EXPRA Newsletter – Second Quarter 2025

In 2024, 10.7 million tonnes of packaging were given a second life: this was announced by CONAI in its new General report. President Ignazio Capuano stated: “A result that demonstrates the strength of the Italian model, which is now called upon to do even more to design and use packaging that is increasingly reusable, recyclable and recycled.”

Belgium is pioneering a national pilot project to sort flexible food packaging using invisible digital watermarks, a European first. The initiative, led by Fost Plus in collaboration with Digimarc and part of the HolyGrail 2030 project, aims to distinguish food-grade plastic packaging from non-food packaging, enabling true circular recycling.

The final report for New Zealand’s proposed Mandatory Plastic Packaging Product Stewardship (PPPS) scheme is now live. Developed by the Food and Grocery Council and The Packaging Forum, the scheme proposes a producer-led solution for tackling plastic packaging waste. This milestone reflects a major step forward in New Zealand’s sustainability journey.

Ecoembes has fully rolled out its innovative RECICLOS system to all 67 municipalities in the Balearic Islands, allowing over 1.2 million residents to earn rewards for recycling beverage cans and plastic bottles. Through a simple mobile app, users can collect points to redeem for prizes or donate to social causes, such as supporting individuals with Down syndrome or cerebral palsy. This marks a major step toward incentivized, citizen-driven circularity across Spain.

Circular Materials has reached key milestones in expanding Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programs in Alberta and New Brunswick. Alberta launched Phase 1 of its packaging and paper recycling program on April 1, shifting recycling costs to producers while maintaining seamless service for residents. Meanwhile, New Brunswick expanded curbside recycling to include multi-family residences, schools, and underserved communities starting May 1, 2025, achieving province-wide coverage.

VANA plays a pivotal role in supporting producer responsibility frameworks in Denmark by fostering strong partnerships across the value chain. Their collaboration with RECIPO, a leading Nordic organization for electronics, simplifies compliance by allowing companies to manage multiple producer responsibilities—such as batteries, electronics, and packaging—through a single agreement and reporting platform. By offering tailored solutions for data management and international compliance, VANA ensures its members benefit from streamlined processes and shared expertise across the Nordic region.

Éco Entreprises Québec spent 2024 preparing to launch Quebec’s modernized curbside recycling system under extended producer responsibility starting in 2025. They secured funding, partnered with municipalities, raised public awareness, and expanded their membership. Despite some financial challenges, they implemented cost-control measures and developed a framework to ensure efficient, province-wide recycling that supports producers and promotes sustainability.

Finland is stepping up efforts to meet EU plastic packaging recycling targets by significantly increasing sorting capacity. Both Finnish Packaging Producers Ltd (FPP) and Sumi Oy are investing in advanced sorting facilities to process more plastic waste domestically. These initiatives, combined with improved packaging design and chemical recycling, aim to raise Finland’s recycling rate from just over 30% toward the EU target of 50% by 2025.

On May 13, Verpact and Fost Plus jointly organized the Pack for the Future event in Antwerp, focusing on upcoming packaging legislation and recyclable solutions for everyday packaging. Bringing together experts from Belgium and the Netherlands, the event highlighted collaboration, innovation, and practical guidance to prepare companies for the European Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation and related recycling guidelines.

The Netherlands Institute for Sustainable Packaging (KIDV) has unveiled a new set of Disposal Guide logos to aid consumers and businesses in the proper separation and disposal of packaging materials. These updates come in response to consumer feedback and aim to align with forthcoming European regulations.

Ecovidrio introduces a pioneering digital platform designed to empower municipal teams across Spain with real-time data and insights on daily glass packaging collection, container status, and maintenance services. This initiative aims to enhance transparency, improve decision-making, and foster efficient waste management through innovative technology and strong collaboration with local authorities.