A spoon included in packaging for convenience products is nothing particularly groundbreaking. But Greiner Packaging and its joint venture partner Cardbox Packaging are now taking this idea to the next level in keeping with the principles of a circular economy. The result is a 100 percent recyclable cardboard spoon.
The use of disposable plastic cutlery will be banned in the European Union from mid-2021 – but a perfect alternative is being brought to market in the form of the new fold-out cardboard spoon developed by Greiner Packaging and Cardbox Packaging. Designed for enjoying dairy and snack products away from home, the spoon is right on track with both the convenience and sustainability trends: Consumers want food solutions that are easy to prepare and can also be enjoyed on the go – and they also want the food’s packaging and cutlery to be as user and eco-friendly as possible. Cutlery made of renewable resources such as cardboard, which is 100 percent recyclable in the paper recycling loop, taps into these exact trends. 
Smart and sturdy cardboard design
Folded just once, the sturdy cardboard spoon has a length of 10 cm, which gives it the perfect shape and size to conveniently consume dairy products, desserts, fruit, or various types of salad on the go. Thanks to its smart folding style and the innovative shape that resembles a bank card, the spoon is easy to use on the spot. The cardboard spoon is made from virgin fibers and is therefore approved for contact with food, while a water-based coating on the cardboard ensures the spoon can be safely used while eating. But customers can still have branding and a great look with this spoon, too. Custom printing is always available starting at a minimum order quantity. This process naturally uses special food-safe inks and coatings that meet the highest standard for food products.
The completely recyclable alternative
Once used, the folding cardboard spoon can be simply disposed of with other wastepaper. A water-based coating selected for the spoon makes it ideal for recycling in the standard paper recycling stream. Combining it with a top cup made of r-PET and polypropylene (PP) sealing film that can be fully removed from the lid results in a sustainable packaging solution with an excellent recycling profile: To access the spoon, the PP film is automatically separated from the lid. This ensures that the individual packaging components are 100 percent recyclable when correctly disposed of.
A key contribution toward a circular economy
The new cardboard spoon meets Greiner Packaging’s requirements for sustainability perfectly. The plastics experts are committed to the concept of a circular economy that aims to use plastic as sparingly as possible. When the cardboard spoon – which is made of renewable resources itself – needs to be disposed of, it is simply recycled in the paper loop.
We are delighted that more and more partners and customers want to work on sustainable packaging solutions with us. Developing recyclable packaging solutions not only makes sense for the environment but also offers commercial advantages. We are proud to play our part in advancing a circular economy with developments such as the cardboard spoon. Konrad Wasserbauer, circular economy director at Greiner Packaging
The cardboard packaging experts at Cardbox Packaging are also proud of the partners’ product innovation: “We were able to pool our expertise as we worked to develop the cardboard spoon, achieving a result that meets consumers’ expectations as well as doing something positive for our environment,” Florian Scharl, managing director at Cardbox Packaging, is pleased to note.
Everything from a single source
An automated process places the cutlery made of cardboard sourced from virgin fibers hygienically packaged in the lids, which are mainly made from r-PET. As such, the cutlery can be perfectly tailored to the needs of the project and the customers, although naturally, the cutlery is also available separately.
