As packaging manufacturers face continued pressure from energy costs, tighter regulation and rising expectations around environmental performance, equipment suppliers are increasingly expected to demonstrate measurable operational outcomes rather than broad sustainability commitments.
At Interpack 2026, Poly-clip System presented a series of packaging and equipment developments intended to address both cost and environmental targets simultaneously, focusing on lower material consumption, reduced energy demand and improved production efficiency. The company’s approach centres on clip packaging technology, which seals products directly after filling and removes additional processing stages from the packaging workflow. According to Poly-clip System, reducing process complexity can lower material use and shorten production chains while also improving transport and storage efficiency. To support the environmental positioning of the format, the company referenced an environmental study carried out by Circular Analytics in Vienna in December 2025. According to the study cited by Poly-clip System, clip packaging can reduce CO₂ emissions by up to 90% compared with packaging formats including cans, cartridges and thermoformed trays. The company also stated that clip packaging typically requires between one and two percent packaging material, compared with alternative formats that can reach up to 35%.
Poly-clip System positions these reductions not only as environmental improvements but as production efficiency gains that can contribute to long-term manufacturing economics.
The company also highlighted incremental design changes intended to extend equipment life and reduce maintenance requirements. Among these is SafeCoat®, a coating applied to clips that, according to the company, lowers friction and wear, improving process reliability while reducing the need for replacement components and associated resource use.
Alongside packaging design, Poly-clip System used Interpack to showcase developments in machine efficiency through its Green Series platform.
The latest addition to the portfolio, the ICA 4.3 automatic double clipper, was presented as combining higher throughput with lower energy demand. The machine incorporates revised drive technology and standardised components intended to support stable operation and simplify integration into existing lines.
According to the company, the ICA 4.3 uses optimised torque management and a harmonised drive architecture to improve energy performance while maintaining output levels. Poly-clip System stated that integrated One-Cable-Technology reduces system complexity and lowers potential failure points. Under full-load operating conditions, energy consumption is reported to be 10.7% lower than the company’s ICA 1 system introduced in 2003. The company added that a reduced component count contributes to improved machine availability and lower downtime while potentially enabling customers to access government support programmes linked to efficiency investments.
The sustainability narrative presented by Poly-clip System extends beyond product design into supply chain and site operations.
The company stated that more than 90% of its suppliers are located in Germany, primarily within a radius of approximately 300 kilometres from its Hattersheim production site near Frankfurt. According to Poly-clip System, the shorter supplier network reduces transport requirements and supports supply continuity. Additional initiatives referenced by the company include solar energy deployment, an electric vehicle fleet and the replacement of printed documentation with digital formats.
Commenting on the company’s approach, Dr. Alexander Giehl said: “Sustainability must be concretely measurable and economically viable for our customers. Our solutions reduce material and energy consumption while simultaneously increasing machine performance. This enables users to make their production fit for future requirements.” The message reflects a broader shift across the packaging sector, where sustainability claims are increasingly being linked to quantifiable performance indicators such as energy use, material intensity and production uptime rather than environmental positioning alone.
