Sharp Interpack has pledged to continue its work to reduce carbon footprint. This is against a background with Courtauld 2 setting even higher standards and the major UK supermarkets and food companies adopting a raft of new voluntary targets designed to reduce the carbon footprint of packaging.

Meeting the global demands of a modern society while remaining committed to reducing the carbon footprint of a major industry may sound like an imposssible task. But Sharp Interpack is laying down its commitment to further reducing its impact on the environment through innovative design and products that go further than any others on the market to reduce waste.

Sharp Interpack is a company that has been setting the pace and the agenda in packaging for the environment for a number of years and its target for 2010 is to implement the 3R's: Reduce, Reformulate, Recycle.

Food Packaging has enabled convenience shopping, allowed greater consumer choice, reduced food waste, freed up leisure time and contributed to food hygiene and security. But at the same time packaging has become the subject of much more attention as a symbol of a wasteful consumer society.

But despite the slightly confused picture Sharp Interpack and its brand, Sharpak, has made a clear commitment to put carbon reduction at the top of its agenda for everything it does, with some outstanding results.

Andrew Copson, Deputy Managing Director at Sharp Interpack in Yate, near Bristol, explains: 'As we move into 2010 our commitment to reducing our carbon footprint has never been stronger. The greatest challenge we face is meeting the demands of the customer and at the same time reducing levels of waste, but it is a challenge we are able to meet head-on. That's why we are commited to implementing our 3R's programme as we go forward into 2010'.

As part of the company's 3R's programme Sharpak has invested £2m in a system that has dramatically reduced in house waste.

When Sharpak introduced their recycled PET punnet into a leading UK supermarket the equivalent tonnage that was saved through its innovative design was the equivalent of 10 double decker buses or 21 African elephants.

Added to this the use of reyclables reduced carbon emissions which were the equivalent to providing 100 homes with electricity for a year or a 2m mile journey on Eurostar.

Sharp Interpack has been recognised for its work in reducing carbon footprint after winning a Starpack Award and a commendation in The Manufacturer Awards 2008. It is currently (2010) shortlisted for an award through Food Processing magazine for its Sharplok+ padless trays.

In January 2010 Sharp Interpack launched a unique c-LOW material which has a carbon footprint 23% lower than standard PP.