Norwegian dairy producer introduces packaging with recycled PP

For generations, Norwegians have sworn by Rømme – a dairy product best described as a fusion of sour cream and cream. Now, Norway’s largest dairy company TINE has switched its Rømme products to pots with 50% recycled polypropylene (rPP).

There is Seterrømme 35% and there is Lettrømme 17%, both from dairy producer TINE. They are bestsellers among Norwegian consumers who use Rømme to create tasty dressings, dips, porridge and other dishes.  

Now, as part of TINE’s sustainability strategy, the company has converted the packaging for two of its Rømme products and one of its sour creams. Pots of originally of polystyrene (PS) are replaced by polypropylene (PP) pots with 50% recycled material, calculated using the mass balance approach, certified by the International Sustainability & Carbon (ISCC PLUS) system.

TINE’s head of sustainability Bjørn Malm says: “At TINE, we want all our packaging to be made of renewable or recycled material by 2025. Our new packaging solution for Rømme and sour creme is an important step towards our goal.”

50 % recycling goal in the EU requires conversion to PP
The goal of the EU is for 50% of all plastic packaging to be recycled in 2025 rising to 55% in 2030.

“If we are to reach the EU goals, it is evident that both Norway and all other EU countries must increase material recycling by tens of thousands of tonnes in the years to come. Switching from polystyrene (PS) to polypropylene (PP) is a good way of contributing to this since a larger share of PP than PS is recycled. Therefore, we are very pleased to have successfully converted to 50% rPP based on the mass balance approach for three of our main products,” says Bjørn Malm.

For now, TINE has introduced pots using rPP for their 300g Lettrømme 17%, 300g Seterrømme 35% and 300g Creme Fraiche 35%. Gradually, rPP will also be phased in on six other products in pots. In the long run, TINE is planning to use recycled PP for its entire portfolio of products for cooking.

The advantages of PP
”PP is a material with a lower climate footprint than PS because, among other things, it has a lower melting point and is therefore less energy intensive. Add to this the fact that 50% of the PP in our new pots consists of recycled PP (rPP), then we have improved the climate footprint of the pots quite a bit and we save 110 tonnes of virgin fossil plastic material,” Bjørn Malm explains.  

Further, TINE appreciates that PP cups are more robust than PS ones which, in turn, increases user functionality for the customer.

Great collaboration with Berry Superfos
TINE’s packaging partner for the new pots is Berry Superfos. Brand manager for TINE’s cooking assortment Camilla Løken says:

“Our collaboration with Berry Superfos has been very good, well focused and highly valued throughout the project. With a positive and helpful attitude and thanks to its ISCC PLUS certified site in Lidköping, Sweden, Berry Superfos made the conversion in a short time and showed great flexibility related to design deadlines and delivery of packaging on time to our facilities. Berry also followed up on large-scale testing at our productions facilities and has assisted during the test runs. In short, we are very satisfied with our collaboration.”