30 Years of Partnership: Winkhaus and comepack Celebrate Their Anniversary

Thirty years ago, the foundation was laid for a collaboration that has proven to be both economically and ecologically significant. To this day, Aug. Winkhaus SE & Co. KG benefits from efficient container management and sustainable solutions from comepack in the field of reusable logistics. This partnership has not only reduced packaging waste and emissions but has also led to long-term optimization of logistics processes and process standardization.

The 90s: A Decade of Change – and Sustainable Packaging

The early 1990s were a time of profound transformation. Germany celebrated its reunification, the “Green Dot” recycling system was introduced, and the European Union tackled a major challenge: “The different measures taken by member states in the area of packaging and packaging waste management must be harmonized…” Their objective was clear: The best way to avoid packaging waste is to reduce its creation from the outset.

The EU’s ambitious initiative was set out in the directive known as “94/62/EC.” This directive mandated that member states establish return systems for used packaging and packaging waste.

With the new directive, businesses faced a key question: What does a sustainable and efficient packaging solution look like? This was particularly pressing for industries where large amounts of packaging material were needed to safely transport components. Many companies relied primarily on disposable packaging solutions such as cardboard boxes and single-use bags, necessitating a shift in approach.

One such company was Winkhaus, a leading manufacturer of window fittings and door systems based in Telgte near Münster. As early as the early 1990s, Winkhaus recognized that the future lay in reusable logistics and efficient container management. However, for successful implementation, a strong partner was needed — one that could not only provide reusable containers but also professionally manage the entire logistics and container management system.

From Concept to Success Story

A key feature of this partnership is the combined supplier and customer cycle using reusable packaging in a sell-and-buy-back system. This unique system solution has significantly optimized supply chain and customer cycle processes. In addition to Winkhaus’ sites in Germany, locations in Spain, Poland, and the UK have also become an integral part of this success story.

The partnership has achieved impressive savings in water consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and land use:

• Water Consumption: Optimized processes have saved 76,858 m³ of water equivalents—roughly the volume of 30.74 Olympic swimming pools.
• Greenhouse Gas Emissions: The reduction of 5,043,419 kg of CO2 equivalents corresponds to the amount absorbed by approximately 252,170 trees in one year.
• Land Use: Savings of 31,278,822 m²a in agricultural land use are equivalent to about 4,383 football fields.
• Urban Land Use: The reduction of 335,544 m²a in urban land use is comparable to around 47 football fields.
• Fossil Fuel Consumption: Saving 1,638,887 kg of oil equivalents matches the annual energy consumption of approximately 9,211 households in Germany.

Over 15 years, comepack has successfully managed 11.5 million small load carriers (KLT) through its container management system. The combination of efficient reusable logistics and professional container and KLT cleaning plays a crucial role in reducing packaging waste, conserving resources, and optimizing Winkhaus’ logistics processes. The partnership with comepack has significantly contributed to improving and strengthening Winkhaus’ logistics operations.

A Partnership of Inestimable Value: Sustainable Container Management and Professional Cleaning for the Future