Innovation

Saica firmly believes that innovation is one of its fundamental cornerstones in order to create value. The firm highlights four keys to innovation: Business development, Knowledge and skill development, Technological development, and Product development.

Saica promotes innovation in technology that respects the environment. They say that one of their main characteristics is that all of their products are recyclable and recycled. The firm is mainly known for manufacturing 100% recycled papers, optimizing production processes and minimizing costs.

But Saica has gone beyond the traditional recycling of paper. They use recycled materials in order to develop their paper, and their recycled paper allowed the firm to come up with the P-Flute wave, with which CO2 emissions that impact the environment are reduced, while at the same minimizing time they need for storage space for the packages by 23% and increasing the number of packages that fit per vehicle by 30%.

Inspiration

SAICA was born from an interest in using nature's resources for good. In 1943, members from the Balet family in Zaragoza (Spain) tried to work in the cotton market, but had to abandon the idea due to the Spanish Civil War, which closed borders to France. That is when they discovered that you can create paper from straw, and Saica was born. Later on, they decided to focus on recycled paper to create cardboard boxes, as it is a more sustainable method.

Since the very beginning, their motto was to be clean and efficient, an objective which drives them to this day. They follow a code of ethics and conduct based on helping each other and acting like a family. Ramon Alejandro, CEO of Saica, says that “I pledge to create a culture in which all of us can speak up without fear of retaliation”. This code shows the commitment that they have towards moral principles, honesty, and justice. The mentality to continue working in this way flows between the members of the company.

Saica’s inspiration was also driven by the passion that they had for innovating in new ideas on sustainability. That’s why they also created Saica Natur and Saica Paper, as part of their commitment to the circular economy, with the motto: “We bring value to your waste and reduce your environmental impact to achieve “Zero Waste”. The goal: “a cleaner atmosphere by eliminating the emissions of waste currently not recycled.” They have developed a system where inputs come from the consumer, and everything is recycled to come back to the consumer again.

Overall impact

Saica has been innovating since the day it started, and this has helped to position itself where it is today. When it started using the innovation to optimize the cardboard boxes, the results were clear. As more boxes could fit in the trucks, there were higher profits and less pollution as there were fewer trips. They also optimized the type of cardboard used for a lighter, thinner, and safer cardboard.

Moreover, as they have optimized the boxes, they make the most of their resources, being able to produce more with the same amount of raw materials. While doing that they still focus on the reduction of CO2 emissions as they continue with the Zero Waste goal.

Business benefit

As a company, Saica has proven that sustainability and profit do not have to be enemies. A company can be profitable as well as sustainable, and that could mean an advantage. This company, by using waste as its main material for their products, saves a lot of money and at the same time benefits the environment. Showing other companies that this can be done could mean a huge leap in the business mentality. Companies are using this example as one of the many reasons to jump on the sustainability and climate change battle bandwagon.

As it is commented in the previous sections, Saica is a sustainable company that cares about the environment, the wellbeing of their workers and manages to be financially stable. These are the three main points that characterize a sustainable company.

Another characteristic this business has is that it tries to reach Zero Waste, in the way that even though this innovation might cause some waste, they research for a way of using it as raw material for another product. Right now, they reuse about 97% of their waste. They are still investigating that 3%. Not only this, but Saica itself also takes used papel and carton to convert it into usable corrugated cardboard boxes.

Social and environmental benefit

The innovation optimizes the amount of raw materials used. This benefits the environment as it allows the company to create more output without pollution. According to data provided by Saica, nowadays with the Biomasa investment which are the trashcans of France, Saica has achieved a reduction of 90% in gas consumption as well as 75% of CO2 emissions.

Saica promotes other firms to work with an eco-friendly motive as well. The company's main motto is to be as careful and efficient as they possibly can with the environment, to be sustainable and promote this idea to society as they have been doing for the past 80 years. They have partnered with Opel Spain, Carrefour, and Auchan Retail Spain, showing their commitment to their aim.

Interview

Miguel Ángel Jiménez, R&D Director