In a year marked by strategic continuity and impressive environmental achievements, CONAI (Consorzio Nazionale Imballaggi) in Italy has announced two major developments: the extension of its national framework agreement with ANCI until 31 December 2025 and a record-breaking packaging recycling rate of 76.7% in 2024. These milestones reinforce Italy’s leadership in circular economy practices and its commitment to sustainable packaging management.
ANCI-CONAI Framework Agreement Extended to End of 2025
On 2 July 2025, CONAI and ANCI officially extended the 2020–2024 Framework Agreement until 31 December 2025, ensuring uninterrupted collaboration between municipalities and supply chain consortia in the collection and management of packaging waste.
Key points of the extension:
- Continuation of existing conditions, including quality band parameters and fees paid to municipalities for packaging waste delivery
- Inclusion of autonomous EPR systems for the first time in the new Framework Program Agreement
- Provision for a one-off transitional fee, applicable between 1 July 2025 and the signing of technical annexes
- Ongoing role of TÜV Italia as third-party verifier for waste quality analysis
Meetings to finalize the technical annexes are scheduled soon, and the general part of the new agreement will enter into force once at least two annexes are signed.
Italy Recycles 76.7% of Packaging in 2024
According to CONAI’s General Report, Italy recycled 10.7 million tonnes of packaging in 2024—76.7% of the total placed on the market. When combined with energy recovery, the total recovery rate exceeds 86%, showcasing the strength of the Italian model.
Breakdown by material:
- Plastic: 1.131 million tonnes + 47,500 tonnes of compostable bioplastic
- Paper and cardboard: 4.605 million tonnes
- Wood: 2.314 million tonnes
- Steel: 435,500 tonnes
- Aluminium: 62,400 tonnes
- Glass: 2.103 million tonnes
Notably, the plastics sector exceeded the EU’s 50% recycling target for 2025 ahead of schedule.
“Exceeding 76% packaging recycling is an important achievement, the result of teamwork,” said Ignazio Capuano, President of CONAI. “But we cannot stop here. We must continue working with companies to spread good practices in eco-design and support the transition to more sustainable packaging.”
Municipal Collaboration and Circular Culture
In 2024, almost 7,400 municipalities partnered with the CONAI system, covering 97% of the Italian population. Growth in packaging handover was seen across all regions:
- Central Italy: +6.2%
- Southern Italy: +5.1%
- Northern Italy: +2.7% (driven by paper and compostable bioplastics)
“Proximity to the local area is essential for the success of separate collection,” said Fabio Costarella, Deputy General Manager of CONAI. “Only through cooperation between all actors can we build an effective, sustainable waste management system.”
CONAI’s dual focus on institutional continuity and performance excellence positions Italy as a European leader in packaging sustainability. With the Framework Agreement extended and recycling rates climbing, the country is well on track to meet—and exceed—EU targets for 2030.