The Environmental Contribution for plastic packaging will no longer be unique but diversified based on three Guiding Criteria: sortability, recyclability and, in the case of packaging that meets these two criteria, the main target circuit once it has become waste
In this way, sortable and recyclable packaging from the “Municipal” circuit will benefit from a reduced Environmental Contribution, while sortable and recyclable packaging from the “Commerce & Industry” circuit will benefit from an even lower reduced Environmental Contribution; all other packaging will continue to pay the full Environmental Contribution.
The purpose is to encourage the use of more recyclable packaging, linking the Contribution level to the environmental impact of the end-of-life/new-life phases, starting from plastic packaging, the most complex material in terms of variety of types and selection and recycling technologies.
With this new approach, three different Contribution levels for as many different categories of plastic packaging are envisaged: sortable and recyclable plastic packaging from the Household circuit will benefit from a reduced CAC, and sortable and recyclable packaging from the Commerce & Industry circuit (hereinafter C&I) will benefit from an even lower reduced CAC, while packaging that presents greater difficulty in end-of-life management will not benefit from any reduced CAC, regardless of its target circuit.
From 1 January 2018, the values of the three Contribution levels for plastic packaging will come into effect, defined as follows:
- Level A (sortable and recyclable packaging from the commerce and industry circuit): €179.00/t
- Level B (sortable and recyclable packaging from the household circuit): €208.00/t
- Level C (packaging not sortable/recyclable with current technologies): €228.00/t
For determination of the values of the three levels, a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approach – subjected to a “critical review” by an accredited third entity – was adopted, which identified the environmental impacts of the end-of-life/new life phases of the packaging.
For more information:
https://www.conai.org/en/businesses/environmental-contribution/contribution-diversification/