Anyone who’s ever stopped to look around them will know that there’s something magical about nature – but that it also has plenty of common sense. From the tenderest shoot on the grasslands to the fiercest lion on the savannah, everything is part of the infinite carbon cycle. It’s probably the most efficient and sustainable process in human history.
Nothing is left to chance. Each cell is where it needs to be, fulfils its purpose and, better still, does so at peak performance. But what happens next? What happens when it successfully completes its function? The matter will return to the earth and its essence will become part of other materials, without ever leaving this immense natural cycle. Waste is non-existent.
At Hinojosa, we observe, analyse and learn from the wisdom that surrounds us. For this reason, we’ve found that the most sustainable way to make our products is likely by trying to imitate Mother Earth. Making the most of all the resources that our environment offers us, to later return and reintegrate them in an infinitely circular process: no debris, and no waste.
We are circular natives
77 years of history stretch back a long way, but some things never change. At Hinojosa, we’ve always been circular natives. While our processes, through innovation, have evolved to improve day to day, our commitment to sustainability and circularity remains in our DNA.
Aware of the importance of responsible manufacturing processes, we’re committed to materials that are neither created nor destroyed. They simply transform. In fact, 99% of the raw materials we use have a renewable origin, and 88.14% of our resources have a recycled origin. Why give paper only one life when we can give it many, maintaining its usefulness?
This is how we do it: using the recycled paper we produce across our four paper mills, our packaging plants create sustainable packaging which, once it’s been used by end consumers, is put into the blue bin and returns to our paper mills.
A round trip
According to WWF Spain, society’s current model of production and consumption would need, on average, 1.75 planets to satisfy all our demand for natural resources.
The data is shocking. But what’s really surprising is the global effort we’re all making to adapt. There’s still a long way to go, and it’s vital that we move faster, but the path ahead is clear. We’re up to the challenge.
To minimise our ecological footprint as much as we can and enable more sustainable, efficient packaging solutions, at Hinojosa we’re committed – just like nature – to generating as little waste as possible. That’s why all our products always end up going back to where they started, and 95.17% of the waste we generate is sent to various recycling operations, too.
It’s precisely for this reason that plants like Hinojosa Paper Alquería and Hinojosa Packaging Xàtiva were the first in the packaging and paper sector to be certified with AENOR as Zero Waste. Now, our main aim is to gain this recognition for all our centres.
The water cycle occurs in our facilities, too
Circularity isn’t just a value to bear in mind for the raw materials that help us produce our packaging. It’s also key in the natural resources we use, like water and energy.
Just like in the natural environment, our facilities reuse the water resources that are used to create our products. Aware of their importance, we have systems that enable us to minimise this consumption.
In the same vein, we know it’s essential to focus on energy sources that have the least impact on the planet. For this reason, we’re continuing to invest in renewable energies, such as photovoltaic energy, in plants in Córdoba, Guadalajara and Valladolid.
We believe in the power of innovation, and especially in the potential of new ideas to further reduce our footprint. If the secret lies in nature, we’ll continue learning from it…
