Founded in 1886, Verstegen Spices & Sauces has been in the herbs and spices business for more than 130 years. The fourth generation is now at the helm of the Rotterdam-based family business. Hordijk has been supplying Verstegen with packaging for more than 30 years. We also hold stocks so that Verstegen always has packaging available on time.
More than 30 years of intensive collaboration
The partnership between Hordijk and Verstegen Spices & Sauces dates back to the 1990s. Bastiaan Koenen, Sales Manager at Hordijk, says: “In the beginning, it was mainly about blow moulded products. Later we also started to develop and produce various closures for Verstegen. Over the years, the collaboration has intensified and we regularly review our working methods.
Len Warmerdam, Senior Purchaser & Packaging Technologist at Verstegen:
We are always looking for ways to make each other better Sustainability, for example, is a high priority for us. Together with Hordijk, we look at where the entire chain can improve in this area. So that together we can continue to reduce our environmental footprint.
Reduce carbon footprint
To offset the CO2 emissions of 136 years of history. This is the ultimate goal of Michel Driessen, owner of Verstegen Spices & Sauces. Bastiaan says: “Together we are looking for ways to become more sustainable and reduce our carbon footprint. One example is reshoring and local sourcing. For example, the production of a cap used to take place on another continent. In addition, we are a warehousing partner for Verstegen, so last-minute deliveries are not a problem.
“This of course drastically reduces transport,” Len continues. “Hordijk is just around the corner from us, for glass bottles, this already has a huge impact on our collective carbon footprint. In addition, local sourcing ensures that we are literally and figuratively speaking the same language.
This year also brings a collaboration with Utrecht University, the Oiconomy project. Bastiaan explains: “It’s a method to determine the real price of products in the supply chain: the extra price for the sustainable version of a product. We did this with a jar of white pepper. It involves the pepper, the glass jar and the cap that we make here at Hordijk. We look at what the negative and positive contributions are and how we can optimise this. This also requires the necessary insight on our part, and the right certifications also help us with that.
New factory
Bastiaan continues: “We are investing a lot in sustainability. For example, we are ISO 14001 certified, with an addendum on CO2 reduction management. This enables us to set targets and contributes to sustainable cooperation. On a macro level, we are looking for ways to give food packaging a second life. Not to downgrade it to a non-food solution, but precisely so that we can reuse it as food packaging”.
Daring to invest with one another
The collaboration between Hordijk and Verstegen is based on trust and commitment. Len says: “It’s a collaboration where you strengthen each other and take on challenges that require investment. Within the chain, you depend on each other for sustainability. This requires commitment from all parties.
Bastiaan: “We have been blow-moulding spice shakers for Verstegen in Hordijk for years. At one point, we worked together to see if it was possible to reduce the weight while maintaining the functionality. In this way we reduce the amount of plastic we use. We have also been working for several years to make our machines and peripherals more sustainable. We have therefore switched from hydraulic machines to electric extrusion blow moulding and injection moulding machines for the production of Verstegen packaging”.
Focusing on circularity
For now and for the future, the main challenge for Hordijk and Verstegen is: full circularity. Len explains: “This means identifying opportunities and developments in the market. Of course, we can already do a lot. In the coming period, our focus is really on becoming fully circular.
Bastiaan continues: “Sustainability is often reflected in the mission and vision of both Verstegen and Hordijk. It says something about our cooperation and the way we organise it. From Hordijk, the focus is now on reusing packaging materials as food packaging. I look forward to working with Verstegen to achieve even more progress in sustainability”.