Upcycling at Handtmann: Trade fair banners become sustainable bags
The scope for sustainable action is large. The Biberach family company Handtmann has included sustainability in its canon of values and bases its activities on this principle. The Filling and Portioning Systems (F&P) division has been a member of the VDMA sustainability initiative Blue Competence for many years and is thus committed to complying with the sustainability principles of European mechanical and plant engineering. Accordingly, the system platform of Handtmann's core product is designed and certified in accordance with the latest energy efficiency criteria of the TÜV-SÜD-EME standard. At the same time, the company has been committed to alternatives in food processing for more than two decades and has been developing resource-saving product concepts. These include hybrid, vegan and vegetarian products as well as a wide range of product alternatives in the meat, dairy, baked goods and confectionery, fish and pet food sectors. Handtmann exhibits these pioneering machine solutions and food concepts at numerous events and trade fairs.
Upcycling trade show banners
Handtmann's trade fair concepts also focus on sustainable aspects, from the reuse of stand elements to the recycling of trade fair banners. The trade fair graphics are printed on high-quality, non-flammable but resilient material. Since themes and stand dimensions vary from trade fair to trade fair and cannot be reused for stand construction, the countless square meters of fabric are given a second life in an alternative and sustainable form. In the Handtmann project "FROM SHOW TO SHOPPER", the trade fair banners are used in an upcycling process by the specialist company RECICLAGE to make shopping bags. The manufactory manufactures its products by hand at the company headquarters in Alzenau. "Our mission is to create one-of-a-kind items from recycled materials and thus to use resources responsibly," explains Julian Dürr from RECICLAGE and adds: "We also give people with a refugee background the opportunity to learn new trades and practice jobs. When sewing the upcycling unique pieces, we also support people with disabilities to participate in life and society on an equal footing".
Improving the CO2 balance in the trade fair business
Upcycling is not the one solution for a sustainable corporate culture. Upcycling is one of many building blocks for making a company more ecological. Handtmann took this step to expand the Co2-To further improve the balance sheet of its trade fair and advertising appearances. Harald Suchanka, CEO at Handtmann F&P, is convinced: "Every Handtmann shopper bag tells a very special, individual story. By passing them on to our employees, we always give them a bit of identification with our own company.”
