Sustainable packaging – Huber + Suhner Drives Change by Cutting Plastic Waste, Lowering Emissions, and Streamlining Installation Through Sustainable Fiber Optic Packaging Worldwide Across Global Product Lines 21-01-2026
Huber + Suhner strengthens sustainable packaging strategy with rPET transition
Huber + Suhner, the Swiss-based global provider of electrical and optical connectivity solutions, is accelerating its sustainable packaging strategy by significantly reducing plastic use across its fiber optic product portfolio. The company has converted its fiber optic blister packs to recycled polyethylene terephthalate, commonly known as rPET, while simultaneously eliminating hundreds of thousands of single-use plastic components from its supply chain.
This sustainable packaging initiative reflects a broader industry shift toward circular materials and lower-emission logistics, particularly within high-performance optical infrastructure markets where durability and protection remain critical.
rPET packaging replaces traditional plastic blister packs
A core element of the program is the conversion of fiber optic blister packaging from virgin plastic to rPET. Recycled PET allows Huber + Suhner to maintain mechanical strength, transparency, and dust protection while significantly lowering the environmental footprint of its packaging.
By implementing rPET packaging across multiple fiber optic modules, including the Lisa, Sylfa HD, and Ianos product lines, the company demonstrates how recycled materials can meet stringent technical requirements without compromising performance or product safety.
The adoption of rPET packaging also reduces reliance on fossil-based plastics, supporting circular economy principles and aligning with growing regulatory and customer expectations around sustainable materials.
Elimination of single-use plastics at scale
Beyond blister packs, Huber + Suhner has removed more than 743,000 single-use plastic bags from its operations. These items were previously used for product protection during storage and transport but offered limited functional value relative to their environmental impact.
In parallel, the company replaced approximately 1.5 million plastic twist cable ties with paper-based alternatives made from FSC-certified materials. These changes span 11 major product families, making the initiative one of the most comprehensive sustainable packaging transitions in the fiber optic connectivity sector.
The shift away from single-use plastics directly reduces packaging waste generated during installation, a key concern for telecom operators and data center customers managing large-scale deployments.
FSC-certified paper solutions improve handling and recyclability
Huber + Suhner has expanded the use of FSC-certified recyclable paper for connected packaging components and cable management solutions. These paper-based alternatives are designed to be quick-opening, dust-free, and easy to separate for recycling at installation sites.
From a logistics perspective, the redesigned packaging improves stackability and reduces overall transport weight. Lighter shipments contribute to lower emissions throughout the distribution chain while also reducing operational costs associated with handling and storage.
According to the company, these packaging improvements streamline on-site workflows and support cleaner, more efficient installations, particularly in high-density network environments.
Sustainability designed into packaging, not added later
Lana Ollier, Head of Global Sustainability at Huber + Suhner, emphasizes that the initiative reflects a design-first approach rather than incremental adjustments.
The company’s strategy integrates sustainability at the packaging design stage, ensuring that environmental considerations align with product protection, usability, and logistics efficiency from the outset. This approach allows Huber + Suhner to reduce emissions while maintaining high standards for fiber optic performance and reliability.
By embedding sustainability into core packaging decisions, the company avoids trade-offs that often limit the effectiveness of environmental initiatives.
Measurable benefits for emissions and installation waste
Huber + Suhner reports that the sustainable packaging transition has delivered tangible environmental and operational benefits. Reduced plastic content lowers lifecycle emissions associated with raw material extraction and manufacturing. At the same time, improved packaging design minimizes waste generated during installation and simplifies disposal.
Installers benefit from faster unpacking, reduced dust exposure, and clearer material separation, all of which improve safety and efficiency on-site. These factors are increasingly important as fiber optic deployments scale rapidly to support data centers, 5G networks, and broadband expansion.
Global PET developments reinforce industry momentum
Huber + Suhner’s move toward rPET packaging aligns with broader developments in the global PET ecosystem. According to the National Association for PET Container Resources, the PET bottle recycling rate in North America reached 30.2 percent in 2024. While this figure declined slightly from 2023, it remains above the decade-long average, indicating continued progress in PET recovery infrastructure.
At the same time, innovation in PET recycling technologies is accelerating. Carbios and Wankai New Materials have partnered to construct a PET biorecycling plant in China with an estimated investment of €115 million. The facility is expected to support advanced recycling of PET materials at industrial scale.
In Japan, Releaf, a plant-based polyethylene furanoate developed by Avantium, has received official approval for recycling within the national PET bottle stream, further expanding the range of recyclable polymer solutions available to packaging producers.
Sustainable packaging as a competitive advantage
As regulatory pressure, customer expectations, and environmental scrutiny intensify, sustainable packaging is becoming a competitive differentiator rather than a compliance exercise. Huber + Suhner’s transition to rPET packaging and FSC-certified materials illustrates how packaging redesign can support emissions reduction, cost efficiency, and operational performance simultaneously.
By reducing plastic waste, improving recyclability, and enhancing logistics efficiency, the company positions itself as a forward-looking supplier in the fiber optic connectivity market. The initiative also demonstrates how sustainability can be scaled across complex product portfolios without compromising technical standards.
For infrastructure providers navigating the dual demands of performance and environmental responsibility, Huber + Suhner’s approach offers a practical model for integrating sustainability into core operations.
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