Packaging

If all plastic packaging in Stockholm households were sorted correctly, residents could reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 40,000 tonnes per year. This corresponds to half of the fossil emissions generated by household waste. Now, an innovative project in Hammarby Sjöstad is showing how this can become a reality.

Clothing, fashion accessories and cosmetics are some of the worst performing product categories when it comes to consumer perceptions about how effectively they are tackling the amount and recyclability of packaging used in the UK. This is according to new research by Aquapak, which specialises in developing high performance, environmentally safe materials to reduce plastic pollution and improve recycling,

The growing volume of packaging waste has evolved into a significant global issue, with estimates showing that up to 91% of this material ends up in landfill or incinerators. This leads to underutilised resources and increased CO2 emissions. A portion of the remaining waste contaminates the environment, contributing to plastic pollution, the degradation of ecosystems, and even entering the food chain in the form of microplastics.

Member States must step up efforts to ensure the EU meets its packaging waste goals, says the NGO group Rethink Plastic alliance. A new report reveals how national and local governments can make the most of the opportunities provided by the EU’s new packaging rules.

Nextek and Coveris have announced a partnership to transform the mechanical recycling of flexible films with the COtooCLEAN process Together, they aim to convert post-consumer polyolefin (PE & PP) packaging waste into high-quality food-grade recycled resins and films.

Consumers do not think that UK retailers and brands are doing enough to reduce the use of plastic packaging. According to new research by Aquapak, 65% felt that they were falling short when it comes to cutting harmful plastic, with just 18% saying they are doing enough.

The implemented Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) in Romania has exceeded expectations, reflecting the increasing commitment of citizens to contribute actively to a greener future.

A multimillion-pound research project, called SustaPack, aims to overcome manufacturing challenges for the next generation of sustainable, paper-based packaging for liquids. Backed by a £1 million grant from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) as part of UKRI’s co-investing programme, packaging technology company Pulpex Ltd has joined forces with the University of Surrey to refine its manufacturing processes to provide a viable solution to plastic pollution.

The EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), which will shortly pass into law after the EU Council voted it through on 16 December, is one of the most significant pieces of legislation for the packaging and recycling value chains in decades and is set to fundamentally reshape both industries in the coming decades.

RIGK has committed itself as the German partner in the “myRecycledContent”-database – an initiative by European industrial return systems aimed at promoting the use of recycled plastics in industrial and commercial packaging.

Evidence suggests that reuse systems are the way forward for various packaging sectors, including takeaway food and drinks, says a new report by Zero Waste Europe.