The BIOGENA eco-can
Our eco-friendly can is an innovative packaging solution made from plant-based materials obtained from sugar cane processing residues.
Because sustainable packaging is more than just ‘recyclable’
The eco-can is an innovative packaging made from plant-based materials. More specifically, it is made from a bio-based plastic derived from sugar cane processing residues. These residues – such as the upper and lower thirds of the plant and the so-called press cake – are produced in large quantities and are not suitable for food production. Instead of leaving them unused, we use them as the raw material for our sustainable can.
Why is that better for the environment?
Because the sugar cane used binds large amounts of CO₂ from the atmosphere during its growth. This advantage is retained: the resulting bioplastic stores more CO₂ than is released during its production. The result: a negative CO₂ balance of up to –2.12 kg CO₂ per kilogram of material.
Every can counts. Literally.
- 274 tonnes of CO₂ saved per year
- That is approximately 1.9 million kilometres driven by car
- That is equivalent to approximately 47 trips around the world by car
- Or a forest the size of 30 football pitches would have to grow for a year to bind the same amount of CO₂.
Looks like conventional plastic? But it isn't!
The can may look like conventional plastic, but thanks to the switch to the eco-friendly version, we at BIOGENA save over 274 tonnes of CO₂ every year. This corresponds to the CO₂ emissions of around 1.9 million kilometres driven by car.
Our can is:
The journey from sugar cane to eco-friendly can
Why did we change the design of our can?
Our new can design is the result of extensive customer feedback and our commitment to making products that are not only sustainable but also more practical for everyday use.
- The new screw cap ensures optimised opening and comfortable handling.
- The new design prevents damage to the break point, which occasionally occurred with older formats.
- A grooved lid also makes the tin easier to open and close – even with wet hands or on the go.
FAQs about the eco-friendly can
What appears sustainable at first glance is not always so. To compare packaging fairly, you have to consider its entire life cycle – from production to transport to disposal. This is exactly what environmental assessments do. Our analyses show that our eco-friendly tin made from bio-based plastic is the best solution for single-use packaging because it weighs little, saves CO₂ and is recyclable.
A refill system sounds good – but it only works if lots of people reuse the tin multiple times. This is not currently the case with our customers. In addition, returning, storing, cleaning and checking labels would be very time-consuming – and would cause additional CO₂ emissions. Paper packaging for refills is also out of the question for us, as it does not provide enough protection for our high-quality micronutrients.
We made a conscious decision to avoid conventional plastic and opted instead for a special bioplastic made from sugar cane waste. This bio-based plastic saves over 5 kg of CO₂ per kg of material and is 100% recyclable. This allows us to protect our products optimally while making a positive contribution to the climate.
Our cans sometimes look larger than their actual capacity would suggest. There is a good reason for this:
Our entire production process is geared towards three standardised can formats. This enables us to fill them in a particularly efficient, resource-saving and hygienic manner.
The advantages:
- fewer machine changeovers → saves energy
- less packaging material → reduces waste
- smooth storage and shipping
- maximum protection for sensitive capsules
In short: the slightly larger tin ensures greater efficiency, quality and sustainability behind the scenes – even if it looks a little emptier on the outside.
