Putting sustainability into practice

Karl-Johan, how does the choice of plastics fit in with TePe’s sustainability journey?

– Plastic is simply outstanding in terms of application, quality and hygiene. That’s why we still use it in our products. To lower our environmental footprint, we’ve focused a lot on phasing out fossil raw materials and shifting to bio-based plastic. But we’re also looking at other ways of reducing the carbon footprint of our products and packaging, such as using new techniques and material combinations. It’s an exciting area with a lot of development going on.

 

What’s been decisive in TePe’s sustainability journey from your point of view as a product development manager?

– Working efficiently without unnecessary waste and respecting people and resources is part of TePe’s DNA. TePe’s first sustainable product, the GOOD toothbrush made from bio-based plastic, was actually initiated before sustainability became the word on everyone's lips. With the positive feedback on that product, and the fact that sustainability came higher on the agenda, it only felt natural to fully integrate sustainability into our product development process and phase out fossil materials altogether.

 

“Taking part in initiatives and research projects to explore new and better recycling solutions and materials is crucial” - Karl-Johan Grudemo, Product Development Manager, TePe

Why did you focus on materials?

– When we started looking at the whole lifecycle of our products, it became obvious that the choice of materials was the most relevant factor in reducing our carbon footprint. And at the same time, technical development made it possible for us to take big steps forward in terms of trying out new and bio-based solutions.

 

And then there’s the issue of what happens to the products after use. What can you say about that?

 – It is a complex question. Even if we assume, worst case scenario, that our products will be incinerated after use, it doesn’t mean that they actually go to incineration. Incineration generates energy, but it also releases carbon dioxide emissions. However, using bio-based plastic as much as possible will reduce the net add of fossil carbon dioxide.

– Also, plastic ending up in the environment is a huge problem. However, the industry is now moving towards a genuinely circular economy through so-called chemical recycling, or upcycling. It allows plastic materials to be recycled on a molecular level, restoring the material to virgin quality. There are several projects within the plastics and recycling industries to make upcycling more widespread. But it will take significant investments, cheap green energy, commitments and political initiatives to accelerate this shift –  a single company can’t make it happen.

 

From a carbon footprint point of view, what else is TePe focusing on, looking at the here and now?

– Parallel to the development of more sustainable materials, we make efforts to increase energy efficiency and lower the environmental impact of transport. For example, we have scaled up the transition from air to sea freight. We also strive to reduce materials and increase the recyclability of our packaging to reduce the footprint of waste. And taking part in initiatives and research projects to explore new and better recycling solutions and materials is crucial.

– Sustainability and circularity are complex matters, so it is important to keep discussing and communicating these questions in a transparent way. We learn and develop every day and constantly strive to put this knowledge into practice. That’s challenging, but also very rewarding – it’s a great feeling to be able to offer people more sustainable choices in everyday life.