Packnatur® Grip Protection Netting for Cardboard Packaging on Horizontal Net-Clipping Machines
Packnatur® Cellulose Tube Netting has become an integral part of the fruit and vegetable sections of domestic and international supermarkets. More and more product categories are being switched to this sustainable and compostable packaging made from beech wood. This includes fruit and vegetables, which is sold in trays and provided with a protective net for better handling and further protection of their contents.
The Global Plastics Treaty and why Recycling is not the Solution
From November 25 to December 1, 2024, representatives from all nations will meet for the fifth (and likely final) time at a UN conference in Busan, South Korea, to discuss the future of plastic management. The aim of the Global Plastics Treaty is to find a common approach to protect people, animals and the environment from the harmful effects of plastic waste in the future. Scientists are in agreement that these are enormous.
40x40 Ecotopia - Design Exhibition New York
What attempts and ways of creation approximate the harmony of nature and technology?
So much produce comes in plastic. Is there a better way?
The New York Times highlights Packnatur® Netting as alternative to plastic.
Upcycling Workshop at the FRida & freD children's museum
The upcycling exhibition ‘MIST?!’ is currently on display at the Graz children’s museum FRida & freD. Together with our designer Bettina Reichl, the children transformed leftovers from our net tube production into colourful, ‘compostable’ clothes on 17 July 2024 as part of the ‘Garbage becomes fashion’ workshop.
Saved by nature: Packnatur® has developed a mesh tube for premium fruit and bottles
The white foamed plastic nets have competition. Exquisite fruits such as mangoes or papayas can now also be individually wrapped in wood fibre and be well protected for transport. And there is also a lot more that can be sturdily packed in it. Bottles, for example.
Company Merger
In order to optimise our efforts and resources, we have merged our trading company, VPZ Verpackungszentrum GmbH, as the transferring company, with its sister company, Packnatur Entwicklungs- und Produktions GmbH. As of 1 July 2024, we are called Packnatur GmbH and are concentrating entirely on our Packnatur® Cellulose Tube Netting.
Production Expansion in Neudau, Austria
The full expansion of the Neudau plant for the production of wood-based net packaging was achieved with the commissioning of the fourth production hall in January 2024. Packnatur® Cellulose Tube Netting is a compostable alternative to plastic that can be used 1:1 on existing packaging machines.
"Design Everyday"
Interview by Sabine Dreher with our designer Bettina Reichl on the occasion of Vienna Design Week 2023
Wood-based Packnatur® nets from Austria on course for success in the US
Packnatur® Partner Jac Vandenberg wins US Plastics Pact Sustainable Packaging Innovation Award 2023 with beechwood fibre-based netting for bagged fresh produce from the thinning of FSC® or PEFC certified forests.
Packnatur® Neudau is expanding
Our machine park at the Packnatur® factory in Neudau is growing and has been expanded to include our latest test machines. Product diversifications are being developed there that will enable even more customers from a wide range of business fields to package their products ecologically in cellulose netting.
Food packaged in nature
Natura Alimentos is our new partner in Mexico and distributes fresh produce to the three biggest supermarket chains in Mexico and to one in the United States.
Out of Garbage
Millions of tons of plastic wind up in the sea each year and cannot be recycled in the usual way. Enormous rubbish patches have appeared in the oceans all over the world. “Out of Garbage” focuses on utilising ocean plastic for fanciful fashion purposes, thereby bringing a subject to the catwalk that makes us conscious of the fact that every individual can contribute with his or her lifestyle, habits and attitudes to combat the insanity of our throw-away culture. Out of plastic and back to nature.
10 years of Packnatur® beechwood netting
at Ja! Natürlich
Exactly 10 years ago the first Packnatur® net packaging made by VPZ VERPACKUNGSZENTRUM from LENZING™ Modal Color beechwood fibres for potatoes, onions, beetroot and black radish for the Ja! Natürlich brand of the REWE Group in Austria entered their stores. Customers for organic produce were enthusiastic and REWE Group generated several hundred likes on social media within a few hours of the market launch. A successful model for green packaging was born.
Eco-Turnaround on the Spanish Packaging Market
Over the course of last year Spain became one of our main export countries. One of the reasons for this is the fact that Spain wants to take up a leading role in reducing plastic packaging in general. Our Spanish partner for our Packnatur® Cellulose Tube Netting, TECNY MEDIA TRADING S.L. in Murcia, reports on the current situation.
Innovation Prize Styria 2022: Packnatur Entwicklungs- und Produktions GmbH from Neudau has been awarded the Prize for Sustainability.
Seaweed Bath Bag: Atlantic Irish Seaweed naturally packs seaweed in Packnatur®
Have you ever heard of a seaweed bath bag? Our customer Atlantic Irish Seaweed is another example for the versatility of our Packnatur® Cellulose Tube Netting. Seaweed baths are said to have multiple benefits for skin and general well-being. Thanks to our netting the bag can be disposed of as a whole after the bath in your home compost. Additionally, seaweed makes also an excellent fertilizer. A sustainable product with the perfect life cycle!
Ocean Harvest Bag™ powered by Packnatur®
Ocean Farm Supply in Brunswick / US is the exclusive distributor of the Ocean Harvest Bag™ specifically designed for the harvest and distribution of shellfish, eliminating the need for single-use plastic mesh bags. The concept for Ocean Harvest Bags™ was created and realized in cooperation with VPZ Packnatur®. A particularly tear-resistant net had to be developed for the hard and sharp-edged shellfish.
Tierra Tica - Costa Rica ticks green
This little Central American country has been a role model for ecological energy sourcing and eco-tourism. With the help of Tierra Tica, our local distribution partner, it is further developing the transition to sustainable packaging and a circular economy. Pablo Carter managed to bring our Packnatur® cellulose net tubes to Costa Rica.
Hello Hellagro!
Since 2020 Hellagro is distribution partner of VPZ´s Packnatur® Netting for Greece and Cyprus. We asked Nassos Valakas, Strategic Sourcing and Supply Chain Manager of Hellagro, about his first experiences with our biodegradable net products in the market.
Packnatur® meets Big Apple
Jac. Vandenberg, Inc. introduces VPZ´s wood-based netting to the USA.
Viva España! Viva PACKNATUR®!
The majority of fruits, citrus fruit and vegetables sold in European supermarket chains is grown and packed in Spain. Thanks to Tecny Media more of these will be packed in PACKNATUR® cellulose tube netting from VPZ Verpackungszentrum in the future.
Very british - Packing with environmental consciousness
Wholegood stands for entrepreneurial success offering selected quality in the organic fruits and vegetables sector. Most products are obtained from small independent growers in the UK and the EU.
Yes we can, Canada!
Bourassa Alimentation LTÉE has been supplying the region of Quebec with fresh products, fruit and vegetables for over 60 years. CEO Marc Bourassa started in January 2020 to pack his fruit and vegetables in our PACKNATUR® net tubes. Customers had been urging him more and more to stop using plastic for this purpose.
Riverford ditches plastic nets in favour of biodegradable alternative
Organic farmers and nationwide veg box deliverers, Riverford, have ditched plastic nets used to pack onions, citrus fruits and sprouts in favour of a compostable alternative made from beech tree pulp…
Packnatur® goes Down Under!
Because of our new sales partner Jenkins Freshpac Systems New Zealand our Packnatur® Cellulose Net Tubes made of LENZING™ Modal beechwood cellulose are now also available in supermarkets on the other side of the planet – in New Zealand.
Packnatur® meets Design
We always think nature is great. That’s why we are constantly developing innovative products with its support. Just like our Packnatur® Pick Pack reusable pouches in different versions, from fully woven to a transparent mesh look or our Packnatur® Pop-up bags in various designs.
Packnatur® Pop-up Bag awarded with Green Packaging Star Award 2021
The fact that less is often more is proven by the presentation of the Green Packaging Star Award 2021 for our Packnatur® beechwood-based Pop-up Bags. Less use of resources and more carrying volume characterise this carrier bag format in the form of a shopping net.
Barbara Lindmayr, Kumulierungen (Cumulations)
The artist Barbara Lindmayr paints pictures into rooms with our Packnatur® fruit and vegetable nets.
The ecological reusable bag for a healthy snack!
Since May the Swiss retailer Coop is offering a reusable snack bag made from wood. After the introduction of the “Multibag” in 2017 for buying loose fruit and vegetables, which is still very popular, Coop is expanding its repertoire of beechwood-based reusable bags from VPZ Verpackungszentrum to include a pretty, reusable snack bag.
Nicole Pruckermayr – eco-social art with netting
In her current independent projects “Hier könnte ein Baum stehen” (“There could be a tree here”) and “Gina liebt” (“Gina loves”) Nicole Pruckermayr uses our beechwood-based Packnatur® Cellulose Tube Netting to create compostable structures and connect people.
FORUM PER IL FUTURO
The event series FORUM PER IL FUTURO (FORUM FOR THE FUTURE) sees itself as a marketplace for innovative, creative ideas and initiatives for the ecological and social shaping of the future of our society and our planet.
Success. Entirely without plastic.
Packaging pioneer Susanne Meininger receives the Austrian Female Entrepreneurship Award 2022
This year, the Austrian Female Entrepreneurs AWARD, a joint award presented by “Women in Business” and the daily national newspaper “Die Presse”, took place for the eighth time. Outstanding female entrepreneurs who convinced the jury for their courage, innovative energy, creativity and their own special entrepreneurial success story were awarded in five categories.
Marley Spoon delivers recipes and fresh ingredients in their mealkit to people’s homes. Along for the ride: our Packnatur® Pick Pack.
Good news for all the home chefs out there! Marley Spoon is partnering up with Packnatur to supply their customers in Dutch and German-speaking countries with a sustainable option to keep their fresh ingredients from their mealkits in order. The Packnatur® Pick Pack net bag made from food-safe and FSC® certified LENZING™ Modal Color fiber is going to be included in some Marley Spoon meal kits customers will receive this year.
Hay in sight
The manufactury „Heuwiesl“ in Seewalchen am Attersee at the foothills of the Alps packs their bundles of hay and straw in our Packnatur® Cellulose Tube Netting. And that’s simply a feast for the eyes.
We are HIPEd!
Because of its high level of professional competence and excellent service quality VPZ was honored with the High Performance Award 2021, Europe’s most sought after award for the service industry.
BRINGiT brings it
“You don’t need to become an eco-warrior overnight.Take it one product at a time, and work your way up,” says Deb Singer, the leader of the plastic bag ban at Whole Foods and co-founder of BRINGiT reusable shopping bags. “Starting with one thing makes it more palatable to make other changes.”
Handelsmerkur 2021 for VPZ
VPZ was chosen as the winner in the category “over 10 employees” by the specialist jury for its focus on ecological and innovative packaging developments.
Our beechwood-based shopping bag - Packnatur® Pop-up Bag - has been nominated for the Green Packaging Star Award 2021
Our beechwood-based shopping bag - Packnatur® Pop-up Bag - has been nominated for the Green Packaging Star Award 2021
Manfred Kern, entrepreneur with every fibre
Manfred Kern has been shaping the Austrian textile industry for a great number of years.
Coop Switzerland introduces reusable produce bags
The retailer says that the Multi-Bag provides an environmentally friendly alternative for customers who do not want to waste single-use plastic bags for their fresh produce.
European Business Awards 2016/17
Let´s make the world a better place
Alexander van der Bellen does it, Maria Furtwängler and Hermann Maier do it, Prince Charles, Jane Goodall and James Cameron do it too. They all proactively support the implementation of climate goals and were some of the very well-known speakers…
Sustainable packaging solutions made from beechwood
Austria based VPZ Verpackungszentrum has created a new type of packaging for fruit and vegetables.
Markus Kainer appointed head of the PACKNATUR® division
Over the past three years, he has made a significant contribution to the success of VPZ…
VPZ is the winner in 4 categories at the WorldStar Packaging Awards 2018
The WorldStar Packaging Awards are the Oscars of the packaging industry. It is therefore a tremendous honour for VPZ to have won awards in 4 different categories.
The Swiss Coop introduces new, reusable organic packaging from Graz
Fruit and vegetables are in for a new look! The reusable PACKNATUR® cellulose bag made from Lenzing Modal® is the latest 100% wood fashion …
Compostable nets offer eco-friendly option for produce packaging
Biodegradable packaging that gives supermarkets an organic alternative to using plastic to bag fresh fruit and vegetables has caught the attention of Fruit Logistica’s Innovation Award 2014 judges.
Transpackaging
Commerce, science, society, art… ‘Transpackaging’ analyses and questions many topics.
You consume, you decide
The International Forum of Cultures is an event organised under the patronage of UNIDO, which aims to open up the dialogue between cultures and spark global talks about sustainability…
Dissolution included
Students from the Institute of Contemporary Art at Graz University of Technology have interspersed the long-established, permanent works in the Austrian Sculpture Park with new, self-decomposing temporary works composed of transient flowers.
Traditional Natural Packaging
During tours of Vietnam in 1993, 1995 and 1999, Bettina Reichl observed how skilfully the Vietnamese use natural raw materials to package everyday products.
Vegetable market
This beautiful island is committed to sustainability for its commercial future, across all sectors of the economy – including tourism, textile manufacturing and many others.
The Garbage Patch Design
Plastic has dominated the packaging market for the past 60 years. A garbage patch the size of central Europe – floating in the Pacific – was discovered for the first time in 1997.
Ja! Natürlich takes a tram ride through Vienna for Thanksgiving.
On board: our PACKNATUR® Pick Pack reusable bag made from LENZING™ Modal beech wood cellulose
Sustainable direct mailing: One Packnatur® Pick Pack for every home in Vienna Josefstadt!
A plastic-free future: This is the common goal of our customer BILLA and Josefstadt, the 8th district of Vienna.
Kolektio Sakoj
The exhibition KOLEKTIO SAKOJ by the artist Karmen Janĉar, who lives in the border town of Gornja Radgona (Bad Radkersburg), is first and foremost a display of her extensive plastic bag collection. The artist began her collection as a young girl back in the 1970s, when she lived in former Yugoslavia, on the border between Slovenia and Austria.
Plastic Bag Fund Project
For a number of years, I have been playing around with the idea of creating my own interdisciplinary initiative, think tank or organisation focused on sustainability, art and culture…
Production of PACKNATUR®
VPZ Verpackungszentrum GmbH opens new factory in Neudau, Styria (Austria), to produce its beechwood based PACKNATUR® tube nettings, which does not only create new jobs but also opens new perspectives in the textile industry.
