EcoCortec, Jakob Schober GmbH awarded sustainability award for closed-loop circular films solution

EcoCortec® announced that, together with its partner Jakob Schober GmbH, it has been awarded the German Packaging Award 2025 in the "Sustainability - Overall Concept" category. This prestigious recognition highlights EcoCortec's and Jakob Schober’s tireless efforts in establishing a practical and effective closed-loop recycling system for its green VpCI® corrosion protection films and bags.

The German Packaging Award is Europe's largest and most significant showcase for excellence in the packaging industry. Organized by the German Packaging Institute with the support of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, it annually recognizes outstanding innovations across various categories, including functionality, design, economic efficiency, and crucially, sustainability. An independent jury of experts evaluates submissions from around the world, making the award a powerful statement of innovative strength and a standard for future industry developments. EcoCortec® and Jakob Schober GmbH, were honored for their "VpCI® Film with Recycling Concept." This groundbreaking solution addresses the critical need for sustainable practices in industrial packaging by establishing a genuine closed-loop system.

The project encompassed two key phases:

1. Development of a New, Recyclable VpCI® Film: The first step involved the creation of a new VpCI® film that is not only fully recyclable but also incorporates up to 30% Post-Consumer Recycled (PCR) content. This significantly reduces reliance on virgin materials and minimizes environmental impact.
2. Implementation of a Practical Circular System: EcoCortec® and Jakob Schober created a smart system to collect and recycle used VpCI® films from its customers in Europe. Croatian plant gets these films back to EcoCortec, often using the same delivery trucks, which makes things really efficient and helps lower its carbon footprint. Once they're back, EcoCortec® recycles them and uses that material to make brand new VpCI® films.

The independent jury praised the initiative, stating: "The outstanding achievement of Jakob Schober GmbH and its partners in creating a 'Closed-Loop System' for their innovative VpCI® corrosion protection film is being recognized. Many talk about circularity for packaging, but Jakob Schober, with its customers and partners, has demonstrated it in practice. This is impressive and deserves the German Packaging Award.”

"We are proud and honored to receive the German Packaging Award, especially in the Sustainability category," said Boris Miksic, CEO of Cortec Corporation. "The German packaging market is by far the largest in Europe, and we were nominated for this most important category. This is the first time ever that a VCI company has received such a prestigious award. It shows just how dedicated we are to our vision of sustainability. Secondly, it proves that the corrosion protection industry can indeed be very compatible with environmental awareness and protecting our communities. Our partnership with Jakob Schober GmbH has helped us turn the idea of a circular economy into something real. As the jury highlighted, many companies talk about circularity for marketing, but few actually put it into practice. We truly hope our project serves as a clear example that with a strong mission and a dedicated team, it's absolutely possible. This closed-loop system sets a new example for the industry, and we're excited to keep making it even bigger!" said Miksic.

Winning the German Packaging Award reinforces EcoCortec's leadership in the field of green corrosion protection and its active role in shaping a more sustainable future for the corrosion protection industry. It shows the company is committed to pushing limits and setting new standards, not just in making sustainable VCI/VpCI® packaging, but also in being responsible and caring for the community. The official German Packaging Award ceremony will take place on September 23, 2025, at Fachpack in Nuremberg.

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