How Packaging Technology Ensures Food Security and Saves Energy – An Interview with Hassia-Redatron CEO Stephan Bahr

German company Hassia-Redatron is a global player in packaging machinery. In this interview, CEO Stephan Bahr explains why packaging technology is key to food security and highlights the opportunities presented by sustainable packaging solutions.

Packaging technology is key to food security. Our machines ensure that food can be packaged hygienically, durably, and with efficient use of resources—even under challenging conditions such as high ambient temperatures. Projects like those run by UNICEF clearly show how technology can save lives by ensuring access to safe and affordable portions.

We understand the criticism. However, portion packaging is indispensable in many regions, as it provides people with access to safe food in the first place. At the same time, in the Global North we are working on recyclability, mono-materials, and paper-based solutions to improve the environmental footprint. For us, this is not a contradiction but an incentive to develop packaging solutions that meet diverse needs. 

Product safety and traceability are essential in this industry as well. Especially when it comes to small batch sizes, our solutions offer the highest hygiene standards and maximum flexibility. We see significant potential here, particularly in the fields of nutrition, pharmaceuticals, and customized applications.

The PPWR (editor’s note: Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation) is a game-changer: it challenges us, but at the same time opens up enormous opportunities. Those who now invest in circular economy solutions, material efficiency, and standardized sustainability approaches will gain international competitiveness. We see ourselves as an enabler for our customers—not only helping them meet regulatory requirements, but also turning them into market advantages.

With cold filling, we have developed a process that drastically reduces energy consumption, as thermal sterilization is no longer required. This means lower CO₂ emissions from the heating and cooling processes before and after pouch filling—while still ensuring maximum product safety, without the costs and process-related challenges of an aseptic system. For us, it is a prime example of how technology, efficiency, and sustainability go hand in hand. 

We rely on mentoring programs, a digital knowledge platform, and tandem models. This way, the know-how of our experienced colleagues flows directly into the projects of the younger generation. At the same time, younger employees contribute their digital-native mindset—creating a very fruitful combination.

Packaging machinery will serve as a bridging technology between economics and ecology. Our task is to combine product and resource security with sustainable materials and digital efficiency. I am convinced that the industry will be a key driver in ensuring that sustainability and profitability are no longer seen as contradictions.