At Retal Baltic in Klaipeda, one of the largest production sites of plastic packaging manufacturer Retal, general manager Viktorija Jureviciute has striven to maintain the production of HDPE closures and rPET films for the food and beverage industry – products considered part of the essential industrial supply chain.
Then, an online shout-out from Robotikos Mokykla, or Robotics School, a non-profit organisation that provides innovative technical education for children, who was looking for potential local partners caught Jureviciute’s eye.
“With a few production changes, we could offer exactly what the front-line workers needed. Even though this pandemic has been an incredibly busy and challenging time for everyone, our team really pulled together to produce the film required – everyone was really motivated to help.”
The Retal Baltic production team first assessed its current film production to see how it could be adjusted to meet the performance for the masks. A few trials were carried out to decide which thickness would be suitable, with a one-layer film with anti-block additives chosen as it offers the clearest view. “We tested our GPET film too, but APET was already good enough and allowed for a peel-off cover if needed,” said Viktorija.
With the wholehearted support of the production teams and by slightly adapting its normal production over the weekend, Retal swung into action.
“We've been able to produce enough of the right film for 70,000 masks, which we've happily donated to Robotics School,” said Jureviciute.
The Robotics School team is coordinating volunteers for cutting the masks with lasers as well as their collection and delivery; libraries are 3D-printing the frames used with the Retal film masks for medical workers.
The film PPE masks are being distributed to ambulance workers, medical services staff and hospitals, as well as increasingly to production staff in industrial companies. With more people than ever before needing to use reliable PPE masks in order to continue to perform their work safely, Retal is delighted to be able to offer the necessary skills and resources, said Jureviciute.
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Trusted partners enable development over and above what individual companies can do alone. With the right support, service and communication, partners across the supply chain are hugely valued and much appreciated.
For global packaging producer RETAL, finding and maintaining trusted partners is crucial to its ongoing success, with its network of suppliers able to work together with its account managers to deliver exactly what customers need, when they need it.
A recent investment in new production lines from SACMI at RETAL Baltic and a sister company is the latest development in an evolving, long-standing relationship between RETAL and the respected machinery supplier.
SACMI is an international leader in industrial plant engineering, offering a varied portfolio of machines and complete plants for industries including packaging. Headquartered in Imola, Italy, and with over 4500 employees at 80 sites worldwide, SACMI prides itself on ‘putting customer satisfaction first’.
That promise is evident in the cooperation between RETAL and SACMI. As a supplier of machines for the manufacture of plastic closures, SACMI was aware of RETAL’s positive reputation and portfolio of preforms, closures and films, initially supplying the company with two lines in 1999.
SACMI key account manager Riccardo Rubini explains, “At that time, RETAL was only using injection technology and SACMI installed only compression technology. There were a number of challenges in terms of performance and maintenance of lines, so it’s fair to say that RETAL was not properly advised; it was a 50/50 issue. Although I wasn’t part of the SACMI team that worked with RETAL then, I’ve been determined to rectify the issue and show how our production lines can reliably deliver exactly what the company needs in terms of closures.”
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Effective internal communications for a global company brings many advantages but can be hard to implement and maintain. With various stakeholders and their differing needs, creating an engaging communications strategy is an opportunity for commercial and organisational goals to be met. Global plastic packaging manufacturer RETAL shares how developing its intranet has been both more difficult and more rewarding than it expected.
For traditional manufacturing companies, the understanding of what effective communications are and why they’re necessary can be the first hurdle in developing a communications strategy. Different stakeholders can see the value of communications in opposite terms, with the ROI hard to quantify, especially in the short term. Yet the cost of poor internal communications may only be seen when it’s too late, so proposing, agreeing to, and, crucially, getting the budget for, a corporate intranet is the first hurdle.
Plastic packaging has a sustainable future. Delivering effective, circular packaging solutions that are both convenient for consumers and don’t negatively impact the planet is a challenge packaging manufacturers and global food and beverage brands are stepping up to.
RETAL PA in Donora, Pennsylvania was delighted to host a Women's Business Enterprise Center East Industry Day this December.
With the aim of supporting and promoting women-owned businesses by connecting them with corporations and Government suppliers, the WBEC organisation actively encourages incorporating Diversified Suppliers to connect and network.
RETAL PA's Finance Manager Anthony Langel and HR Manager Elizabeth Giecek were instrumental in contacting WBEC to see how the company could positively promote Diversified Suppliers in its supply chain network. Giecek says, “We work with a number of leading global brands that put great emphasis on working with vendors that support Diversified Suppliers, so we were keen to learn more and see how this positive initiative could be mutually beneficial, while helping to promote this excellent organisation in our local community.”
Langel continues, “WBEC East’s President reached out to see if RETAL PA would be interested in hosting its latest Manufacturing Industry Day, which is a round table discussion with panelists representing local companies and potential vendors that are all WBE (Women Owned Businesses).”
The morning-long event included a Meet & Greet, Q&A session and a presentation from RETAL, as well as a tour of the facility and a shared lunch. Langel notes, “We were very happy to be complemented on our bright factory as well as our commitment to taking steps to incorporate diversified spend into our supply chain.”
The RETAL team was pleased to report that the event identified potential vendors that will help to bring more diversification to RETAL PA, supporting its promise to global brands and enabling a more inclusive workplace.
BrauBeviale 2019 highlighted the sustainability potential of collaboration across the beverage value chain, with the RETAL team proud to present its tethered closure solutions alongside innovation ideas from key industry stakeholders.
European Marketing Manager Mariya Ushakova says, “There was a great energy at BrauBeviale 2019; everyone knows that sustainability is crucial to our ongoing success, both as businesses and as individuals, so to see exciting products and solutions from the whole of the beverage industry value chain was inspiring.”
RETAL presented its two patented tethered closure solutions at BrauBeviale, with plenty of samples available to illustrate how the expertly-designed tethered caps are both responsible and easy to use, particularly as they have a smooth edge that makes drinking more comfortable for end users. The whole range of RETAL's established portfolio was also available.
RETAL's stand was created by certified-sustainable trade fair construction company Mesomondo, who confirmed that RETAL's stand was CO2 neutral.
Ushakova adds, “We would like to thank everyone that came to visit our informative stand; it was good to see customers and potential customers and talk about our tethered closures as well as discussing the issues that are impacting on us all. It feels like a new wave of collaborative understanding of how we can all support the circular economy and RETAL is delighted to be a part of it.”
Global PET packaging manufacturer RETAL has signed the Circular Plastics Alliance Declaration, adding its voice to the global shift towards sustainable and circular plastic packaging, and heightened demand for firms to take the lead in their production.
Launched in December 2018 by the European Commission, the Circular Plastics Alliance advocates for the plastics industry to move to a circular economy model. The CPA’s immediate goal is to ensure that more than 10 million tonnes of recycled plastic find their way into plastic products made within the EU every year by 2025.
Yuri Khmara, a member of RETAL’s Board of Directors, stressed that strong, high-level value-chain partnerships and collaboration are key to ensuring plastic pollution is successfully addressed. “As demand for plastics packaging continues to increase, it’s hugely important that all of us in the industry take a lead in addressing the environmental issues at stake,” he said. “RETAL fully supports the CPA as a great way to ensure that the sector becomes more responsible for plastics pollution as a whole. And, as a member of the value chain that leads to that pollution, we are committed to contributing our expertise in whatever way to mitigating the issue.”
RETAL is already active in many of the areas the CPA declaration focuses on. It promotes a design-to-recycle approach, supports and advocates for PET recycling across Europe, and conducts local clean-up operations to help raise awareness, reduce the environmental impact of plastic and increase understanding of the role of an efficient circular economy. All of this is achieved through RETAL’s membership of Recyclass, PETcore and Waste Free Oceans, groups dedicated to similar aims.
With more than 20 years’ experience in PET packaging production, as well as a commitment to the long-term sustainability of the plastics industry, RETAL has the know-how and capacity to make a substantial contribution to the CPA’s aims. “If we are to stop the environmental impact of plastic, we need to take it seriously as a valuable reusable resource, not treat it as disposable waste,” Khmara added. “It’s a challenge that everyone, from manufacturers to retailers to consumers, plays a part in solving, and in signing this declaration, RETAL is voicing its commitment to making plastic circular.”
The first of RETAL’s clean up events took place in Cyprus, on 12 October, with over 30 volunteers removing plastic waste from the coastline to be repurposed into meaningful products.
Joining forces with international Waste Free Oceans, RETAL employees and their families collected discarded plastic waste from the Lady’s mile area coast in Limassol, highlighting the role of plastic packaging companies in the fight against plastic pollution.
The group of volunteers was bolstered by 13 members of the RETAL-sponsored Apollon Ladies’ Football Club, including vice president George Ollandos, who were delighted to join together with RETAL and WFO to show how a strong team spirit helps make challenging situations far more positive.
RETAL’s clean-up event was combined with the annual Environment & Recycling Festival in the Molos area of Limassol, with the strapline ‘Build Good Habits’ aiming to raise public awareness. Here, RETAL’s stand offered ‘Raising Awareness’ brochures, with many local people visiting the stand to discuss recycling, circular economy and future of positive plastic. Hagai Golan, RETAL Cyprus General Manager, says, “This was a true team event; bringing together RETAL people, WFO and the Apollon Ladies F.C. made for an impressive group that showed how positive action can create a ripple effect. The festival was also an excellent opportunity to show our local community what RETAL is doing to mitigate our environmental impact.”
The first of RETAL’s clean-up events has taken place in with more than 30 volunteers removing plastic waste from the coastline to be repurposed into meaningful products.
Joining forces with Waste Free Oceans, RETAL employees and their families collected discarded plastic waste from the Lady’s Mile area coast in Limassol, highlighting the role of plastic packaging companies in the fight against plastic pollution.
The group of volunteers was bolstered by 13 members of the RETAL-sponsored Apollon Ladies’ Football Club, including VP George Ollandos, who were keen to show how a strong team spirit helps make challenging situations far more positive.
Hagai Golan, RETAL Cyprus General Manager, said: “This was a true team event bringing together RETAL people, WFO and the Apollon Ladies FC and making for an impressive group that showed how positive action can create a ripple effect. The festival was also an excellent opportunity to show our local community what RETAL is doing to mitigate our environmental impact.”
RETAL’s clean-up event was combined with the annual Environment & Recycling Festival in the Molos area of Limassol, with the strapline ‘Build Good Habits’ aiming to raise public awareness. Here, RETAL’s stand offered ‘Raising Awareness’ brochures, with many local people visiting the stand to discuss recycling, circular economy and future of positive plastic.
Emmanuel Duffaut, RETAL’s Sustainability Director, added: “We are determined to be active and responsible in our role in the circular economy. By partnering with Waste Free Oceans, we are able to see how collecting visible plastic waste from our coastlines helps promote a positive second life for plastic.”
RETAL is a PET preform supplier and active member of Waste Free Oceans, which targets converters, governments, companies, and the public to inspire recovery, recycling and reuse.
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The first of RETAL’s clean up events took place in Cyprus on October 12th, with over 30 volunteers removing plastic waste from the coastline to be repurposed into meaningful products.
Joining forces with international Waste Free Oceans, RETAL employees and their families collected discarded plastic waste from the Lady’s mile area coast in Limassol, highlighting the role of plastic packaging companies in the fight against plastic pollution.
The group of volunteers was bolstered by 13 members of the RETAL-sponsored Apollon Ladies’ Football Club, including vice president George Ollandos, who were delighted to join together with RETAL and WFO to show how a strong team spirit helps make challenging situations far more positive.
RETAL’s clean-up event combined with the annual Environment & Recycling Festival in the Molos area of Limassol, with the strapline ‘Build Good Habits’ aiming to raise public awareness. Here, RETAL’s stand offered ‘Raising Awareness’ brochures, with many local people visiting the stand to discuss recycling, circular economy and future of positive plastic. Hagai Golan, RETAL Cyprus General Manager, says, “This was a true team event; bringing together RETAL people, WFO and the Apollon Ladies F.C. made for an impressive group that showed how positive action can create a ripple effect. The festival was also an excellent opportunity to show our local community what RETAL is doing to mitigate our environmental impact.”
Emmanuel Duffaut, RETAL’s sustainability director, says, “We are determined to be active and responsible in our role in the circular economy. By partnering with Waste Free Oceans, we are able to see how collecting visible plastic waste from our coastlines helps to promote a positive second life for plastic packaging and to realise the value that PET creates.”
RETAL is an active member of Waste Free Oceans, which targets converters, governments, companies, and the public, to mobilise them into recovering, recycling and reusing plastic. With over 75 members, including leading global manufacturers and household brands, Brussels-based WFO promises to ‘clean up our waters and use what’s in them wisely’, as well as lobbying policy makers for positive change and hosting events to raise awareness.
Duffaut adds, “RETAL is a global PET packaging producer with over 1500 employees worldwide; our employees want to be proud to work for RETAL. By encouraging our people to be part of the plastic packaging solution and by continually investing resources in creating plastic packaging solutions that utilise recycled PET, we can ensure we continue to deliver convenience for the consumer and sustainability for the planet.”
Check out the video from our Clean-Up.