MOROZ INNA
Univest Marketing is a name synonymous with ingenuity. As a regional leading supplier of convenient complex packaging – and Ukraine’s largest paper tableware manufacturers – Univest has developed a wide range of environmentally responsible products to meet the various needs of the food industry.
Today, sustainability remains at the core of Univest’s product design philosophy. The company focuses on creating eco-friendly food packaging solutions and caring about exceptional customer experience. The Univest’s paper packaging helps people switch from plastic to sustainable solutions. The factory prioritises eco-friendly, renewable resources like certified cardboard and innovative materials that reduce CO2 emissions and energy consumption. Each product is designed with its entire lifecycle in mind, from initial use to final disposal, ensuring a minimal environmental impact.
Investing well
With its sights set firmly on a greener path, Univest has successfully designed and delivered a number of sustainable and innovative packaging solutions for the food industry. One such way that Univest has accomplished this, is with the implementation of a new coating line. The investment, which was completed in the third quarter of this year, introduced an alternative water-based barrier coating to replace polyethylene in the cup production. This new solution will help to reduce Univest’s reliance on plastic.
The new coating is compatible with both hot and cold beverages and can be applied to single-wall or double-wall containers.
Univest’s offering includes single and double wall cups, instant noodles buckets and ice cream tubs. The new coating is applicable across Univest’s range, including some of its newer lines.
A greener era
Added to the portfolio in 2024, Univest’s eco-friendly tableware, UniCupTM and UniLidsTM and fully recyclable and compostable.
The UniCup features a high-quality virgin (pure cellulose) cup, the inner wall of the cup is then coated with a unique water-based dispersion mixture, which effectively prevents leaks. Univest is fully flexible when it comes to the customisation of these cups. Currently, the company produces up to 50 million per month, all available in various sizes – from 6oz to 20oz – with or without printing, and in both standard and custom format.
Univest’s UniLids, which are made from moulded fibre, are cost-effective and more economically viable than their polystyrene- and polyethylene-coated paper counterparts. UniLids are also known for their strength, smooth texture and high-quality appearance and thanks to our reliable automated lines we will increase the output up to 10 million pieces per month from the third quarter of 2025.
All of Univest’s products are exposed to thorough testing to ensure they meet the highest quality and safety standards. The company also relies on customer feedback to improve and refine its designs.
Goals for growth
Today, Univest operates on four hectares of land in Fastiv (60 km from Kyiv, capital of Ukraine), where it maintains a strong production capacity of 110 million units of various product items per month. The site currently features a 19,000sqm production area and a 12,000sqm logistics complex, where it manufactures 24/7. Univest also recently invested in a new ground-based solar power plant at its facility, which is currently under construction.
This investment was split up into two phases, with the first resulting in a 640kW capacity, and the second is expected to draw in an additional 500kW. On sunny days, the phase one plot already covers up to 40% of the company’s production needs, a figure which is expected to rise with the implementation of phase two.
The new solar plant is just one of the ways that Univest is enhancing its facilities. The company is also implementing several significant investment projects throughout 2024 and 2025.
We are focused on two main areas: expanding our production capacity and introducing new products, specifically food-to-go cardboard packaging. In line with this, we will be constructing a new production and warehouse complex dedicated to manufacturing eco-friendly products.
The company is also investing in state-of-the-art equipment to replace outdated machinery. Once complete, Univest will have access to high-efficiency alternatives and fully upgraded auxiliary equipment, moulds and warehouse technology.
We also intend to expand into new international markets, focusing on eco-friendly packaging solutions tailored to regional needs. This expansion involves establishing new partnerships and increasing exports to additional countries. We are also actively designing packaging solutions that use less material but have enhanced functionality and consumer appeal. This includes new smart packaging solutions that incorporate digital technologies for improved traceability and consumer interaction.
When it comes to product development, Univest has a keen understanding of its customers’ expectations and the market more generally.
Rather than following trends, Univest is quick to anticipate and shape future development by staying ahead in sustainable leadership, remaining innovative in product design, understanding market responsiveness and expansion, prioritising quality and customisation, and getting involved with the community while taking its environmental responsibility seriously.
Collaborating for success
The company also makes sure to maintain long-standing relationships with its suppliers – regarding each one as a prominent player within its resilient and efficient supply chain.
We foster open communication, align our goals with those of our partners (both suppliers and customers), and maintain a commitment to mutual growth and success. Our approach includes regular collaboration on innovations, shared sustainability goals and continuous support in overcoming challenges, particularly during these turbulent times.
As it looks to the future, Univest intends to continue down a path of sustainable development. The company is very much aligned with the global drive towards sustainability, especially regarding net zero. This target has played a significant role in Univest’s strategic planning, from improvements to energy efficiency, to the use of renewable energy sources and the development of environmentally friendly packaging solutions.
Our net zero goals are not just an addition to our strategy; they are a driving force that shapes our entire approach to business, pushing us to innovate and lead the market towards more sustainable solutions. This ambition is reflected in every aspect of our operations, from sourcing raw materials to delivering final products, ensuring that Univest remains at the forefront of the industry’s journey towards a more sustainable future.
The goal of Univest and our Clients during collaboration is: to make our customers happy by our partnership.
Univest: to care for what matters by providing the food industry with sustainable, functional, and high-quality packaging solutions.