Filtrona’s CEO Robert Pye Discusses Innovations and Sustainability
Filtrona, a leader in filter technology, has introduced several key innovations recently. Their ECOTM Range features biodegradable, plastic-free filters with a significantly lower carbon footprint.
The Rip-a-Tip filter, designed for the Roll-Your-Own tobacco market, is entirely cellulose-based and includes an EasyRip System for user convenience.
Filtrona prioritizes sustainability by using renewable energy and reducing emissions, supported by their ESG Committee and focus on plastic-free solutions, says Filtrona CEO Robert Pye in this interview with Business News Singapore.
They are expanding into emerging markets like China and exploring new applications, including healthcare. Challenges include rising demand for sustainable products and regulatory compliance, which Filtrona addresses through innovation and partnerships with companies like SWM and Greenbutts.
Interview: Filtrona’s CEO Robert Pye
Business News Singapore: What are the key innovations which Filtrona has introduced in filter technology recently?
Robert Pye: Innovation is part of our DNA. For more than a century, Filtrona has been a leader and trendsetter in the industry, with a strong focus on innovation.
We offer the industry our ECOTM Range of biodegradable filters which are plastic-free with a carbon footprint that’s four times lower than traditional filters. The ECO Range is designed to meet environmental regulatory requirements and growing consumer demand for plastic-free products.
We also recently introduced our latest innovation for the Roll-Your-Own (RYO) tobacco market, the Rip-a-Tip™ filter, which is plastic-free and made entirely of cellulose. Rip-a-Tip features the EasyRip System which allows users to rip off the filter tips easily and quickly along the perforated line. This innovation delivers a convenient and enjoyable user experience while ensuring there is no wastage after the filter tips are ripped off from the outer wrap.
Filtrona and Sustainability
How does Filtrona ensure sustainability in its manufacturing processes and products?
At Filtrona, sustainability is not just a promise. It’s an action plan we take seriously and integrated with our company strategy and global operations. As an innovation-driven company, we continually explore ways to reduce emissions across our operations. From making plastic-free biodegradable filters to using renewable energy in our facilities, we are committed to putting sustainability at the core of our business.
We have established an ESG Committee to ensure that sustainability is integrated with our strategic planning and daily operations. At the broader level, our sustainability efforts are focused on three pillars – Environmental Stewardship, Social Responsibility, and Governance Excellence. To support the manufacturing of sustainable filter solutions, we collaborate with suppliers of alternative plastic-free filter materials who share our environmental goals to reduce carbon emissions.
Can you elaborate on Filtrona’s strategic approach to expanding in emerging markets?
Our strategic vision includes growing our market share in China and moving into new markets with significant opportunities to offer our custom and complex specialty filters that we are known for.
We are also interested in expanding to markets where there is growing demand for sustainable products and Next Generation Products, including reduced-risk products such as Heated Tobacco Products. We see an exciting future where Filtrona will continue to play a key role in helping to drive the industry’s transformation towards using plastic-free and biodegradable filters and support our customers as they make the transition.
We see ourselves expanding outside of the tobacco sector too. Our filtration expertise can also be applied to other applications in the healthcare industry, such as inhalers and controlled-release solutions.
Sustainable products
What are the main challenges Filtrona faces in the current global market, and how are you addressing them?
We see opportunities in an industry that is transitioning towards the use of more sustainable products. Globally, there is growing demand for plastic-free products amid tightening environmental regulations and rising consumer awareness. Filtrona’s expertise in plastic-free filters helps the industry to meet these demands while maintaining competitiveness in the global market.
As the world’s largest manufacturer of sustainable filter solutions, Filtrona is well positioned to help drive the industry’s transformation from using traditional filters to biodegradable, plastic-free alternatives.
We think this is an excellent opportunity for the industry to make a significant and positive impact on the environment, not only for the sake of being compliant to regulations but more importantly, to be a socially responsible company by taking action to reduce their impact on the environment.
Successful industry partnerships
How does Filtrona’s partnership approach benefit its customers? Can you provide examples of successful collaborations?
Filtrona has a strong legacy of successful industry partnerships. Our foray into the filters business began in the early 1920s when Hugo Bunzl, one of the company founders, collaborated with Boris Aivaz, inventor of the cigarette filter, on R&D. A few years later, that collaboration led to the first commercial filter production in Filtrona’s factory.
As a global market leader and key supplier to more than 120 countries, partnerships are integral to our business. We have formed longstanding partnerships and trust with our customers and suppliers over the years.
Our customers benefit from the innovations that result from our partnerships with suppliers. For example, we have worked with companies such as SWM, McAirlaid’s, and Greenbutts to develop and advance our plastic-free and biodegradable filter solutions using their non-woven and plasticiser-free materials. We add value to our customers by offering them end-to-end services from initial product design conceptualisation and production of filter samples, all the way to product testing and market commercialisation.
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