DR.SCHNELL: Responsible Cleaning – Starting with Packaging Design
DR.SCHNELL has long stood for innovative and sustainable solutions in cleaning and hygiene. But the company’s sense of responsibility begins even before the product itself – it often starts with the packaging. In collaboration with Der Grüne Punkt, DR.SCHNELL is setting new standards for true circularity.
Rethinking Plastics
Plastic offers clear advantages in many applications, such as protection, stability, and lightweight transport. The key lies in using it responsibly and designing it to be optimally recyclable and kept within the circular economy. For DR.SCHNELL, that means creating packaging that is fully recyclable and, where possible, made from recycled materials.
Recyclability Certified by cyclos-HTP
Together with Der Grüne Punkt, DR.SCHNELL has analyzed and optimized numerous packaging solutions for their recyclability. The result: values of up to 100 percent – certified by the independent institute cyclos-HTP. Particularly impressive are the 1-liter HDPE bottles featuring ring printing, recycled closures, and matching-material labels. The new PE pouches with zippers, used for ECOLUTION products, also achieve excellent results.
Turning Packaging into Packaging Again
Another milestone: DR.SCHNELL utilizes recyclate from household waste collections – specifically from the yellow bag or yellow bin. This allows the material value from used packaging to flow directly into the production of new containers. By doing so, the company not only already meets the upcoming EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), but also actively contributes to a functioning circular economy.
Expert Guidance Makes the Difference
Since 2005, Der Grüne Punkt and DR.SCHNELL have worked together to continually optimize packaging so that it can fully re-enter the material cycle. “The tests conducted by cyclos-HTP have shown that the company’s packaging achieves high recyclability. I’m particularly impressed that the company started addressing its packaging design early on and is implementing key principles for recyclability – such as using light, transparent materials and mono-material packaging that considers the label as well,” says Andrea Preil, Design-for-Recycling Expert at Der Grüne Punkt. “DR.SCHNELL proves that sustainable packaging solutions aren’t just a vision for the future – they’re already possible today if approached correctly.”
