According to the UN Environment Programme, over one million plastic bottles are purchased every minute, and up to five trillion plastic bags are used worldwide each year. In 2024, it is estimated that we will produce around 400 million metric tons of plastic waste. As a society, we need to rethink the way we produce, use, and replace plastic.
That’s why, at HUBER+SUHNER, driving sustainability in our products and operations is a fundamental aspect of our strategy. This commitment extends to considering environmental factors when creating new solutions and initiatives that benefit our customers.
Reducing our carbon footprint
We recently launched our latest sustainability initiative, which will see the number of single-use plastic bags fall by 2.2 million per year for indoor fiber optic cable assemblies packaging. The switch from plastic to 100 % recyclable FSC-certified paper packaging contributes to the company’s commitment to environmental responsibility and will also see a 50 % reduction in CO2 emissions for this segment (calculated according to ISO 14040, based on supplier data).
Additionally, the change will reduce the number of shipments by optimising the logistics process for packaging material by combining orders, with packaging material also being sourced regionally. Environmentally friendly packaging not only reduces our carbon footprint but also supports our customers in fulfilling their sustainability goals.
Our customer, digital infrastructure company Equinix, loves our new environmental-friendly packaging. They are committed to reducing their carbon footprint across the whole company, including the innovative design of data center cabling and working with partners to find new solutions that reduce the number of negative impacts on the environment.
“HUBER+SUHNER provides their products to us in packaging that is fully recyclable. This represents an important step in reducing plastic waste and protecting the environment,” said Equinix Senior IBX Customer Operations Technician, Jonathan Tisnerat.
Designed for complete customer satisfaction
The introduction of our new plastic-free packaging offers numerous benefits to our customers. In addition to its positive impact on the environment, the use of FSC-certified paper, which includes the bags, cable ties, and box tape, is easier and faster to open, saving valuable time during the installation process. As the paper covers and cable ties weigh less than the plastic previously used and fewer resources are consumed.
The newly designed packaging is completely dust-free, effectively reducing the potential for product contamination. This feature is particularly critical in data centers and data center applications, where indoor fiber optic cable assemblies are frequently used. In the event that the packaging releases dust, it can impact vital elements of the installation process and hinder overall operational performance.
