The sporting goods manufacturer Puma says it has reached important milestones in sustainable packaging: plastic bags have been banned worldwide and almost all paper packaging comes from recycled or FSC-certified sources. Packaging is increasingly seen as a strategic sustainability issue, as can be seen in the company's current Voluntary Sustainability Report 2024.
In it, the Group reports „significant progress in the switch to more environmentally friendly packaging solutions“: 99 per cent of paper and cardboard packaging is now made from recycled material or is FSC-certified. The aim is to consistently reduce the use of primary raw materials in the packaging sector.
By eliminating plastic bags in all stores and switching to paper-based alternatives, Puma is specifically focussing on paper packaging as a more sustainable solution, especially in retail and shipping.
Plastic bags abolished in Puma stores worldwide
Since 1 January 2023, all plastic bags have been removed from Puma's global retail network - a target announced in 2022 as part of the Group-wide sustainability programme 10FOR25. The company is thus clearly committed to avoiding waste and promoting circular material flows in the packaging sector.
Paper packaging is part of the regularly recorded material data and key sustainability figures - particularly for the subsidiary brands stichd and Cobra Golf, where packaging and label management are systematically analysed.
In addition to specific measures to reduce packaging, Puma says it is embedding the topic in a broader circular economy strategy. This includes recycled textiles and product materials (e.g. polyester, cotton, leather) as well as take-back systems, for example in Germany, France and India. Packaging is explicitly part of the material analyses and sustainability assessment in the supply chain and product development.
Packaging integrated into supply chain and audit processes
As part of its supply chain strategy, Puma ensures that sustainability requirements also apply to packaging suppliers. For example, FSC certifications must be documented and packaging data is part of the company-wide audits and reporting. The materials used are regularly analysed - also in terms of their recyclability and carbon footprint.
Source: Puma
