Sustainability drops: News from EXPRA members

Starting from the 1st of January 2022, the CONAI BOD has established the official introduction of the fee modulation also to other paper-based composite packaging different from beverage cartons (fee 2021: 45€ /ton) on the basis of the paper rate, given the fact that the recycling operations of these packaging are more complex and costly:

• Type A polylaminates (Paper component> = 90% and <95%), other than beverage cartons: 25 €/ton
• Type B polylaminates (Paper component> = 80% and <90%), other than beverage cartons : 25 €/ton
• Type C polylaminates (paper component> = 60% and <80%), other than beverage cartons: 135 €/ton
• Type D Polylaminate (paper component <60%), other than beverage cartons: 265 €/ton

https://www.conai.org/imprese/contributo-ambientale/contributo-diversificato-carta/

With the legislative decree n. 116 of 2020, the mandatory environmental labelling of packaging was introduced; in this sense, CONAI immediately moved to give clear and rapid answers, creating an interactive informative platform with useful tools in order to help consortium members.
The “Guidelines on mandatory environmental labeling” is the first fundamental tool which was constituted in collaboration with the Italian Packaging Institute and associative and industrial players; available in both Italian and English languages, it offers a useful technical and regulatory tool. https://www.etichetta-conai.com/en/

There are also the “guidelines for voluntary environmental labeling” at the website www.progettarericiclo.com/docs/etichettura-ambientale-degli-imballaggi.

In addition to the documentation’s section just mentioned, it’s present a section for FAQs with questions and answers on the most important issues, and also another dedicated to the collection of best practices in order to inspire new types of virtuous labels of packaging. https://www.etichetta-conai.com/

How can stakeholders achieve this and what are the current barriers? These questions cannot be answered unambiguously. To give the various (chain) parties insight into this complex matter and to improve the dialogue between stakeholders, the Netherlands Institute for Sustainable Packaging (KIDV) published a so-called Information Map – Towards Circularity of Flexible Plastic Packaging in 2025.
The drawing up of this card was an initiative of the companies in the KIDV’s Community of Practice Laminate Packaging. Participants in this CoP are FrieslandCampina, Intersnack, Jacobs Douwe Egberts, Mars Wrigley, PepsiCo and Unilever. According to the KIDV, all parties in the packaging chain need guidance in order to achieve circular flexible packaging in the short term. The Information Map provides clear and concrete information, as a basis for the dialogue between the chain partners, in order to actually set the chain movement in motion.

The Information Map was launched on 11 February during the KIDV webinar ‘Unlocking the flexible packaging dilemma’. Here, various experts and participants in the CoP Laminate Packaging gave their views on the recycling issue. You can listen to the webinar here. Download the Information Map here.

On the 3 of July 2021 the first measures from the European Single Use Plastics (SUP) Directive will come into force. The new legislation also affects a number of packaging types, such as drinking cups, bags or wrappers and food containers. The Netherlands Institute for Sustainable Packaging (KIDV) has drawn up six decision trees, with which companies can assess whether their packaging is subject to the SUP legislation and whether the packaging complies with the requirements of the directive.
The decision trees only list measures that apply to packaging, including components that are provided together with the packaging for consumption (e.g. straws and cutlery). The decision trees have been drawn up based on current available information. Additional definitions and guidelines from the European Commission will follow in the coming period. The KIDV will then incorporate this additional information into the current decision trees.

https://kidv.nl/beslisboom-single-use-plastics

The Netherlands Institute for Sustainable Packaging (KIDV) and the Chamber of Commerce (KVK) are currently holding the Business Challenge Innovative Packaging. Companies can submit a packaging and recycling issue and find a solution to their challenge via the open innovation platform. In this way, they can come into contact with innovative packaging companies, start-ups, scale-ups, independent entrepreneurs and SMEs from the Netherlands, Europe and the rest of the world
The cooperation between KIDV and KVK aims to accelerate innovations. “Every organisation has innovation challenges, for which you can make good use of the brainpower of other smart entrepreneurs,” says KIDV director Chris Bruijnes. As examples he mentions challenges related to sustainability and the design of packaging, the development of new packaging materials or the processing and recycling of packaging waste.

Companies can submit their challenges until the first of May. On the 12th of July the best solutions will be selected, after which KVK and KIDV will organise a meeting between the challenge owners and the selected parties with good solutions. This will take place on the 23rd of July. Do you have any questions or would you like to register? Please contact Charissa Koolen, project manager KIDV (c.koolen@kidv.nl).

www.kidv.nl/media/flyer_kvk-kidv_business_challenge_def.pdf

The Netherlands Institute for Sustainable Packaging (KIDV) is working with brand owners Selecta, McDonald’s and NS Stations to improve the collection and recycling of coffee cups. To this end they have set up the CIRCUP platform.
The establishment of CIRCUP is the result of a study by the KIDV, in which the possible recycling routes and application possibilities for paper drinking cups were mapped out.

The main conclusion of the investigation was that the fibres of used paper drinking cups can be used as raw material to make new products, such as hygienic paper and cardboard. An important condition for this is homogeneous and clean streams, as well as volume and continuity. The parties in CIRCUP want to secure the results and impact of the research and take follow-up actions collectively, such as further research in the chain.

Paper disposable drinking cups are part of the paper laminate packaging for drinks and food. This packaging is based on paper fibres with a functional coating, often of plastic. Every year, around 20,000 tonnes of these types of cups come onto the Dutch market. It is estimated that over 90 per cent of the cups are incinerated once they reach the waste stage. CIRCUP wants to change this. Would you like to know more and participate in this initiative? If so, please visit www.circup.nl or contact project leader Marc Reijnders of the KIDV (m.reijnders@kidv.nl).

Environmental claims are advertising statements, often also found on packaging, that implicitly or explicitly refer to environmental aspects related to the production, distribution, consumption or waste processing of goods or services.
Examples are ‘One hundred percent recyclable’ or ‘Biodegradable’. But are such claims really true? The Netherlands Institute for Sustainable Packaging (KIDV) has published a factsheet to clarify which claims are allowed and which are not, for instance because they are misleading.

The prohibition of misleading and other unauthorised claims is laid down in various (legal) sources. These include not only European and national legislation, but also self-regulatory agreements (e.g. advertising codes and standards). The fact sheet describes the most important sources from the legal framework. In the second part, nine examples of common claims are given, among others about recyclability, circularity, compostability and the use of sustainable materials. Where possible, reference is made to the applicable legislation and regulations.

You can download the fact sheet Environmental Claims here. The fact sheet was produced in cooperation with Axon Advocaten.

Reuse systems are popular to reduce the environmental impact of packaging. In the business-to-business (B2B) market, reusable packaging systems have been widely used for some time. Mainly for financial reasons, but more and more parties also see and appreciate the environmental benefits.
The KIDV Community of Practice on Reusable Packaging held a webinar this spring on ‘Trends and opportunities for reusable B2B packaging’. Several examples to expand, innovate and validate reusable packaging systems were discussed. Patricia Megale Coelho (Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht University) talked about her research into the classification of reusable packaging and into the environmental impact when comparing reuse with disposable.

This research shows that a number of important parameters influence the success of reusable packaging: choice of material and the percentage of recycled material in the production phase; the number of cycles to break even with single-use packaging, the return rate and the transport mode and distance in the service phase, and finally the chosen approach (recycling, incineration, landfill) in the end-of-life phase.

Watch the English version of the webinar here.

The Netherlands Institute for Sustainable Packaging (KIDV) has developed a new tool: the Sustainable Packaging Compass. With this Compass, companies can determine the sustainability of packaging based on three pillars: recyclability, circularity and environmental impact.
Furthermore, it is possible to compare existing product-packaging combinations with alternatives. At present, the tool can be used for flexible and rigid plastic packaging. The calculations are based on the current situation of sorting and recycling facilities in the Netherlands. The KIDV aims to expand the tool this year to include glass, paper and cardboard packaging materials.

Especially at the beginning of the development of a product-packaging combination, the Compass is a good starting point for investigating whether packaging can be made more sustainable. The Compass is relatively easy to use. It takes only twenty minutes to run through an entire scenario and get the results. “A user only needs the technical data and information about the end-of-life scenarios of the packaging,” says Niels van Marle of the KIDV. “But it is a quick scan. Later in the process, or for specific data, a more comprehensive LCA is needed.”

Click here to go to the tool.

Labels and glues are often a disruptive factor in the recycling process of plastic packaging (PE and PP). They do not release properly during the washing process and therefore pollute the material flow. For good packaging recycling, it is important that the material flow is as homogeneous as possible.
PP and PE packaging are usually washed in cold water. In practice, however, companies do not know what requirements adhesives and labels must meet for these packaging materials, in order to be washable. To improve this, the Netherlands Institute for Sustainable Packaging (KIDV) has developed a protocol. This allows companies to test whether the labels and adhesives they use on rigid PP and PE packaging will wash off well.

Click here for more information.

The Netherlands Institute for Sustainable Packaging (KIDV) has published a Recycle-check for glass packaging. With this tool companies can assess for themselves whether the bottles and jars they use for packaging are good recyclable materials.
The Recycle-check Glass Packaging was drawn up in co-operation with sector organizations, producers and importers of packaged products and with sorters and recyclers of glass packaging. The tool contains a decision tree with questions and information about many aspects of glass packaging, such as the color and light transmission of glass, the presence of sleeves and coatings and the impact of chemicals and heavy metals used in glass packaging to enhance certain properties or characteristics of glass.

An explanation of the questions includes a description of the current situation in recycling, background information and possible future perspectives. In drawing up this Recycle-check, alignment with recycling checks and guidelines from other countries and international organizations, such as The European Container Glass Federation was sought. At present, the Recycle-check is only available in Dutch. The English version will be published shortly. The KIDV has already issued recycling checks for flexible and rigid plastic packaging and for packaging made of paper and card.

Download here the Recycle Check Glass Packaging

This activity has been realized thanks to the collaboration between the research team from the Chemistry, Material and Chemical Engineering “Giulio Natta” of Politecnico di Milano, and the experts from COMIECO.
Collaboration with the whole chain has been crucial, from the paper factories to the companies that contributed to the document with their specific know-how and witnesses.
The document describes the peculiarities of paper packaging, the different kinds of packaging material and their characteristics. Detailed analysis of the collection, selection and recycling processes sheds light on the points of attention for each stage, bringing out the design for recycling guidelines.

http://www.progettarericiclo.com/en/docs/guidelines-facilitating-recycling-packaging-made-predominantly-paper

As the Quebec curbside recycling system undergoes major changes, businesses will become responsible for managing the end-of-life cycle for containers, packaging, printed matter and newspaper (C, P, PM & N) they put on the market.
Therefore, it’s a good time for them to rethink their C, P, PM & N and make sure they limit their impact on the environment.

That’s why Éco Entreprises Québec is launching a revamped version of its Ecodesign Portal, which helps businesses who are interested in carrying out an ecodesign initiative to lay a solid foundation that will ensure their project’s success.

https://ecoconception.eeq.ca/en-ca

The Knowledge Institute for Sustainable Packaging (KIDV) has developed a Recycle Check for paper and cardboard packaging. The tool is intended for packaging designers, but also for marketeers and purchasers, when introducing a new product or packaging to the market.
The Recycle Check contains a decision tree to check whether a packaging is collected after use and can be recycled properly (in the Dutch situation). The user is asked a brief number of questions about the material and about packaging components that influence recycling. Background information is provided with each question and various points of attention are explained. This enables a producer to improve the recyclability of the packaging.

The KIDV has previously developed recycling checks for rigid plastic packaging and flexible plastic packaging. These have also been translated into English. Click here to download the various Recycle Checks. Currently the KIDV is working on recycle checks for glass and metal packaging.

The Knowledge Institute for Sustainable Packaging (KIDV) has developed a tool to calculate the environmental impact and economic profitability of reusable packaging. The calculation tool gives an overview of all the chain steps of reusable packaging and provides an indication of the CO2 emissions and integral costs, compared to one-way packaging.
The calculation tool makes it clear where the tipping point for reusable packaging lies compared to one-way packaging. By operating various buttons, such as the number of rotations, the transport distance and the means of transport, it is possible to optimise the CO2 impact and the integral costs.

The development of the tool was an initiative of the KIDV’s Community of Practice Reusable Packaging. This involves parties that are working on making their packaging more sustainable by studying and implementing reusable options. Participants include supermarkets, brand owners, service providers, start-ups, knowledge institutions and NGOs.

You can download the Reusable Packaging Calculation Tool here. Click here for more information about the Community of Practice Reusable Packaging.

These are multi-layer and flexible materials which, due to their excellent packaging properties, are often used to pack food stuffs. Laminates are currently not (fully) compatible with a circular economy.
Companies with ambitions to have their plastic packaging portfolio completely recyclable and wish to use less fossil based raw materials by 2030 are facing serious challenges.

For this reason the KIDV carried out a study into possible alternatives for laminate packaging available in the short and medium term, and that are (more) compatible with a circular economy (fully recyclable) and offer the same packaging properties. The KIDV reviewed ten laminates and compared the materials with possible alternative materials. The study showed that, in practice, direct one-on-one substitution of laminates in plastic packaging is difficult or impossible.

In the research report KIDV describes the steps The Netherlands and Europe must take to achieve circular solutions for flexible multilayer materials.

Through a simple guided questionnaire, the simplified LCA it assesses the environmental impact of the packaging at all stages of its life cycle in relation to water consumption, energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions.
The tool therefore suggests personalized eco-design actions and dispositions to carry out comparisons between the simulations, from the point of view of the environmental impact and circularity.

Ecoembes, AECOC (GS1 Spain) and IHOBE (Society of Environmental Management of the Basque Government), presented the last 24th October in Bilbao, a document with recommendations to improve the sustainability of e-commerce packaging.
The purpose is to help companies to design and develop packagings that, with the minimum amount of material, guarantee the protection of the product along its value chain, thus contributing to reduce the environmental and economic impact associated.

The report also outlines that the 43% of online shoppers are willing to pay more for more ‘environmentally friendly’ packaging.

The guide will show how good packaging can be both environmentally – and cost efficient.
It will cover all packaging materials, and the topics packaging optimization, circular economy, reduction, reuse, design for recycling and the use of recycled materials. News and examples about trends and examples from members will be added for inspiration

The 2019 edition of the Prevention Dossier, entitled ‘Pensare Circolare – Risorse e idee per la sostenibilità’, or “Circular Thinking – Resources and ideas for sustainability” takes stock of trends relating to the sustainability of packaging and the strategies adopted by companies
The document describes the work of virtuous companies that adopt a sustainability strategy by taking into consideration the multiple functions of packaging and its environmental characteristics as well as the implications on the same organizations and their investments.The aim of the research is to provide a roadmap for the sustainability of packaging defining the main factors to be considered in a sustainability strategy.

https://www.conai.org/wp-content/uploads/dlm_uploads/2019/11/Pensare_Circolare_CONAI_2019.pdf

Led by the Netherlands Institute for Sustainable Packaging the Community of Practice reusable packaging started in October 2019.
Representatives of twenty companies and organizations joined together in this community. They discussed market developments, shared challenges and the necessity and opportunities of reusable packaging. The more often a packaging is used the lower the environmental impact will be. In that sense reusable packaging will be more favorable to use in comparison to single use packaging.

The participants vary from multinationals to start-ups, brand-owners, retailers, (logistical) service providers, universities and NGO’s.

https://www.kidv.nl/9138/kansen-van-herbruikbare-verpakkingen-voor-de-circulaire-economie.html?ch=DEF

In October 2019, we once again awarded two prizes to highlight innovative packaging that contributes to circularity.
This year, the prizes were awarded to L’Oréal for their shampoo refill system in the household packaging category, and to Werner & Mertz for the circularity of their bottles in the industrial packaging category. More infromation can be found here:

https://www.greenerpackaging.be/en/presentation-of-the-winners/

Plastløftet will help Norwegian companies contribute to reaching the EU-goals for material recycling of plastic (50% of all plastics by 2025 and 55% by 2030). Plastløftet focuses on increasing the use of recycled plastic, avoiding unnecessary plastic and design for recycling.
Companies taking Plastløftet commit themselves to:

1. Set ambitious goals for the increased use of recycled plastic.
2. Prevent plastic waste. The company must work to reduce, reuse and design the plastic packaging for recycling.
3. Attend three annual seminars where producers share knowledge, and experts offer updates on regulations, new materials, recycling technology, design for recycling, etc.

The companies set ambitious goals, and report on activities and results annually.

50 companies have signed Plastløftet in 2019, and it will continue through 2020.

The information explains into which waste bin to discard each package
as well as aims to to strengthen the environmental image of the manufacturers and importers that have signed agreements with “TAMIR”.

In collaboration with designers specializing in product and packaging design, Tamir have created unique recycling symbols

• Yellow bin: Waste bottles of 1.5 liters or more and their corks (these are non-deposit family drinking bottles), other plastic bottles and their caps
• Orange bin: PMD or packaging waste of all kinds (except glass and cardboard)
• Purple bin: Glass packaging waste such as olive oil bottles, perfume bottles, coffee jars, jam or honey jars, etc.
• Blue bin: household cardboard packaging waste, white paper, magazines, newspaper papers, notebooks and cartons such as egg cartons, toilet rolls, etc.

Wienerberger Belgium won the Packaging Award during the 61st Ufemat congress in Montreux. The Spanish Danosa and the British Lakes Showering Spaces were the other Award finalists.
Wienerberger entered the contest with the Circular Shrink Hood that is protecting Wienerberger’s Eco-Bricks. The jury supported the Wienerberger project because of the holistic combination of an ecological product protected by an equally sustainable packaging solution. Valipac is proud because through our connect and develop efforts, Wienerberger is now the first construction materials company that is using shrink hoods containing 50% PCR.

The programme explored a large range of topics: consumer experience and behaviour when purchasing and disposing of items, the environmental impact of packaging, the collection and processing of plastic packaging waste, and business models for making sustainable packaging practically feasible. It also involved research into the way people experience packaging in online business, business models in the Packaging Loop, the use of rPET in PET bottles, and mitigating measures in production processes to prevent mineral oils in recycled paper and cardboard.

https://www.kidv.nl/wop?ch=EN

Starting from May 2019, labeling for packaging and magazines has been updated to become even clearer.

The marking is designed so that it works on both packaging and recycling containers. All to make it easier for consumers to sort properly. The idea is to have a uniform label that acts as a red thread throughout the recycling journey, with the same symbol on the packaging itself as on the recycling bins.

https://www.ftiab.se/2866.html

Valipac is now disseminating the learnings with Benelux companies – who already ordered 10 tonnes worth of circular shrink hoods. At the same time the Circular Stretch film project is progressing very well. The production trial showed that a 23 micron film can be produced with 15% and 25 % PCR.

However some more formulation work is needed to bring the performance of the circular stretch film to the same high level as a film produced with 100% virgin plastic.

Flanders Circular made this summer another call for projects. This time Valipac made 3 entries: Circular Stretch Hood, Circle Strap and Circular Ink. All projects were declared admissible now let’s keep our fingers crossed that they will receive a grant too.

Together with the Netherlands Institute of Sustainable Packaging more than twenty sector organizations have drawn up their sector innovation plans for 2019-2022.

Amongst these organizations there are those active in the food industry, cosmetics, plants and flowers and the e-commerce. The sector innovation plans contain goals and measures which will improve the sustainability of the packaging used. These are intended to reduce the amount of packaging used and to improve the recyclability and reusability of plastic packaging.

KIDV expects that the sector innovation plans will contribute to reduction, reuse and improved recycling of resources and packaging materials.

https://www.kidv.nl/8728/de-toekomst-van-duurzaam-verpakken-in-zeventien-brancheplannen.html?ch=DEF

[link to webpage sector innovation plans]

https://www.kidv.nl/8705/brancheplannen-duurzaam-verpakken.html?ch=DEF

This year CONAI promotes environmental sustainability with the “CONAI contest for prevention and packaging sustainability: 2019 edition”, aimed at rewarding the most innovative and ecofriendly packaging solutions placed on the market in the 2017-2018 biennium.

The available budget is equal to € 500,000, which is divided as follows:

• € 410,000 in proportion to the score of all admitted solutions;
• € 60,000 for best solutions referred to single material (steel, aluminium, paper, wood, plastic and glass);
• € 30,000 in Enlarged Technical Committee opinion (Awards for Circular Economy), for one or more of the following eco-design drivers:
  • Design for reuse,
  • Design for recycling,
  • Use of secondary materials.

Regolamento_Bando_Prevenzione_Conai_2019

http://www.conai.org/en/prevention/thinking-about-the-future/stewardship-tender/

A conscious consumer is someone who considers the health effects, and environmental and social impacts before making a decision on what to buy.
Learn the top 10 ways to be a more conscious consumer by considering the health effects, and environmental and social impacts of products and companies before making the decision to buy.

10 ways to be a conscious consumer.

The 5th Sustainable Business Awards, which aim to reward the successful sustainable business models, were given to projects that created major effects on social, economic, and environmental issues.

Members of ÇEVKO Foundation L’Oreal Turkey, Mey İçki, and Sütaş were awarded with their projects.

• Co-operation – In the B2B category L’Oreal Turkey was awarded with its Project “Beauty Knows No Obstacles”.
  You can read more here: http://www.guzelligiherkeslepaylasmak.com/
• Mey İçki was rewarded in the Carbon and Energy Management category with the Carbon Footprint Calculation and Reduction Project of Kayra Vintage Wines.
• In the Waste Management category Sütaş received the award with “From Farm to Dinner Table” Value Chain Waste Management Model.

For the paper and cardboard supply chain, the diversification concerns “polylaminated packaging with a prevalence of cartons suitable for containing liquids”, such as containers used for fruit juices, milk and preserves.
The Diversified Contribution for these types of packaging is aimed at improving the effectiveness of the value creation process by consolidating and developing collection and sorting activities for dedicated ecycling. The project is therefore oriented towards the development of collection and investments for sorting and recycling operations. http://www.conai.org/imprese/contributo-ambientale/contributo-diversificato-carta/

For plastic packaging, on the other hand, the Contribution diversification already in place as from 1 January 2018 is further reinforced, making clearer the distinction between packaging solutions subject to sorting and recycling and those that are still not.
http://www.conai.org/imprese/contributo-ambientale/contributo-diversificato-plastica/

The course, which will be 100% online, will begin on November 19th and will last four months. At the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• Manage, evaluate and validate technical, economic and commercially new packaging designs.
  Integrate the environmental variable within the packaging design process and ensure that packaging is reusable or easily recyclable.
• Translate packaging sustainability into technical improvements and real economic savings.
  Improve the competitiveness of the product, making the environmental advantages an added value to the market.
• The combination of theoretical content and practical material, and the global approach of the final business case, will allow to practice and connect all the acquired knowledge.

More information at:
https://www.unir.net/ingenieria/curso-packaging-ecodiseno-digital/5492036156

New knowledge domain on the KIDV website with background information from different perspectives on how to work on sustainable product-packaging combinations.
Starting with sustainable packaging, you will quickly discover that this involves more than simply using less or a different material. The development of a successful sustainable packaging also requires you to consider for example the packaging process and the logistics, your customers’ purchasing and disposal behaviour, and your organisation’s packaging and sustainability strategies. That is why the Netherlands Institute for Sustainable Packaging (KIDV) developed a model called Five perspectives on sustainable packaging®.
You can read more here: https://hoeverpakjeduurzaam.kidv.nl/?lang=en

The World Resources Forum (WRF) is a non-profit organization for sharing knowledge about economic, political, social and environmental implications of global resource use. WRF creates a platform for researchers, policymakers, business, NGO’s and the public with the aim to expand their vision of a sustainable use of resources.
The WRF is organizing the 2019 forum in the city of Antwerp around the general theme ‘Closing Loops – Transitions at Work’. The Valipac proposal has the title : ‘To more Circular Plastic Packaging for Construction Materials’ and during a presentation on ‘Eternal life of a shrink hood’ will be delivered. Shrink hoods for pallets can stay in circulation much longer if the entire value chain makes good agreements. Still,iIn order to achieve a higher rate of circularity, Valipac started a project to bring the shrink hoods of building materials back into the value chain as new shrink hoods. Therefore, we involve all actors: packers, construction contractors, waste collectors, recyclers and shrink hood producers. A step forward in the right direction, but more ideas are welcome. Come and brainstorm with us and let us inspire you by a more circular economy.

To register please follow this link: https://www.wrf-antwerp2019.be/

At present, Fost Plus already recycles 89.1% of the packaging placed on the market in Belgium. With the expanded collection of PMD we will capture much more plastic packaging and increase the recycling rate of plastic packaging.
“There are still a number of types of packaging that are very difficult to recycle,” says Nicolas Egri, Prevention Advisor at Fost Plus. “Today, we want to tackle this problem in close collaboration with our members.”
During the first phase, Fost Plus has inventoried the packaging which is difficult to recycle based on the declarations of the members. Based on this a potential of 17,000 tons of packaging has been identified, which will be tackled as a priority. Some of such identified packaging include potato chips, coffee packaging, black EPS trays, drug blister packs and infant milk packaging. It’s often packaging that combines different materials from plastic, paper or metal – usually for hygienic reasons and for better preservation.
“We are nevertheless convinced that we can find alternatives in collaboration with producers. In the coming months, we will be sitting around the table with many of our members to discuss this issue. “These initiatives will reconcile the ecological and economic aspects, by reducing the contribution to the Green Dot rate by our members who are putting more recyclable packaging on the market.”
Do you place on the market non-recyclable packaging, and want to discuss possible recyclable alternatives that exist?

Do not hesitate to contact our prevention department at prevention@fostplus.be

A public consultation was opened on the web-based platform www.progettarericiclo.com the result of a collaboration with the research group of Politecnico di Torino and the support of professionals from CiAl.
This document analyses the selection and recycling phases of the aluminium packaging with the aim of identifying which elements of the processes deserve attention and are to be considered in the designing phase, in order to optimize the recycling processes and to reduce the related environmental impacts. The guidelines are enriched with designing indications and considerations on characteristics and recyclability for specific types of packaging.
https://www.progettarericiclo.com/en

Starting with sustainable packaging, you will quickly discover that this involves more than simply using less or a different material.
The development of a successful sustainable packaging also requires you to consider for example the packaging process and the logistics, your customers’ purchasing and disposal behaviour, and your organisation’s packaging and sustainability strategies. That is why the Netherlands Institute for Sustainable Packaging (KIDV) developed a model called Five perspectives on sustainable packaging®.

This KIDV model provides a clear overview of the key areas of attention that you have to take into account when developing sustainable packaging. It also gives you the opportunity to zoom in on issues that are relevant to your specific situation from any angle. It offers background information, tips, guidelines, and examples that can help you along the way.

More information available at: https://hoeverpakjeduurzaam.kidv.nl/?lang=en

Over 10,600 volunteers rallied by June 16th across Spain to fight the environmental catastrophe that means the waste abandonment in natural environments, within the ‘1m2 –one square meter- for the Nature’ campaign.
It is an action carried out by SEO/Birdlife in partnership with Ecoembes to double the number of heroes who have dedicated their time to clean natural environment.
In its second call 420 natural areas of all over the country have been cleared from waste.

Increasing the use of recycled plastic is an ongoing effort involving a stakeholders through the value chain. By increasing the demand and use of recycled plastic, producers will create a pull in the circular economy.
Several Grønt Punkt Norge members are already using recycled plastic in their packaging as a result of their own decisions and research. To increase the use of recycled materials, we need more knowledge on suppliers and qualities, and production – and user tests. All involved producers are well aware that consumer satisfaction and physical/technical functions are at the core of an optimized packaging solution. At the same time, they know that using recycled plastics is the single most effective way of reducing packaging materials’ footprint. The Norwegian project SirkulærPlast (CircularPlastics) is providing technical data for a broad range of recycled materials. This will answer questions from packaging – and commodity producers, and surely accelerate their transition to recycled plastics.

Tender to enhance and reward the best sustainable inventions developed in the cellulosic packaging sector.
The Consortium for the Recovery and Cellulose-based Recycling, member of Conai, Call for Proposals provides for the awarding of 3 prizes for an amount of 35,000 euros to be allocated to the best patents for inventions (€ 20,000), utility model patents (€ 10,000) and design and model registrations (€ 5,000) that relate to packaging or solutions applicable to it with measurable benefits in environmental terms.

https://www.comieco.org/premio-per-linnovazione-sostenibile-nel-packaging-di-carta-e-cartone

4th Green Dot Award 2018 – category of Prevention Applications by Reducing Resources in Packaging Design
The main purpose of the Green Dot Awards is to inform the public of the recycling efforts of the Green Dot family members that are steadily growing and gaining strength in our country as well as in the world. Also, among the targets of the awards are rewarding the companies that participate in the Green Dot organization and highly fulfill the set criteria while setting an example with their works beyond their legal responsibilities alongside encouraging other launching companies.

https://www.cevko.org.tr/green-dot-awards-2018

EKO-KOM together with The Institute of Experimental Botany of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic and the Research Institute of Plant Production made study “Biodegradable plastics in waste management processes TA01020744”
This study was financed by Technological Agencies of the Czech Republic. The study was realized in the period of 5 years (2011-2015) to cover the lack of consistency with regard to the subsequent handling of bioplastics as waste. There is a potential problem for existing systems of recycling organized by PRO in Czech Republic.

Last March 31st Ecoembes presented the ‘2015 – 2017 Prevention Plan’s Monitoring Closure Report’ to all the Spanish Autonomous Regions with the following results:

• 2,135 member companies adhered that represent 89% of the Spanish fast-moving-goods market.
• 8,639 ecodesign measures saving 52,238 tons of packaging raw materials.
• Packaged-to-product ratio decreased in 2.7% during the 2015-2017 period, above the objective (1.1%).

In addition, in May 2018 Ecoembes has presented the new “2018-2020 Prevention Plan”, aiming to achieve the following:

• 2,072 Member companies adhered.
• 88% tons adhered.
• 3,043 prevention measures forecast.
• 0.7% reduction of the Packaged-to-product ratio.

Once again this year, Fost Plus is committed to offering its members numerous tools and services that help them in their packaging eco-design and design for recycling.
In addition to organizing monitoring projects with more than 40 member companies, together with VAL-I-PAC, Fost Plus has carried out 12 diagnostics of packaging solutions with the help of university partners specialized in the field of packaging. This service was developed to help companies optimize their packaging. A clear and precise report is sent to the member companies of Fost Plus and VAL-I-PAC with a description of the actions to be taken to reduce the ecological footprint of their packaging.
Members are then free to apply the proposed improvements at their convenience, without significant investment in new technologies. Thus, in December 2017, a big retailer company carried out a packaging diagnosis in three main product categories, giving rise to numerous eco-design perspectives for their packaging.

The Conai (Italy) Eco Tool is an online instrument that allows companies in the Conai consortium to evaluate the environmental efficiency (eco-efficiency) of their packaging through a comparison of environmental impact of the packaging BEFORE and AFTER the implemented action.
This tool permits calculation, through simplified LAC analyses, of the effects of prevention actions implemented by companies on their packaging.
The result of the analyses are expressed through reduction of CO2 emissions, reduced energy consumption and reduced water consumption.

https://www.ecotoolconai.org/

Ecoembes (Spain) coordinated the Packaging Session at the Basque Ecodesign Meeting (BEM2017), one of the most important meetings on Ecodesign throughout Europe, facing the challenge of sustainability from the Ecodesign point of view.

Biannually, the Basque Ecodesign Center organizes this International Ecodesign Event, which is one of the most important meetings on this field in Europe that brings together about five hundred business professionals with strategic decisions making capability, and with an interest in introducing Ecodesign and environmental product innovation into their corporate policies in order to obtain competitive advantages.

Ecoembes took this opportunity to launch its “Packaging Ecodesign Guide”, developed in collaboration with IHOBE (the Basque government’s environmental entity). This guide aims to help and guide how to implement a Packaging Ecodesign Methodoly from a practical point of view.
During the Packaging season, speakers from several companies, such as L’oreal, Procter & Gamble, Eroski, Pescanova, Químicos Vinalopó, Wite and Solá, A & B biotechnology laboratories… presented their cases of success in Ecodesign, putting their collaborative projects with Ecoembes in value. With this event, another milestone of the work plan was achieved, promoting the environmental improvement of packaging.

For the past three years, ÉEQ has been a partner in the Baromètre sur la consommation responsable published by the Observatoire sur la consommation responsable (OCR) of ESG UQAM School of Management. In 2015, the collaboration led to the release of the 1st eco-responsible packaging knowledge indicator and a survey on the myths and realities of eco-responsible packaging.

You can find more information here.

Organized in cooperation between Fost Plus and Valipac (Belgium), the 4th edition of the Greener packaging Awards ceremony took place on 23rd November 2017 in Brussels. The awards give recognition to the companies that put every effort in reducing the ecological footprint of their packaging in one or many of the following fields: packaging weight and / or volume reduction, circular economy, product waste reduction.

Two bigger awards are also attributed to the best eco-design improvement for household packaging and for industrial packaging, and this year a new voting system was introduced to allow the public to vote for their favorite packaging eco-design initiative out of the nominates.

The ceremony also gives the opportunity to get inspiration from a keynote speaker that introduces the audience to sustainable products and initiatives, and it is also an opportunity to get to know and network with other players in the field of sustainable packaging.

Please visit the following site to know more about the Greener Packaging Awards and to discover the nominates and winners of this 4th edition: https://www.greenerpackaging.be/en

Circular Economy Package demands a shift in knowledge and practice in the Member States of the European Union. One key driver is the drastically increased recycling targets for municipal waste. Specifically, plastic packaging may see targets increasing from 30 % up to 55 %. The main aim of this project is contributing to higher recycling rates of plastic packaging by supporting Nordic producers implement validated design for recyclability principles when designing their packaging.

The project focuses on helping the producers design packaging solutions that are actually recyclable. This demands general, validated knowledge of how design choices influence recyclability, and success stories showing how this can be converted into practice. Circular economy calls for solutions that are both technologically feasible and produces recycled materials that are in demand. By meeting these criteria, designing for recyclability will facilitate higher levels of recycling at a reasonable cost.

This project will bring the value chain of plastic packaging together, to learn and find solutions that enable more efficient recycling. The effects of source separated biodegradable plastics in the recycling stream will also be described. Designing for recyclability requires an understanding of the current technology for sorting and recycling. It is therefore important that this knowledge is communicated and implemented among producers in the Nordic countries. One project aim is to develop design for recyclability guidelines that help producers to make informed design choices and validate the results in test facilities.

For this, the KIDV made a website on which everyone can find tips and tricks to improve the recyclability of their packaging: recyclability.kidv.nl.

There are tips and tricks for each of the five materials (plastic, glass, metal, paper/board and wood). The tips are based on the knowledge of the KIDV, input on the consultation, collaboration with the different material organisations and internationally agreed standards, such as EPBP. Per material one or more packaging types are elaborated. The website can be found here: https://recyclability.kidv.nl/

The Trophéco award aims to reward and promote sustainable and eco-friendly packaging sold in Luxembourg with the help of a panel of experts. It offers winning businesses a unique opportunity to promote their products.
Winning the Trophéco competition means obtaining certification in the form of a strong and recognizable logo. This certification is designed to make it easier to recognize the product packaging’s sustainable characteristics.
For consumers, it guarantees that the packaging has been produced using environmentally-friendly methods.

http://tropheco.lu/en/tropheco

The initiative is aimed at rewarding the most innovative packaging solutions and ecofriendly placed on the market in 2015-2016 biennium.

The companies that, in the period 2015-2016, have invested in prevention activities aimed at environmental sustainability of their packaging can participate, acting on at least one of the following levers: reuse, saving raw materials, optimization of logistics, facilitation of activities recycling, use of materials from recycling, simplifying the packaging system and optimization of production processes.

http://www.conai.org/en/prevention/thinking-about-the-future/stewardship-tender/

‘LIBERA, nature without littering’, a project created by the environmental NGO, SEO / BirdLife, in partnership with Ecoembes, the non-profit environmental organization that promotes circular economy through the recycling of packaging https://www.proyectolibera.org/que-es-libera with the objective of raising awareness and mobilizing citizens to keep the natural spaces free of littering.
To this end, LIBERA proposes an approach to the problem in three dimensions: knowledge, prevention and participation. It is necessary to improve and deepen the knowledge about littering: knowing more about the quantity, typology and origin of the waste will allow the identification of effective solutions for its prevention. In prevention, LIBERA works to avoid the abandonment of rubbish from the sensitization, the reinforcement of the infrastructures in sensitive points and, above all, from the education.
LIBERA also wants to promote the mobilization of citizens, so that, among all, the situation can be changed. This mobilization is channeled through sponsorship projects (50 throughout Spain) https://www.proyectolibera.org/apadrinamientos, to help associations and citizens committed to the cleaning and conservation of natural spaces. In addition to massive collaborative littering collection or other ecosystems collection to get data. https://www.proyectolibera.org/1m2-playas

Packplay 2 is a student packaging design competition jointly organized by the School of Design at UQAM and Éco Entreprises Québec (EEQ). The objective of this project is to gather the best packaging design projects from design schools around the world for a competition, an exhibition and a book. Specifically, the competition aims to promote research and innovation in packaging eco-design and showcase the work of designers of tomorrow in all packaging design related fields, including graphic design, industrial design, object design, branding etc.

https://fr-ca.facebook.com/Packplay2/

The exhibition will be part of the World Design Summit, which will be held in October in Montréal.

To know more about the summit: https://worlddesignsummit.com/

Since the year 2005 we have organized at least 12 big seminars for clients, in Prague as well as in regions a year. During 2 hours on seminars we have explained them legislation and standardization for prevention and minimization in detail and we have shown them the best results from other companies from Czech Republic and abroad. In addition, the clients have the option of individual consultations. Our employees has been part of CEN Working Groups. So, we have been able to provide our clients with the most up-to-date information and knowledges.

EKO-KOM’s financial system is based on the weight of produced packaging. All clients/packaging producers are motivated to minimize your packaging.

Fost Plus has a widespread know-how for designing packaging in a most effective and sustainable way as possible. It is a pleasure for us to share this knowledge with various organizations as for example a big retailer, who contacted Fost Plus this year to obtain concrete advice on the environmental footprint of their packaging. In its strategy towards sustainability, the company drives a full attention to packaging. For all its new products, the company analyses the most relevant and intelligent packaging, and can count on the support from Fost Plus to help them on this matter. Fost Plus has therefore recently organized a workshop with the buyers from the retailer to review the packaging they have brought during an interactive session. We also invite you to visit www.preventpack.be or participate to the Greener Packaging Seminar to get some ideas on the contribution Fost Plus can offer. Some tools like www.pack4recycling.be  or www.pack4ecodesign.org  can help industries to assess the environmental impact of their packaging.

In France, the use of opaque PET in packaging has increased significantly in recent years. This is a plastic that has been made opaque by the addition of certain pigments.

Opaque PET can disrupt the recycling process. In the Netherlands, the plastic is not being widely used yet, but in France this material is already causing problems in the recycling chain.

This factsheet provides more information on the use of opaque PET, why it disrupts recycling and how France deals with the increased use of opaque PET.

You can find the factsheet here.

The Netherlands Institute for Sustainable packaging (KIDV) wants to help designers, developers and buyers of packaging as well as marketeers to make choices that make their packaging more recyclable.
KIDV started by drafting a document which gave tips and tricks to improve the recyclability of five types of plastic packaging. This document was presented for consultation. The input from the consultation was processed and the resulting information is presented here: https://recyclability.kidv.nl/.
Subsequently the KIDV added recycling tips for packaging consisting of glass, metal, cardboard/paper and wood. Currently KIDV is in a process of adding more packaging types after consulting the various material organizations. During this consultation existing examples will be further completed.

Within the prevention measures of CONAI to reduce the environmental impact of packaging, CONAI is evaluating the methodology to define the contribution levels on the basis of three base criteria:

• sortability,
• recyclability,
• and destination circuit in a LCA approach.

A route already taken with modulate fees for reusable packaging.

More information here.

These services are offered to Ecoembes members at no cost. Ecoembes organised conferences in 10 Spanish cities, six on-line sessions and with the collaboration of sectorial associations (ANEABE, ADELMA and STANPA) will organize three more conferences for their members.

In the initiative took part 593 companies, increasing the attendance by an 18% compared to the previous year. The participating companies rated Ecoembes activity with an average of 8.88 points (from 10 possible), improving their evaluation by 2.5% compared to 2015. Especially successful were the on-line sessions, tripling the 2015 attendance of companies. Respectively on line trainings will be further increase and will play a greater role in coming editions.

These aim to help them implement their ecodesign initiatives:

• Ecodesign strategies
• Self-diagnosis quiz
• Tools and solutions

The optimization team also offers a personalized training and coaching program to support businesses in their efforts to implement an ecodesign approach.

Read more.

Through analysis of each step in the value chain recommendations regarding design for recycling are given. Clear recommendations are given where it has been possible, and in areas where there is more than one correct solution, options have been given.

The recommendations are based on existing sorting and recycling technologies for Norwegian and Swedish plastic packaging products, and is meant to assist Norwegian and Swedish producers when designing their packaging for recycling. In addition to the report there will be developed a set of guidelines that can be easily communicated.

The Netherlands Institute for Sustainable packaging (KIDV) wants to help designers, developers and buyers of packaging as well as marketers to make choices that make their packaging more recyclable. As a start, the KIDV drafted a document for consultation, concerning tips and tricks to improve the recyclability of 5 types of plastic packaging. It is a living document: in 2017 the KIDV will extend the content of this document with other types of packaging.

Read more.

Since 2012 the bi-annual competition recognizes Belgian companies for their efforts to reduce the environmental impact of their packaging These prizes reward companies that make special efforts to reduce the environmental impact of their packaging. The numerous applications submitted for these Awards illustrate how strong companies are interested in the environment. Indeed, innovative designs that also focus on the packaging life cycle are interesting from an ecological as well as an economic point of view. As in previous years, the bi-annual competition recognizes Belgian companies for their efforts to reduce the environmental impact of their packaging. Interested companies could apply until 30 June 2017 via the website www.greenerpackaging.be.