Beyond Plastic: A Sustainable Path Forward for Industrial Container Solutions

Sustainability has become a key requirement in industrial operations. In the chemical, energy, food, and pharmaceutical industries, companies are expected to understand and reduce environmental impact across the full value chain. This includes storage and transport solutions such as IBC containers.

In recent years, attention has moved beyond recycling and material choice. Regulators, customers, and stakeholders now expect companies to consider the full lifecycle of industrial equipment. For IBC containers, this means durability, safety, traceability, and long-term usability.

“Sustainability is no longer a separate topic,” says Timo Raiskinmäki, Business Director at Finncont. “It is closely linked to safety, compliance and how long a product can be used reliably.”

Across Europe, regulation is pushing industry towards more responsible container solutions. In some countries, including France, restrictions on plastic containers have increased following serious industrial incidents and growing concern about environmental and health risks linked to certain materials.

Regulatory development has also extended producer responsibility beyond traditional consumer packaging. In France, French Decree No. 2025-1081, published in November 2025, established an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme for professional packaging. The scheme entered into force in January 2026, with eco-contribution obligations taking effect in July 2026, covering industrial, commercial, and catering packaging. It strengthens both waste management and sorting obligations for companies placing packaging on the market.

At the same time, EU-level legislation aims to reduce plastic waste, microplastics, and unnecessary replacement cycles. Together, these developments are driving many companies to reassess their container strategies and consider the full lifecycle impact of packaging choices.

“These developments drive long-term thinking,” Raiskinmäki explains. “Customers are asking how containers behave over time, not just how they perform on day one.”

In regulated industries, sustainability is closely tied to compliance. Containers that require frequent replacement increase waste, transport emissions and administrative burden. They also introduce repeated safety and handling risks. In this environment, durable and long-life container solutions support both regulatory compliance and responsible operations.

Finncont approaches sustainability through lifecycle responsibility. The goal is to design IBC containers that remain safe, compliant and usable for as long as possible.

Stainless steel IBC containers have a longer service life than many alternative solutions. They can be maintained, repaired, and reused. Over time, this reduces the need for replacement and lowers the total environmental impact.

“When one container replaces several short-life alternatives, the sustainability impact is clear,” Raiskinmäki says. “The focus should always be on total lifecycle, not just initial material use.”

Studies show that while stainless steel containers may have a higher initial footprint, their long service life leads to lower impact per year of use. Fewer replacements also mean less waste and fewer transport-related emissions.

The availability of spare parts over decades is a key part of lifecycle responsibility. Finncont supports IBC containers that are more than 25 years old, reducing waste and extending safe use far beyond typical replacement cycles.

Long service life plays an important role in reducing industrial waste. Containers that remain in use for decades generate significantly less material waste than solutions designed for short-term use.

Durable containers also help reduce the risk of environmental incidents. Fewer replacements mean fewer handling operations, fewer transport movements, and less exposure to potential damage.

“In high-risk environments, every handling step matters,” Raiskinmäki notes. “Reducing unnecessary handling is both a safety and a sustainability benefit.”

By supporting long-term use, Finncont’s IBC containers help customers reduce operational complexity while supporting environmental goals.

Sustainability also depends on material quality and sourcing. Finncont applies strict requirements to materials used in IBC containers. Purity, compatibility, and traceability are essential, especially in food and pharmaceutical applications.

All materials are documented, and supply chains are monitored to ensure responsible sourcing. This supports customer requirements related to audits, ESG reporting, and regulatory compliance.

“Transparency is a key part of responsibility,” Raiskinmäki says. “Customers need to know what materials are used and where they come from.”

Clear documentation also supports long-term maintenance and safe reuse, which are central to lifecycle responsibility.

Sustainable container solutions support more than environmental goals. They also improve predictability, compliance, and long-term operational stability.

In regulated industries, frequent container replacement can increase administrative work, inspection requirements, and downtime. Long-life IBC containers reduce these pressures and support smoother operations.

“Sustainability and business continuity are closely connected,” Raiskinmäki explains. “A solution that lasts longer and performs reliably supports both.”

By aligning safety, compliance and sustainability, Finncont helps customers meet current requirements while preparing for future expectations.

Finncont’s IBC containers are designed for organisations that take a long-term view. Sustainability is built into the design through durability, maintainability, and traceability.

As regulations continue to evolve, lifecycle responsibility will play an even greater role in container selection. Finncont’s approach provides customers with solutions that support environmental goals without compromising safety or compliance.

“Our responsibility is to help customers make choices that remain valid over time,” Raiskinmäki concludes. “That is what long-term sustainability means in practice.”