Recycling made easy – Valio packaging is designed to be recycled
All Valio single-use packaging sold in Finland has been designed for easy recycling in packaging collection systems. None of them should be disposed of with mixed waste. These tips will make recycling a breeze and minimise the volume of mixed waste. Mother Nature will thank you!
Be a recycle hero!
Packaging that includes the new, easy-to-find, plain-language recycling instructions makes everyday life easier.
You can find the recycling instructions for all Valio products on our product pages.
Recycling paperboard containers
Valio uses many different sizes and designs of paperboard containers. Each of them always has the same recycling instructions: rinse and crush the container and put it in the cardboard recycling.
If the packaging has a plastic cap, the cap goes in the plastic recycling. The small metallic foil lid that’s found on some of our paperboard packaging goes in the metal recycling.
Plastic cups go in plastic recycling
Plastic cups, like yoghurt cups, are put in the plastic recycling. Plastic lids also go in the plastic recycling and aluminium lids go in the metal recycling.
Paperboard wraps instead of plastic
Cups wrapped in paperboard contain less plastic – and that’s good for the environment. Also recycling is easy: remove the paperboard wrap from the plastic cup and put it in the cardboard recycling. The plastic cup and plastic lid go in the plastic recycling, and the aluminium lid goes in the metal recycling.
If the packaging has a detachable plastic lid, it also goes in the plastic recycling.
New paperboard cups
Paperboard cups manufactured using a new technology are recycle-ready to be put in the cardboard recycling and the lid in the metal recycling. Paperboard cups are currently used for the small Luonnonjogurtti + and Oddlygood® gurt products, and soon for the Valio PROfeel® protein quark snacks.
Ice cream cups into cardboard recycling
Recycling a paperboard cup is easy: it goes in the cardboard recycling. An aluminium lid goes in the metal recycling and a paper lid in the cardboard recycling.
Cheese packaging is sorted into plastics
Our cheeses are packaged mainly in plastic packaging, which makes them easy to recycle: cheese packaging goes in the plastic recycling.
However, there are a few exceptions, including Valio AURA® and Koskenlaskija® cheeses; the instructions for recycling the packaging of these products are clearly marked on each package.
Easy in professional kitchens too!
Product volumes in professional kitchens are bigger, so a bit more is required also from the packaging. Even so, recycling is just as simple.
Corrugated cardboard boxes are recycled in the cardboard recycling and the inner plastic parts or bags go into the plastic recycling. Tubs and plastic pans go into the plastic recycling.
Butter wrap goes with cardboard recycling
This might come as a surprise: Valio’s butter wrap goes in the cardboard recycling. Plastic bottles and containers from fat-based products go in the plastic recycling.
Easy crushing rule!
What about the silvery lid of something like a yoghurt cup? Does it go in the plastic or the metal recycling?
There’s an easy rule for this. Crush the material and watch what happens. If it returns to its original shape or close to it, it contains mostly plastic so it goes in the plastic recycling. If it stays in the crushed form, it’s mostly made from aluminium so it belongs in the metal recycling.
What happens to recycled packaging?
Plastic packaging goes to a plastic refinery where it is used to make recycled plastic for use as a raw material in products like plastic bags and various structures, like decking boards.
The aluminium from yoghurt and fermented milk cups is used as a raw material for new metal products.
Valio strongly promotes the recycling of materials and is a co-owner of Suomen Kuitukierrätys Oy and Suomen Uusiomuovi Oy.
Raw material from packaging!
Valio uses recycled plastic in the packaging of sliced cheeses and triangle-shaped gourmet cheeses as well as in Valio MiFU® product packaging.
The paperboard wrap of Valio Koskenlaskija® goes in the cardboard recycling.
