R&D Expert Advances Sustainable Innovation for Packaging Industry

Gian De Belder, Technical Director, R&D Packaging Sustainability, was recognized at the 2023 Packaging Europe Awards for his Outstanding Contribution to the industry. Over 20+ years with P&G, Gian has been involved in developing key partnerships across the business and packaging value chain that more support sustainable outcomes. From providing leadership to developing sorting programs for recyclables (HolyGrail) to designing consumer-friendly recyclable product packaging, his many contributions set him apart for this prestigious honor.

For example, Gian led the development of full-body sleeves for PET bottles at P&G, replacing the traditional opaque plastic bottles, which are tougher to recycle. He and his team ensured the proper guidance was received by the European PET Bottle Platform and Petcore Europe, Europe’s leading association ensuring the sustainable growth of PET, resulting in a conditional approval for Household and Personal Care products.

Gian also worked with the International Association for Soaps, Detergents, and Maintenance Products, the official representative of the soap and detergent industry in Europe, to develop consumer-facing “how to remove” messaging for the new sleeve. This packaging has been adopted by much of the industry in Europe and can be seen on our Lenor products. 

Meet more of our R&D team members who are challenging the status quo and discover what drives them to innovate beyond imagination.