Today is a very important day. And even if we like to forget it, or we’re drowning in our busy daily lives, we cannot avoid it. On World Environment Day, we have to face, again and always, the harsh reality of our economic model: we cannot sustain our way of life anymore. And that's why sustainability is so important.
In a world where we live in an ecological deficit (according to Earth Overshoot Day), sustainability is no longer off-topic. It’s not a trend either, but an imperative, a necessity not only for the present, but mainly for the future of all humankind.
Sustainability means thinking about producing not only for now, but with the future in mind. It’s about using resources in a way that we can still produce tomorrow, without completely destroying our planet. According to the UN, sustainability is “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”
This translates into the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), also known as the Global Goals, adopted by the United Nations in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that by 2030 all people enjoy peace and prosperity. (UNDP SDGs)
To put it simply, according to FESPA “the concept of sustainability explores the relationship between economic development, environmental quality, and social equity.”
In that regard, at DALIM SOFTWARE, we are engaged in building a better future, and we always keep sustainability in mind. You can check how we apply the SDGs in our company.
Now, how does this affect the packaging industry?
The packaging industry hasn’t stopped growing, and the digitalization of consumer habits (for example, online shopping) is a fact that cannot be ignored. But how can this growing market integrate sustainability? Well, it has done so for quite a while now, with ideas that continue to be tested and explored. Changing materials, reusing them, and applying circular economy principles can be of great help.
We might first think about removing packaging altogether to avoid creating waste. But this isn’t possible for all products, as for example meat or cream. So a more realistic starting point would be to categorize what actually needs packaging for hygiene and safety reasons, and what doesn’t. That would already help reduce packaging waste.
Once that sorting is done, what can we do for the products that do need packaging? There are many alternatives:
Let’s remember the time when Coca-Cola used glass bottles and then switched to plastic. Going back to glass — a material known for its non-biodegradable nature, but also its durability — could help reduce waste and create more sustainable systems.
As for reducing waste, a growing trend in the industry is the use of secondary packaging as the main packaging, eliminating the need for additional outer boxes and reducing unnecessary waste. Amazon has embraced this approach through its "Ships in Product Packaging" program, which allows select items to be delivered in their original packaging without extra cardboard. As a result of these efforts, one in two Amazon shipments in Europe now arrives without an additional box, helping to eliminate the all-too-common “cardboard in more cardboard” scenario. Building on this, Amazon is now deploying automated packaging machines across Europe to further reduce waste by tailoring packaging more precisely to each order.
Another example of a company focused on sustainability in packaging is MELICHAR Bros. If you’re interested in more insight, don’t hesitate to check out our interview in the 28th edition of THE MAGAZINE.
From a legal perspective, several actions are currently underway. One notable example is the recent Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation, which complements the European Directive on packaging and packaging waste established in 1994. The main objective of the latter, as outlined in Article 1.1, is "to harmonize national measures concerning the management of packaging and packaging waste in order, on the one hand, to prevent any impact thereof on the environment of all Member States as well as of third countries or to reduce such impact, thus providing a high level of environmental protection."
In this context, the new Regulation could serve as a valuable addition to the Directive by introducing product-based requirements that specifically target the packaging of products placed on the market. Where applicable, these additional requirements are intended to help reduce the amount of packaging used, thereby contributing to the prevention of waste generation within the European Union.
Furthermore, Annex I (r) of the Regulation emphasizes the importance of considering the quantity of waste generated, including plastic and packaging waste, as well as the ease with which such waste can be reused. It also highlights the need to assess the amounts of hazardous waste produced, which serves as a basis for improving the environmental aspects of product design.
Another obvious way to waste less is to reduce printing mistakes and have a better system for reviewing and managing packaging creation. That’s where DALIM ES and DALIM TWIST come in.
DALIM ES streamlines the entire content journey, from creation to optimization, centralizing assets for easy access and reuse. It automates workflows, enhances collaboration, and ensures efficient project management. The platform adapts content for multi-channel distribution and scales to handle large volumes as your business grows.
You can inspect files with precision, zoom in for detailed views, compare revisions visually with color accuracy, and collaborate with real-time commenting and annotation tools. Approvals are streamlined with integrated workflows for quick, multi-stakeholder sign-off.
With TWIST, you can automate file validation, standardization, and color management. TWIST delivers outputs that reflect design intentions accurately. Using standardized color profiles and advanced conversion technologies, our software ensures consistent colors across all prints, matching designs and meeting client expectations. This precision reduces costly reprints and strengthens customer relationships.
TWIST also optimizes production layouts to reduce material waste and boost print efficiency. Intelligent automation makes sure workflows are optimized for sustainability, minimizing resource usage while delivering premium-quality results.
TWIST has been a key player in Shutterfly’s efforts to reduce paper waste by automating imposition workflows. By optimizing file layouts and removing manual steps, TWIST helps the company save an impressive 4 kilometers of paper daily. This automation not only enhances operational efficiency but also contributes to a more sustainable approach to printing, reducing material use and supporting eco-friendly practices in the industry.
Both TWIST and DALIM ES are fully aligned with sustainable practices. By digitizing and automating repetitive tasks, they reduce the need for paper-based proofs, manual corrections, and unnecessary reprints, which directly helps lower waste and carbon emissions. TWIST ensures files are print-ready and color-accurate the first time, minimizing material use, while DALIM ES centralizes content management to avoid duplicated efforts and asset loss. Together, they optimize resources, cut down turnaround times, and support an overall reduction in the environmental impact of content and packaging production.
You can access our White Paper on Packaging to learn more about our solutions here.
As a software company, we want to stay aware of our own impact. At DALIM SOFTWARE, sustainability is something we’ve been thinking about for a while. Our first real step dates back to 2014, when we decided to power all our operations with hydroelectricity from Switzerland. That was just the beginning.
Since then, we’ve:
Through all these actions, we’ve been able to avoid emitting around 375,000 kg of CO₂ and save over 100 plastic bottles every month.
And we’re still working on so much more.
Our latest projects include eliminating even more plastic waste, improving the sustainability of our daily commuting, and powering our buildings even more efficiently.
We’re happy to have you with us on this journey, and we believe in putting transparency first.
As mentioned above, sustainability is a necessity if we want humankind to move forward and create a future that is not only livable but thriving for all. Around the world, institutions and companies are working to reshape how we grow and operate with the goal of leaving a positive impact on the planet. We are never alone in this effort. We share this world not only with each other but with an unimaginable number of living beings that form the foundation of our rich and delicate biodiversity.
We must protect this treasure because once it is lost, we may never get it back. That is why sustainability must be considered in every sector, every decision, and every innovation. And that is where DALIM SOFTWARE can play a part, helping the packaging industry contribute its grain of sand to a much bigger, more hopeful picture.