SUSTAINABILITY
Our best practices to
achieve a better future
SUSTAINABILITY
of our products
As a packaging manufacturer and major player in the graphic industry, we are aware that today we have a major role to play in accelerating packaging circularity. This is why we support our customers in their packaging strategy to reduce and limit the environmental impact of their packaging and offer them, from the initial phase of their projects, a wide range of eco-solutions.
Our eco-responsible solutions
As a packaging manufacturer and major player in the graphic industry, we are aware that today we have a major role to play in accelerating packaging circularity. This is why we support our customers in their packaging strategy to reduce and limit the environmental impact of their packaging and offer them, from the initial phase of their projects, a wide range of eco-solutions.
Ecodesign
Ecodesign consists of introducing environmental criteria in the conception and development phase of your packaging project, with the aim of reducing the ecological footprint of your folding box at the different stages of its life cycle: from the choice of raw materials to the end of its useful life. Our proposals on ecodesign are as follows : optimizing of packaging size and volume; reduction of cardboard weight; prescription of mono-material solutions (to facilitate the recyclability of the cartons); plastic-free metallisation; support in the choice of more eco friendly materials, inks, films, glitter (ecoglitter) and varnishes.
Prescription of eco-materials
Carton is a clear example of a circular economy. It is a recyclable material, which is made from natural, renewable raw materials from transparently, ethically and sustainably managed forests. We offer our customers the possibility to use FSC® certified materials; recycled materials (with a variable % of recycled fibres, they are usually also FSC® certified); materials made from organic waste (such as cocoa, coffee, maize, seaweed…) and lastly, wood-free materials (cellulose fibre from wood is not used for its manufacture, but fibres from other renewable annual crops such as bamboo or cotton).
Inks and varnishes
The inks that we use at EGISA do not contain mineral oils in their formulation. It is also possible to use 100% vegetable-based inks (free of mineral oil and volatile organic compounds), bio-based inks, low-migration inks, depending on the technical characteristics of the projects. As well as water-based varnishes (acrylics). Special water-based varnishes to create barriers (e.g., greasing instead of grease-proof film).
Plastic free
Metallisation of the carbdoard without plastic (PET/polyester free) through cold foil stamping. Selective and intelligent metallisation of the cardboard: aluminium is only applied where it is needed. In addition, the aluminium layer deposited during the cold foil stamping process is extremely thin (0.02 μm = 6000 times thinner than a hair, according to KURZ), which does not interfere at all with the recycling of the folding carton. It is the most sustainable alternative to metallised polyester.
Glues and adhesives
Use of water-based adhesives for lamination and gluing. We can now also develop glueless assembly systems. These systems offer both benefits (design, creativity, durability) and drawbacks (more complex die cuts, manual assembly, use of more material). In any case, we help you choose the best solution for your packaging project.
Films
Possibility to use PCR-PET recycled films (made of 90% recycled plastic/PCR-PET) and PCR-PP recycled films (made of 30% recycled plastic) as more responsible alternatives to reduce the consumption of virgin raw materials and for more environmentally friendly packaging. It is also possible to use cellulose acetate films (natural origin) or to reduce the thickness of the film (from 12μ to 8μ for example) to lower the plastic content of the packaging.
"Sustainability consists of fulfilling the needs of current generations without compromising the needs of future generations, while ensuring a balance between economic growth, environmental care and social well-being."
Brundtland Report, published in 1987
Sustainability of
our organization
Aware of the common challenge that sustainability poses for our society and future generations, we are currently working on the preparation of a Sustainable Development Plan, focused on reducing our energy consumption, controlled recycling and the recovery of our waste, the improvement of the quality of work and life of our employees, and the promotion of a positive local impact, limiting and reducing the footprint of our activity on our environment.
Environmental Care
Our actions | our commitments > Environmental Care
Aware of the common challenge that sustainability poses for our society and future generations, we are currently working on the preparation of a Sustainable Development Plan, focused on reducing our energy consumption, controlled recycling and the recovery of our waste, the improvement of the quality of work and life of our employees, and the promotion of a positive local impact, limiting and reducing the footprint of our activity on our environment.
Green energy
Since 2017, 100% of the electricity used by EGISA has come exclusively from 100% renewable energy sources certified by the Spanish National Commission for Markets and Competition (CNMC). EGISA has thus become an actor in the energy transition. All our folding boxes are produced in our facilities with green electricity.
Improved energy efficiency
Thanks to an optimization of our production processes and an investment in innovative and more efficient production technologies:renovation of the offset park with the acquisition of a 10-colour Heidelberg press with a cold stamping module 4 years ago; gradual replacement of UV dryers by LED dryers; purchase at the end of 2021 of a new 4-colour offset press (operational from September 2022).
Reduction of energy consumption
Thanks to more efficient facilities: energetic rehabilitation of our warehouses (facades); LED lighting in all our facilities; replacement of the air conditioning system with a new, much more efficient equipment from an energy point of view in 2021. This last project is subsidized by the aid program for energy efficiency actions in SMEs and managed by the Catalan Energy Institute. This last project is subsidized by the aid program for energy efficiency actions in SMEs and managed by the Catalan Energy Institute.
Recycling and valorization of our waste
Collection, treatment and recovery or disposal of our waste by authorised waste managers in accordance with local regulations. At the same time, we are working to improve the end-of-life of our waste to make its impact on the environment as neutral as possible: for example, cold-foil PET film. Participamos en el programa de reciclaje único en el mundo (de bobinas de PET usadas) RECOSYS de KURZ desde junio de 2022.
Carbon footprint
We calculate the carbon footprint of our organisation from 2022. Thanks to this we have recently obtained the certificate of registration in the Registry of carbon footprint, compensation and CO2 absorption projects of the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge. This positive resolution is subject to a CO2 emissions minimisation plan submitted to MITECO for the years 2022-2025. We also report to the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) from 2022, demonstrating our commitment to transparency on emissions and climate action.
Responsible Procurement
Our purchasing decisions are not based solely on economic criteria, but we also integrate environmental and social criteria when purchasing a product or service. We involve our suppliers and work together to achieve more efficient products, with less impact on our environment and promote best practices.
Social well-being
Our actions | our commitments > Social well-being
Equality, diversity and inclusion
Implementation of a gender equality plan in EGISA (2021); positive actions to balance the composition of the managerial/executive and technical positions from a gender perspective (in 2020, of 6 managerial positions, 2 are occupied by women); measures to balance work, personal and family life for all employees (flexible working hours, teleworking, digital disconnection).
Access to professional training for all staff
Continuous professional training is the key to developing the skills of our employees, contributing to their professional + personal development and fostering the acquisition of collective skills.
Environmental awareness and eco-gestures
For all of our employees, for a more sustainable daily life and future (in collaboration with our environmental department)
Enjoyable workspaces
Fitness space, leisure room (table tennis, table football, billiards), relaxation room, large dining room, terrace and chill out area. Creation of a special parking area for bicycles and electric scooters, in order to promote sustainable mobility.
Health, safety and well-being at work
Achieving the highest level of safety and health at work is one of our management’s priorities. EGISA guarantees the participation and information of all employees and adequate theoretical and practical training on the specific risks of their job. In terms of well-being at work, this year EGISA has started a project to find out and measure the general satisfaction of its employees, in order to detect possible areas for improvement and implement specific action plans to achieve an optimal working environment.
Community engagement
Since 2017 we have been collaborating in a project to donate to local public schools the surplus of our productions (materials of excellent quality recovered in the pre-production phase; surplus stock of unused materials) so that they can be used by children for creative activities, handicrafts, plastic arts classes, etc. The project is based on a proximity model (acting locally) and its main objective is to give a second life to these blank unprinted materials, encouraging their reuse.
Our eco-labels
We have been certified since 2009. The FSC® seal guarantees environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial and economically viable management of the world’s forests. For each product declared as FSC® the certificate number is BMC-COC-003035.
We have been awarded the label for the first time in 2022. The objective of the Imprim’Vert® seal is to reduce the environmental impact of graphics industry. Choosing Imprim’Vert® is to act out of respect for the environment through innovative and committed activism.
EcoVadis is the world’s most recognized and trusted corporate sustainability rating platform. Each year it assesses the environmental, labour practices and human rights, ethics and sustainable procurement impacts of organisations. In 2024, EcoVadis has made changes to its medal award programme, which is now awarded to companies in the 35th percentile of all clients assessed by EcoVadis. Following our latest assessment (January 2024), EcoVadis has awarded us a bronze medal, recognising our continuous efforts to improve our sustainability management performance.
For more information: Quality and Certifications