PACKAGING
Proposed EU quotas on reusable plastics are incomprehensible, says Germany's IK / Reusable quotas for beverages not ambitious enough, says NGO
 IK considers the EU’s proposed recycling quotas for contact-sensitive plastics packaging problematic (Photo: PIE) |
The German association of plastics packaging and films, Industrievereinigung Kunststoffverpackungen (IK, Bad Homburg; www.kunststoffverpackungen.de) said the proposed EU recycling quotas for contact-sensitive plastics packaging can be problematic because these cannot be fulfilled for all types of packaging.
The draft law on Packaging and Packaging Waste (PPWD), tabled by the European Commission on 30 November (see Plasteurope.com of 05.12.2022), contains new binding targets for recycled content, mandatory targets for reusable packaging, as well as criteria for design and labeling.
IK managing director Isabell Schmidt said there are hardly any approved recyclates for food-packaging applications, adding that there is concern over possible supply bottlenecks also for other segments. This could be remedied by allowing more flexibility in the use of recyclates, such as introducing trading in certificates: those who cannot use recycled materials or can only use a few could acquire certificates from companies that have more recyclates than required by law.
The draft law on Packaging and Packaging Waste (PPWD), tabled by the European Commission on 30 November (see Plasteurope.com of 05.12.2022), contains new binding targets for recycled content, mandatory targets for reusable packaging, as well as criteria for design and labeling.
IK managing director Isabell Schmidt said there are hardly any approved recyclates for food-packaging applications, adding that there is concern over possible supply bottlenecks also for other segments. This could be remedied by allowing more flexibility in the use of recyclates, such as introducing trading in certificates: those who cannot use recycled materials or can only use a few could acquire certificates from companies that have more recyclates than required by law.
 Isabell Schmidt (Photo: IK) |
She said the basis of reusable plastics quotas is “incomprehensible”, particularly for commercial and industrial transport packaging. The quota requirements should also be “material-neutral” and not exclude single-use cardboard boxes.
Related: Interview with Germany’s IK ahead of EU unveiling of draft law on packaging waste
Leif Miller, managing director of environmental group NABU (Berlin; www.nabu.de) said the industry has successfully lobbied against much more ambitious reusable quotas, so the recently proposed target quotas for beverage packaging, of 10% by 2030 and 25% by 2040, “are anything but ambitious”. The quotas for to-go packaging of 10% and 40%, respectively, are also “too low”.
The European Waste Management Association (FEAD, Brussels; www.fead.be), said the sector must be stimulated through strong, binding measures for recyclates. The proposed measures, such as mandatory recycled content, aim at creating the much-needed shock on demand for recyclates and therefore trigger investments in separate collection, sorting, and highly innovative recycling.
Related: Interview with Germany’s IK ahead of EU unveiling of draft law on packaging waste
Leif Miller, managing director of environmental group NABU (Berlin; www.nabu.de) said the industry has successfully lobbied against much more ambitious reusable quotas, so the recently proposed target quotas for beverage packaging, of 10% by 2030 and 25% by 2040, “are anything but ambitious”. The quotas for to-go packaging of 10% and 40%, respectively, are also “too low”.
The European Waste Management Association (FEAD, Brussels; www.fead.be), said the sector must be stimulated through strong, binding measures for recyclates. The proposed measures, such as mandatory recycled content, aim at creating the much-needed shock on demand for recyclates and therefore trigger investments in separate collection, sorting, and highly innovative recycling.
07.12.2022 Plasteurope.com [251682-0]
Published on 07.12.2022
German version of this article...