The European Commission has set an objective for all packaging placed on the EU market to be “reusable or recyclable in an economically viable way by 2030”. In this special report, EURACTIV looks at the implications for so-called “flexible packaging” such as crisp packets, which are considered hard to recycle.
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‘Flexible packaging’ – a test case for the EU’s recycling push
Lightweight soft packaging such as crisp packets or wrapping for chocolate bars are giving headaches to European recyclers who currently have little incentive to buy the collected material. The European Commission will seek to address this in July with its planned revision of the EU’s packaging and packaging waste directive.
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Recycling pro: Design standardisation is ‘way forward’ for flexible packaging
Greater standardisation in design "has to be the way forward" in order to make it worthwhile economically to recycle lightweight packaging such as crisp packets. In practice, this also means reducing the variety of packaging available to the food and drink industry, says Joachim Quoden.
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Simpler design seen as key to recycling-friendly food wrappers
Simple design and using at least 90% of the same plastic is the key to easy-to-recycle packaging for foods like crisps and chocolate, according to the industry.
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Reaching critical mass: EU eyes increased collection of lightweight packaging
Getting enough volume is the first challenge for recyclers when it comes to dealing with lightweight packaging such as crisp packets and food wrappers. To boost quantities and make recycling worthwhile, the European Commission is looking at ways of harmonising waste collection across the EU.
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Circular economy starts with the right design but it doesn’t end there
The world faces some formidable environmental challenges, from the climate crisis to plastic waste and deforestation, but they are not insurmountable. With a will, and with the right resources, we can tackle them. This is a task for all of …