Greiner making yogurt pots even more sustainable
Diepoldsau/Lucerne/Estavayer-le-Lac – From 2026, Greiner Packaging will be replacing the middle of the three layers in its K3 cups with recycled polystyrene. These cardboard-wrapped cups are above all used for yogurt. They are being introduced together with the dairy processors Emmi and Elsa Group.
(CONNECT) Greiner Packaging has installed a new production line at its site in Diepoldsau in the canton of St.Gallen in order to be able to produce an innovation for the Swiss market from the first quarter of 2026: K3 cups, which allow for a share of recycled polystyrene. According to a company information from greiner packaging, this will reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 10 percent compared to previous K3 multipack cups made of virgin polystyrene.
K3 is a cardboard-wrapped plastic cup used for yogurt and other dairy products. It is already considered an environmentally friendly packaging solution, since the wrap is mostly made from recycled cardboard, significantly reducing the amount of plastic used. It can also be easily separated from the cup, which makes recycling much easier.
Greiner packaging is replacing the middle of the three inner layers of the new K3 cup with mechanically recycled polystyrene from Germany. The outer and innermost layers will still be made of virgin material to ensure the required food product safety. “Sustainable consumption is thus possible without any behavioral changes,” greiner writes.
The market introduction is happening together with two of Switzerland’s biggest dairy processors, Emmi from Lucerne and the Elsa Group from Estavayer-le-Lac in the canton of Fribourg. The aim is to gradually convert the entire K3 multipack range to the new cups over the first half of 2026.
Marc Heim, Head of Switzerland Division in the Emmi Group, explains that they are “making an important contribution to promoting the circular economy”. The Elsa Group’s CEO Matthew Robin underlines that: “By exploring new paths together, we not only contribute to climate protection but also create solutions that are easy for consumers to understand and implement.” Greiner Packaging International is headquartered in Kremsmünster in Austria. ce/mm