Tomasz Doweyko Jurkowski, Manager R&D Innovation & Strategy, Duni Group
As foodservice businesses face growing pressure to reduce packaging waste and adapt to evolving regulatory requirements, the shift towards recyclable and more circular packaging solutions is gaining momentum. Duni Group is responding to this changing landscape by transitioning large parts of its Duniform range to mono-material polypropylene (PP), with the aim of improving recyclability while maintaining the functionality and performance required by foodservice operators.
The move reflects a broader industry shift towards design for recycling, material efficiency and packaging solutions that can work within existing recycling systems. At the same time, regulations such as the European Union’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) are accelerating the need for businesses to reassess their packaging portfolios and prepare for stricter circularity requirements.
In this interview with NUFFOODS Spectrum Asia, Tomasz Doweyko Jurkowski, Manager R&D Innovation & Strategy, Duni Group, discusses the key drivers behind the transition to mono-material PP, the technical considerations involved in maintaining product performance, and how the company is preparing its portfolio for the evolving regulatory landscape. He also shares insights into changing customer expectations and Duni Group’s priorities for advancing circular packaging solutions across the foodservice sector.
What were the primary drivers behind the decision to transition the Duniform range to mono-material polypropylene (PP), and how does this align with your broader sustainability strategy?
The main driver was to improve recyclability at scale while maintaining the same functionality and quality that our customers expect from the Duniform range. By transitioning large parts of the range to mono-material polypropylene, we are designing packaging that is better suited for existing recycling systems. This is also part of Duni Group’s long-term work to develop packaging solutions designed for recycling and to contribute to more circular solutions in foodservice.
How do these new solutions improve recyclability compared to conventional multi-material alternatives, and what impact do you expect this to have on circular packaging systems?
Mono-material packaging simplifies sorting and recycling, as the product is based on one material type. In this case, the material consists of pure polypropylene, with reduced use of additives and fillers, making the products more compatible with existing recycling systems compared with multi-material alternatives. We expect this to create better conditions for efficient sorting and recycling and to support the development of more circular packaging systems over time.
What were the biggest technical challenges in maintaining the same functionality and user experience while switching to sustainable materials?
The key challenge was to improve recyclability without compromising performance. Our customers rely on Duniform products for demanding applications such as takeaway, ready meals and catering, so it was important that the transition did not affect functionality, quality or ease of use. A central part of the development work was therefore to ensure that the products retain the same performance and areas of use, without requiring changes to customers’ operations, article numbers or way of working.
With the EU's Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) approaching, how is Duni Group preparing its portfolio, and what advice do you have for foodservice businesses navigating these changes?
Duni Group is continuously reviewing and developing its portfolio with recyclability, material efficiency and future regulatory requirements in mind. The transition of large parts of the Duniform range to mono-material PP is one example of how we are preparing our offering for increasing demands on circularity and recyclability. For foodservice businesses, our advice is to start reviewing packaging choices early, work closely with suppliers and choose solutions that are designed for sorting and recycling, while still meeting operational needs.
What trends are you seeing in customer preferences for sustainable packaging, and how are they shaping your product development roadmap?
We see that customers increasingly want packaging solutions that support their sustainability ambitions without adding complexity to daily operations. They are looking for solutions that are more recyclable, future-fit from a regulatory perspective and easy to implement. This is shaping our product development by increasing our focus on material choices, design for recycling, functionality and solutions that help customers make more informed packaging decisions without compromising performance.
What are Duni Group's next priorities in advancing circular packaging solutions?
Our priorities are to continue developing packaging solutions designed for circularity, improve material efficiency and support our customers in adapting to changing market and regulatory requirements. We believe that circularity requires different solutions for different needs and applications. Therefore, our focus is on offering a broad portfolio that includes reusable, recyclable single-use and compostable solutions where they make sense from a functional, environmental and infrastructure perspective.
