Companies wanting to package dairy products sustainably have been using cardboard-plastic combinations for many years. K3® packaging was first produced at the Swiss Greiner Packaging site in Diepoldsau over 40 years ago. The latest K3® innovation is now coming to the Swiss market: self-separating K3® r100. This innovative packaging is used for the Milbona brand natural yogurts sold by Swiss retailer Lidl Schweiz.

The foundation for optimal recycling laid

For the first time, innovative K3® r100 packaging makes it possible for cardboard and plastic to separate from each other without human intervention. This innovation lays the foundation for future collection systems in Switzerland. If it is forgotten to separate the cardboard wrap from the cup, the two parts separate by mechanical pressure. 

Plastic cups and cardboard wraps can be identified, assigned to separate recycling streams and consequently recycled. Until this happens, however, both components must continue to be separated manually and sent to the respective (local) disposal system. 

Greiner Packaging, Lidl Schweiz and Molkerei Forster hope sorting flows will be harmonized in the future. By switching to K3® r100, Molkerei Forster and Lidl Schweiz are already well prepared for such a system and are assuming a pioneering role in future-proof packaging design.

Partnerships ensure innovation

Greiner Packaging and Molkerei Forster have benefited from a partnership-based cooperation for many years and have already developed numerous innovation steps together. In 2021, for example, Molkerei Forster was one of the first companies in Switzerland to use the new Greiner Packaging design: a recess in the cardboard wrap allows easy separation from the plastic cup with just one movement. Close collaboration was required while developing the K3® r100.

Numerous filling tests of the packaging innovation took place at Molkerei Forster.

Antonios Kampouris, Sales Director of Greiner Packaging Switzerland, says, “Without good partners like Molkerei Forster, innovations such as our K3® r100 would not be possible. Before we brought the cup to market, we perfected it in numerous filling tests – including on Molkerei Forster’s systems. Because having a good idea is one thing, checking it for marketability is another. This is only possible in collaboration with our customers.”

Three companies, one goal

Like Greiner Packaging, Molkerei Forster and retailer Lidl Schweiz are also committed to a sustainable future. 

“We have set ourselves the goal of focusing on sustainability. This begins with the raw materials used and continues through our production processes to product packaging and beyond. With K3® r100 we are taking another important step towards a sustainable future,” company founder of Molkerei Forster, Markus Forster, says.

500 g tubs are used for Milbona brand natural yogurts with 1.5% and 3.5% fat content sold in Lidl Schweiz branches.

Andreas Zufelde, Chief Commercial Officer at Lidl Schweiz, says, “We have a long-standing and successful partnership. We are pleased to be taking another joint step forward in the packaging sector. By introducing the innovative yogurt packaging, we are once again underlining our commitment to recycling sustainability and design.”