Pantamera-Returpack Teams Up with Hups to Boost Recycling Efficiency

In the photo (left to right): Kjell Petersson (Pantamera), Carita Classon (Pantamera) and Nicklas Grellson (Hups)

Background

Pantamera-Returpack operates within Sweden, where the government mandates a monetary deposit refund on all aluminium cans and PET Bottles to encourage recycling. In line with their commitment to enhancing recycling volume, efficiency, and sustainability, Pantamera-Returpack has recently started working with Hups. This collaboration is aimed at leveraging Hups' expertise in creating self-improving organisations with a focus on a flow-oriented operations strategy to further streamline their operations and improve the recycling process within the framework of the Swedish deposit refund scheme.   

Introduction to Business

Founded in 1984, Pantamera-Returpack is the sole operator of Sweden's approved recycling system for beverage containers with a deposit. They are responsible for collecting, processing, and recycling all aluminium cans and PET bottles, in 2022 the volume was 2.6 billion. With a workforce of 80, Pantamera-Returpack operates from a main factory and 22 terminals nationwide, driven by a commitment to improve the deposit system and address the growing demands of their operation. 

Including Every Employee

Pantamera-Returpack has already set the program in motion earlier this year when the improvement project leadership team started the training and preparations, reflecting a proactive approach to incorporating the flow-oriented operations strategy training provided by Hups. Now, following a successful kick-off with Hups before Easter, the leadership team members have introduced all members of their teams working in production, maintenance, and quality to the program with Hups.

The goal is to enable them to become self-improving teams by:  

• Understanding their flows
• Understanding the necessary resources for their flows (people/competencies, materials, information, facilities, equipment, etc.)
• Defining new ways of working that make the resources available
• Implementing the new ways of working
• Making it easy to maintain resource availability over time
• Repeating this process to continuously improve.

“With the collection rate of aluminium cans and PET bottles steadily increasing, we've seen the need to improve and make our operations within the factory more efficient. We've got off to a solid start with support from Hups and look forward to the ongoing collaboration. Through their knowledge and experience, Hups has been very effective in adjusting their method to fit our business needs."