naturally creative and passionately innovative · 2019-10-23 · naturally creative and...

Naturally creative and passionately innovative

Helmut Meininger founded the VPZ Verpackungszentrum – a company that sells food packaging – in Graz in

1982. Our portfolio is still traditional and includes paper bags, films, nets and trays. In 1989, Susanne

Meininger took over the reins from her father and began working with him to introduce a new

environmental focus to product development. This change of course was more the result of personal

conviction than a financially driven business decision. In March 2019, Markus Kainer was appointed as the

second Managing Director of VPZ, heading up Packnatur®.

From the outset, we have made it our mission to play an active role in shaping our future. We channel our

creativity into new packaging concepts that contribute towards a better environment. As a result, we are

market leaders in the development and sale of biogenic packaging. New product development is part and

parcel of our success. We turn seaweed into foam, plants into film and beechwood into netting –

innovative concepts that result from our quest for high-quality, environmentally friendly solutions.

A number of these innovative solutions have already made it onto the market. VPZ has an active research

and development team, driven by passion and by the continual need to set new benchmarks in terms of

quality. Biogenic and ingenious. Or perhaps bio-ingenious?

We adopt an old-fashioned approach when it comes to customer service, which is why we are always

happy to take the time to help you. We offer the same level of service to the owner of a fruit stall on the

market as we do to international retail chains.

Our employees have a direct say in business decisions. We consider concepts that are supported by the

whole team to be key. We encourage teamwork that is built upon the strengths of each individual and

which allows us to grow towards greater goals. We don't shy away from taking risks. We're a creative,

innovative team with curious minds. And of course, we're naturally passionate about what we do.

Besides the standard packaging range, VPZ also sells biodegradable packaging such as cellulose tube

netting, natural fibre sacks, groundwood packaging, disposable tableware made from sugar cane bagasse,

starch packaging, disposable, wooden cutlery and an extensive range of paper packaging. Our creativity

knows no bounds when it comes to developing new, environmentally friendlier concepts for packaging.

Today, 84% of our products are of biogenic origin. And that's the way it should be! Deriving foam from

seaweed, biopolymers from agricultural waste or netting from cellulose fibres has nothing to do with

science fiction. These are actual research projects on which VPZ have been working since 1992. Mother

Nature offers a whole range of solutions that VPZ exploit, working in close cooperation with researchers,

designers, technical experts and customers. Today, VPZ unites a business-oriented concept with an

environmentally focussed approach.

Our research and development projects at a glance:

ALGINSULATE FOAM

In cooperation with the Institute of Process and Particle Engineering at Graz University of Technology,

Univ. Prof. DI Dr. Michael Narodoslawsky

BIOPOLYMERS DERIVED FROM AGRICULTURAL WASTE

In cooperation with the Institute of Biotechnology and Biochemical Engineering at Graz University of

Technology, Univ. Prof. DI Dr. Gerhart Braunegg and Dr. Martin Koller

ORGANIC NET BAGS MADE FROM NATURAL FIBRES

Developed as part of the 'Factory of the Future' (Fabrik der Zukunft) initiative, a cooperative project

involving the Austrian Ministry for Transport, Innovation and Technology (BMVIT) and the Austrian Research

Promotion Agency (FFG)

CELLULOSE TUBE NETTING

In association with Lenzing AG, Borckenstein and the vegetable grower's association, Marchfeldgemüse

PLANT-DYED NET PACKAGING

In association with the Institute for Textile Chemistry and Textile Physics at Innsbruck University,

Univ.Prof.Dr. Thomas Bechtold, and the Schöller Spinning Group

ORGANIC WINEGLASS LABELS

In association with IM Polymer, Lenzing Plastics and the vegetable grower's association, Marchfeldgemüse

REUSABLE CELLULOSE BAGS

In association with Lenzing AG, Borckenstein

Bronze. Silver. Gold

Recycled paper.

AWARDS FOR VPZ

2019 SUSTAINABLE FOOD AWARDS / Category Sustainable Packaging / Runner-up

2019 RUSHLIGHT AWARDS commended 2018/19

2018 SMART PACKAGING STATE PRICE FOR PACKAGING

2018 WORLDSTAR PACKAGING AWARD, Category Food Packaging, Sustainable Award in silver,

Presidential Award in bronze, Lifetime Achievement for company founder Helmut Meininger

2018 ENERGY GLOBE AWARD STYRIA, Category “International”

2018 Susanne Meininger nominated for the STEIRERIN AWARDS

2017 Nominated as “SUSTAINABLE DESIGNER OF AUSTRIA” by Lebensart Verlag (Lebensart Publishing

House) / Businessart

2017 GREEN PACKAGING STAR AWARD

2017 EUROPEAN CEO ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR AWARD / Western Europe / Packaging Industry

2016 National Champion at the EUROPEAN BUSINESS AWARDS 2016/17

2016 GREEN PRODUCT AWARD

2016 6th PLACE IN THE GLOBAL RANKING of the last 8 years of A´ DESIGN AWARD entrants, in the

'Sustainable Products, Projects and Green Design Award' category

2015 Nomination at the HANDELSMERKUR AWARDS

2015 Nominated STYRIA'S FEMALE ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR

2015 Nomination at the TRIGOS AWARDS for Styria

2015 Top 3 in the 'Manufacturing' category at the international GREEN TEC AWARD

2014 TOP 7 GRAZ ENTERPRISE OF THE YEAR 2014 in the 'Business' category

2014 AUSTRIA´S LEADING COMPANIES, Top 10 (ranked 8th) in the 'Sound small business' category in Styria,

winner of the Austrian PWC SUSTAINABILITY AWARD in the 'Sound small business' category

2014 Top 10 STYRIAN OF THE DECADE – run by the Kleine Zeitung – in the 'Bright Minds' category

2014 GREEN PACKAGING STAR AWARD

2014 Silver in the 'Sustainable Products and Projects/Green Design Award' category at the international

A´ DESIGN AWARD

2014 Nomination at the FRUIT LOGISTICA INNOVATION AWARD

2013 ÖGUT ENVIRONMENTAL AWARD

2013 International MATERIALICA DESIGN + TECHNOLOGY AWARD Best of CO2

2013 FAST FORWARD AWARD (Styrian business and innovation award)

2013 FIBRE PLUS (award presented by the Austrian paper industry for innovative cellulose products)

2013 NOMINATION at the ENERGY GLOBE AWARD AUSTRIA

2013 ENERGY GLOBE AWARD STYRIA

2012 Cellulose tube netting commended as an 'EXEMPLARY PACKAGING SOLUTION' at the AUSTRIAN

PACKAGING AWARDS

2012 DAPHNE ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY BRONZE AWARD for the cellulose tube netting

2011 Nomination for outstanding performance at the PRIMUS AWARDS hosted by Kleine Zeitung, the

State of Styria and the Chamber of Commerce.

2011 EUF AWARD for successful female company succession

2010 Nomination at the AUSTRIAN CLIMATE PROTECTION AWARDS

2008 The biopolymers project voted 'Excellent project' at the DAPHNE ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY

AWARDS

2007 CREATIVE GRAZ AWARD

2006 ÖGUT ENVIRONMENTAL AWARD – nomination in the 'Innovative environmental technology' category

2006 2nd place at the international RIO AWARD for the Alginsulate foam project

2006 Nomination at the EUROPEAN BUSINESS AWARDS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

2005 Nomination at the WRAP AWARD

2005 TRIGOS – Nomination for the Alginsulate foam project

2004 TRIGOS – award for the development of organic net bags

2001 ÖGUT ENVIRONMENTAL AWARD – recognition award in the 'Women and environmental technology'

category

2001 Commendation as an ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS MANAGER by the Umweltschutz magazine

2001 ECO DESIGN AWARD

2000 Nominated for 'Exemplary packaging solutions' at the AUSTRIAN PACKAGING AWARDS

1997 EMBALLISSIMO/PRINTISSIMO (award from the Austrian paper industry)

1997 ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AWARD FROM THE CITY OF GRAZ

1995 ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AWARD PRESENTED BY THE STYRIAN STATE GOVERNMENT

1995 INNOVATION AWARD FROM THE STYRIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

1994 Susanne Meininger – TOP YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR

1991 Commendation as THE MOST FAMILY- AND WOMEN-FRIENDLY BUSINESS IN STYRIA

A SELECTION OF OUR

EXHIBITIONS AND EVENTS:

04. – 24.11.2019 DESIGN CANBERRA FESTIVAL ACT NoWaste, Participation in the exhibition https://designcanberrafestival.com.au/ 14. – 18.08.2019 INTERNATIONAL FOREST FAIR LUZERN / SWITZERLAND Exhibition of our wood based packaging nets at the booth of WaldSchweiz

10.07.2019 NO SOCIETY WILL EMERGE WITHOUT COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY ROTOR GRAZ. Presentation of the Art magazine Parabol #9 „The ritual issue“ packed in our cellulose netting. 2018 WORKSHOP AT DEKAGRAMM – the first packaging-free supermarket in Graz 2018 VIENNACONTEMPORARY Presentation of the Art magazine Parabol #9 „The ritual issue“ packed in our cellulose netting. Parabol is a project by section.a, section.d and Chris Goennawein. #9 curated by Verena Melgarejo Weinandt & Imayna Caceres linked by rotor Center for Contemporary Art Graz 2017 DEAD SEA – ART FOR THE OCEANS SKY ARTS (Entertainment Channel), participation in the film 2016 KOLEKTIO SAKOJ / SPURENSUCHE, Werkstadt Graz Paricipation in the exhibition: Before and after the plastic era.

2016 SHENZHEN INDUSTRIAL DESIGN FAIR

Participation in the exhibition under the banner of the Green Product Award

2016 DESIGNER´S OPEN LEIPZIG


2016 SHANGHAI DESIGN WEEK


2016 'BIBONGO – A TOWN DESIGNED BY CHILDREN' PROJECT, Kunsthaus Graz

As part of this project, children developed their own town, politics, media, culture, banks, and places of

work. The town's gates were made from our compostable packaging by Upcycling Designer, Markus Ofner.

2016 WEtransFORM

Art and design related to the limits to growth

Participation in the exhibition

neuesmuseum, the State Museum for Art and Design in Nuremberg

2016 STOCKHOLM DESIGN WEEK

Exhibition of cellulose tube netting as one of the Green Product Award winners

2013 NAWARO – SUSTAINABLE RAW MATERIALS: PLANTS – PRODUCTS – PERSPECTIVES

Botanical Garden Augsburg


2013 ELEMENTE MATERIALFORUM BERLIN

2013 RIDING THE CREST OF THE WAVE – Material Inspiration from the Sea, Skin Gallery London


2012 DESIGNER´S OPEN, Festival for Design Leipzig


2012 SKIN – MATERIAL FUTURE

Touring exhibition: Designmonat Graz, Designforum Vienna, Materialica Munich


2012 REGIONALE 12 – CONTEMPORARY ART FESTIVAL

Forum for advanced energy, climate and weather issues, Workshop

2012 AUFLÖSUNG INBEGRIFFEN

'Pixel Flowers' installation comprising compostable net sacks in the Austrian Sculpture Park. Designed by

Michaela Hubmann, Christine Mauerhofer and Elke Guillemin (Graz University of Technology, Institute for

Contemporary Art).

2010–2011 MATERIAL REVOLUTION – Sustainable Multi-purpose Materials for Design and Architecture

Publication in the book written by Dr. Sascha Peters / Haute Innovation, Berlin Presentation of our

biogenic materials and research projects by Dr. Sascha Peters at the Designattack Design Festival in

Krakow, Material Vision Frankfurt, Arena Design Festival in Poznan, DMY – International Design Festival in

Berlin, Euromold Frankfurt

May 2010 MADE OF…New materials for architecture and design

Publication in the book by Christiane Sauer / Formade, Berlin

2007 ULTRA MATERIALS – How Materials Innovation is changing the World

Publication in the book from Material ConneXion New York

1998-2006 DESIGN NOW.AUSTRIA

Participation in the international touring exhibition

1998 Lisbon –

Museu da Electricidade, Vienna - Palais Harrach

1999 Prague –

Museum for Modern and Contemporary Art, Barcelona – Palau de la Virreina, London – Design Museum

2000 Istanbul –

Marmara Üniversitesi Güzel

2001 Kyoto –

National Museum of Modern Art, Nagoya – International Design Centre

2002 Tokyo –

Hara Museum, Hong Kong – Convention Centre and Design Centre

2003 Melbourne –

Gallery of the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Brisbane – Old Government House, New York –

Austrian Cultural Forum

2006 'BACK TO A' – Museum for Applied Arts (MAK) Vienna

Presentation of the success stories of the Design now. Austria exhibition under the banner of Design

Showcases 2005. Subsequent inclusion in the design collection of MAK / Design gallery in the Arenberg

Park Flak Tower.

2006 RE:CYCLE – Packaging from a Sustainable Perspective, Designforum MQ Vienna


2004 FORUM BARCELONA

International exhibition under the patronage of UNESCO focusing on the 'Diversity of Cultures', Sustainable

Development' and 'Foundations for Peace'. 'Ethical Bank' and 'You consume, you decide' installations

by the architect Gustau Gigli, involving organic fibre bags and organic big bags.

2001 ZOO WORLD 11 LONDON

Publication in the international design catalogue

2000 EXPO HANNOVER

Exhibition in the Austrian pavilion

2000 TRANSPACKAGING

Exhibition in the Kulturzentrum bei den Minoriten gallery in Graz

Traditional natural packaging from Vietnam, biogenic packaging – products and research, art and

packaging, tangible and intangible transport, Communicatering, musical performance by the First Viennese

Vegetable Orchestra.

2000 EN QUETE D’OBJECTS

Participation in the design exhibition in the Centre Pompidou Paris

1999 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH

Participation at the environmental design exhibition at the University of Amsterdam

1996 MADE IN HONGKONG at the WERKSTADT GRAZ, Steirischer Herbst


1994 IN NATUR VERPACKT (NATURAL PACKAGING), CA-BV Vienna

Participation in this Austria-wide touring exhibition dedicated to biogenic materials.

1994 SEMMELSACKERLMUSIKREPRÄSENTATIONSPERFORMANCE

(PAPER BREAD BAG DESIGN EXHIBITION WITH MUSICAL ACCOMPANIMENT)

Exhibition of over 100 designs for paper bread bags in the Farina Mills in Graz, with a musical performance

by Bertl Mütter.

1992 VERPACKTE MODE

Fashion show presenting fashion made from packaging. More than 20 shows held throughout Austria.

naturally creative and passionately innovative · 2019-10-23 · naturally creative and...

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