EXPRA has been invited by the European Commission to participate in their newly founded packaging working group. The goal of this working group (WG) is to provide guidance on packaging related modelling and data issues in the running Environmental Footprint pilot phase. The first meeting took place on September 9 in Brussels. The main topic of the meeting was to discuss and approve the mandate of this working group. Around 20 people mainly from all packaging material associations but also from EUROPEN participated in this meeting.
The goal of the Crosscutting Packaging Working Group (PWG) is to provide guidance on packaging related modelling and data issues in the running Environmental Footprint pilot phase. In particular, the WG will propose requirements to be implemented in the final PEFCRs/OEFSRs and, to the extent possible, to be tested by the pilots in the supporting studies. It will ensure material neutrality1 in all activities of PWG and avoid discrimination of packaging materials or systems.
The following tasks of the WG are foreseen: a) To identify a number of ‘default’ secondary datasets for packaging systems2 (cradle to gate) and packaging related activities, available in public/commercial databases, or newly created; b) To provide further guidance on reuse rates3 for the relevant packaging system, where reuse is an option; c) To provide further guidance on packaging specific transportation aspects (e.g. connected to re-use systems or cube utilization); d) To provide further guidance on the application and definition of recycled content; e) To identify a number of ‘default’ secondary End of Life datasets, available in public/commercial databases, or newly created. The intentions of the WG are to finalize the work until April 2016, having 1 full day meeting per month.