Sustainable by design: How Persson’s Handles are Shaping a Greener Future

A product with purpose

Persson’s signature product – the paper handle – is more than just a convenient way to carry a package. It represents the company’s mission to reduce plastic waste and promote circular design. Made from Nordic wood, primarily sourced from responsibly managed forests in Sweden and Finland, these forests are not only maintained but actively growing.

“For every tree harvested, three new ones are planted,” says Thomas Call, Quality and Development Manager at Persson. “That’s the kind of forestry we’ve had in Sweden for years – sustainable, traceable, and future-focused.”

The power of paper

Switching from plastic to paper handles has a measurable environmental impact. A single plastic handle can weigh up to 9 grams. When one of Persson’s customers made the switch, they cut plastic use by 1 gram per handle – across 70 million units annually. That’s 70 metric tons of plastic avoided every year.

Beyond weight savings, paper handles offer another key benefit: recyclability.

“If you attach a plastic handle to a paper box, most people won’t remove it before recycling,” Thomas explains. “With our paper handles, the whole package can go straight into the paper stream.”

Efficiency at every step

Sustainability at Persson also means smart, efficient production. The company designs its processes to minimize energy use and material waste.

“We aim to use as little energy per handle as possible,” says Thomas. “That means optimizing everything – from paper roll lengths to how we align production batches.”

Even the machines used in production are custom-built in-house, giving Persson greater control over efficiency and innovation.

Measuring impact

To ensure their efforts are making a real difference, Persson partners with companies like DS Smith to conduct environmental impact assessments. These studies help quantify the benefits of switching to paper-based solutions and guide future improvements.

The company is also investing in testing and certification. Current projects include lab studies to verify the recyclability of different handle types, including hybrid models for heavier packaging.

Looking ahead

Persson’s sustainability journey is ongoing. The company is exploring bio-based plastics for added strength in specificapplications and is actively involved in industry networks like Paper Province and IUC Industrihubb. These collaborations foster innovation and shared best practices.

“Our goal is to create the most sustainable handle possible – without compromising on quality or performance,” Thomas says.

With a clear vision and a commitment to continuous improvement, Persson Innovation is proving that even the smallest part of a package can make a big difference.

Check out part one of this series for a broader look at Persson Innovation’s sustainability journey—from strategy to leadership.