EcoCortec^®, a manufacturer of sustainable corrosion protection packaging and the European company of Cortec^® Corp., announced that, with its partner Jakob Schober GmbH, it has been awarded the German Packaging Award 2025 in the Sustainability — Overall Concept category. The award recognizes EcoCortec's and Jakob Schober’s efforts to establish a practical and effective closed-loop recycling system for its green VpCI^® corrosion protection films and bags. 

Organized by the German Packaging Institute with the support of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, the German Packaging Award annually recognizes outstanding innovations across various categories, including functionality, design, economic efficiency, and sustainability. An independent jury of experts evaluates submissions from around the world. EcoCortec and Jakob Schober GmbH were honored for the VpCI Film with Recycling Concept. The technology addresses the critical need for sustainable practices in industrial packaging by establishing a genuine closed-loop system.

The project encompassed two key phases:

• The creation of a new VpCI film that is not only fully recyclable but also incorporates up to 30% Post-Consumer Recycled (PCR) content, significantly reducing reliance on virgin materials and minimizes environmental impact.
• Implementation of a practical circular system where the two companies created a smart system to collect and recycle used VpCI films from customers in Europe. The film is returned to EcoCortec, often using the same delivery trucks, where they are recycled 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 Corp. "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 Boris Miksic, CEO and owner of Cortec Corp.

Learn more about Cortec and its technology at www.cortecvci.com. 

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