health insurance. Plastic Bank’s Alchemy™ blockchain platform secures the entire transaction and provides real-time data visualization – allowing for transparency, traceability, and rapid scalability. Learn more at plasticbank.com.
About LC Packaging
LC Packaging is a family-owned company and international manufacturer and distributor of flexible packaging solutions with a headquarters based in the Netherlands. LC Packaging has been active in the packaging industry since 1923 and has its own production facilities for FIBCs (Big Bags) and corrugated board in Europe, Africa and Asia. With a turnover of 253 million euros in 2022 and approx. 1,700 employees in offices, warehouses and production facilities in 15 countries, it is LC Packaging’s goal to contribute to a world without waste. LC Packaging specialises in custom packaging products and packaging from stock to more than 30,000 customers in the industrial and agricultural industry worldwide. In 2023, LC Packaging was awarded an EcoVadis Platinum Medal for the third consecutive year, belonging to the top 1% of all 100,000 companies assessed by EcoVadis. The company is particularly recognised for its efforts in labour practices and human rights, and sustainable procurement practices.
About M.B.Nieuwenhuijse B.V.
M.B. Nieuwenhuijse B.V., also known as MARBO®, is a Dutch family company that specialises in sorting, packaging and distributing onions and shallots. These onions and shallots are being sold locally as well as exported to retail, foodservice and wholesale markets around the globe. M.B. Nieuwenhuijse B.V. is an expert in the field of onions and shallots and aims to be a leading player in this market. Thanks to more than 40 years of experience, the commitment of motivated employees and close cooperation with growers, M.B. Nieuwenhuijse provides its customers with high-quality products, packaged and delivered according to their wishes. From the premises in Oostdijk (NL), around 90,000 tons of onions & shallots are shipped each year, packed in all kinds of packaging. The onions are stored, sorted and packed using the most modern techniques. A new system for the optical sorting of the onions has recently been installed. M.B. Nieuwenhuijse B.V. also invests in sustainable solutions, with the installation of solar panels as a recent example.