Casper van den Dungen

“If you're attending the Packaging Recycling Summit #PRS2024 this year, please join me on September 17th for a panel discussion to learn about the range of #AdvancedRecycling technologies being used to reduce landfilling and helping to reach the growing demand for recycled content in packaging.   PureCycle technologies purification process transforms polypropylene plastic waste into a renewable resource by removing color, odor and other impurities. Our process results in an ultra-pure recycled (UPR) resin allowing for No.5 plastic waste to be widely reintroduced into plastics manufacturing such as recycled plastic packaging.   Together, we can make plastic packaging sustainable and advance the #circulareconomy.”

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There were 3 very important keynotes and a brand owners' panel at the TAPPI FlexPack PLACE conference held at the end of April 2024 in San Diego. There were presentations by Flexible Packaging Association and Mars - See our previous post: https://lnkd.in/evcP2hf6. William Jackson, from Amcor, gave an extremely interesting and original presentation on the role of R&D in driving product sustainability and growth. Amcor had joined the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's Global Commitment in 2018 https://lnkd.in/eYDSdq5s but did not have a plan or budget to meet the targets set for the end of 2025. In addition, Amcor integrated Bemis in 2019 and the two companies had very different R&D cultures. In 3 years, Amcor was able to move from decentralized R&D to global R&D, which enabled it to implement a rigorous R&D plan with cost figures and pricing understanding, and leverage technology to create alternatives to the company's thousands of products. As William E. Jackson reminds us, there are no binding regulations yet, but they're coming, and we need to be ready, even if the applications remain limited today. "When there are regulations, those regulations become the standard.” Amcor's CTO is convinced that chemical recycling is part of the solution. Truly a presentation not to be missed, and an important lesson for product development teams. There was a brand owners' panel, featuring Eric Klingenberg (Mars), Kristin Edie (Hallmark Cards), Steve Marko (Tillamook County Creamery Association) and Ken Laverdure (Estée Lauder), with Brad Kramer (Kuraray America, Inc.) as moderator. The discussion was of a very high standard, demonstrating that brand owners increasingly have a very good understanding of sustainable development, with the right definitions: it's a high level of practical technical knowledge, which I believe enables them to evaluate the packaging solutions proposed to them. The emphasis seems to be on decarbonization. This is not insignificant. And the use of life-cycle analyses seems to be becoming standard practice. A reminder from the panel: "Sales people, you don't have to sell, you have to listen to understand the pain points". We must always bear in mind that everything must be done to limit waste on the packaged product before working on the packaging, and so any change to the packaging must be accompanied by a rigorous analysis of the effect on the packaged product - one of the major concerns of brand owners working in the food sector. Increasingly, brand owners are choosing their suppliers based on their willingness to help them improve the environmental footprint of the packaging, but also to support them in analyzing the impact of new packaging on the packaged product. An important point to note: yes, these brand owners are big players, but they are willing to work with smaller suppliers to successfully decarbonize their packaging. "Don't hesitate to work with us", they say. #flexiblepackaging #circularity

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More important recycling news: Recyclass comes with a new version of Design for Recycling guide lines for all plastic streams ! Including a better definition for clear, light blue, and coloured transparent PET bottles, together with additional guidance on PET closures #Design for recycling #RecyClass

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Overview of the key Principles of the Circular Economy The concept of circular flow for materials and energy is not new, having initially appeared in a book by Kenneth E. Boulding in 1966, who says that we should be in a “cyclical” production system. And the phrase “circular economy” originally appeared in the book “The Economics of Natural Resources” in 1988. In brief, the circular economy is a revolutionary system of regenerating natural and human-made resources, where waste and pollution become raw materials. It’s a way of designing, producing and consuming goods and services that keeps resources in use for as long as possible, minimising waste and promoting sustainable economic growth. It also helps conserve resources, reduce waste, promote sustainable growth, create new business models and job opportunities, and address issues such as poverty and inequality. The concept of circular flow for materials and energy is not new, having initially appeared in a book by Kenneth E. Boulding in 1966, who says that we should be in a “cyclical” production system. And the phrase “circular economy” originally appeared in the book “The Economics of Natural Resources” in 1988. In brief, the circular economy is a revolutionary system of regenerating natural and human-made resources, where waste and pollution become raw materials. It’s a way of designing, producing and consuming goods and services that keeps resources in use for as long as possible, minimising waste and promoting sustainable economic growth. It also helps conserve resources, reduce waste, promote sustainable growth, create new business models and job opportunities, and address issues such as poverty and inequality. The traditional linear economy is based on a “take, make, use, dispose of” and is a “cradle-to-grave” model where resources are extracted, turned into products, consumed, and discarded. In contrast, the circular economy is based on the principles of “reduce, reuse, recycle” and is a “cradle-to cradle” model, where resources are kept in use for as long as possible, waste and pollution are minimized, and natural systems are regenerated. This approach benefits the environment and drives innovation and economic growth.

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𝐆𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐄𝐔 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝟖𝟎.𝟐% The EU average collection of glass packaging for #recycling was 80.2% in 2022, with a record volume of collected #glass. The latest data released by Close The Glass Loop shows that the #EU average collection for recycling rate of glass #packaging remained stable at 80.2% in 2022. Adeline Farrelly, Secretary General of FEVE – the European Container Glass Federation, said: “More glass packaging was collected in 2022 than ever before, reaching a record level of 12.4 million tonnes, representing an increase of about 542,000 tonnes over the previous year. “The increase in volumes of collected glass demonstrates the resilience and commitment of the glass packaging value chain to increase the availability of post-consumer glass for the manufacturing of new glass bottles and jars.” 𝐒𝐞𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞: https://lnkd.in/eV6NDAuu #glassindustry #europe #sustainability #closetheglassloop

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Thanks K-PROFI and Karin Regel for this wonderful article!

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The EU has approved the new Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), replacing the previous directive. This regulation sets ambitious targets to reduce waste generation by 5% by 2030, 10% by 2035, and 15% by 2040. James Coldman, an expert in packaging regulation communications, sees this as a significant step towards a more sustainable future for the industry. The PPWR aims to bring clarity and consistency to sustainability efforts whilst promoting a circular economy. #PackagingRegulation #SustainabilityMilestone #CircularEconomy

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#GoCircular2024 session on flexible plastic packaging innovations and opportunities for a sustainable future of flexible plastic packaging . Great intro by Joachim Quoden quoting that Belgian Fost Plus is likely the best in the world “ if it does not work in Belgium it likely won’t work anywhere”. Nice introduction for Lieven Capon to start his keynote and showcase fact-based Belgian household packaging recycling numbers and the insights on how to set it up correctly to get it delivered. #ProudBelgian

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#circulareconomy #extrusion #recycling #resins&rawmaterials #sustainability- Inks and resins partnership pushes circularity- https://lnkd.in/eZmerrre #plastics #packaging #sustainablepackaging #packagingdesign

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🏆 Europe is again the paper #recycling champion! 🏆   The new monitoring report of the European Paper Recycling Council (EPRC), of which EuPIA is a supporter, has been published. The data shows that in 2023 the recycling rate for all paper products including graphic paper and packaging increased to reach the record high of 79.3%. This places the paper sector on track to reach its long-term commitments. The recycling rate is defined as the ratio between the recycling of ‘Paper for Recycling’ (PfR), including the net trade of ‘PfR’ and the consumption of new paper and board   This again demonstrates that the paper value chain is succesfully working together to create a functioning #circulareconomy for paper and board.   https://lnkd.in/dC3ZJtQ #ink #print

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The sustainability of the printing process is something that matters deeply to us and our members. In the latest issue of Gravure News, we discussed some of the misconceptions around paper and the environment – and highlighted Germany as a leader in paper recycling. This monitoring report from the European Paper Recycling Council (EPRC) 👇 shows that, in 2023, the recycling rate for all paper products including graphic paper and packaging increased to reach the record high of 79.3%. It also emphasises that Europe continues to be the world champion in paper recycling 🥇 Great news for our industry and for the world as a whole! https://lnkd.in/eTZrxhs4 #Print #CircularEconomy #PaperRecycling #Sustainability #GravureNews 

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Recycling makes an important contribution to protecting our resources and climate. This is particularly true for PS and EPS packaging. The separate collection and recovery of household packaging waste in Germany (alone) produced >4Mt of recycled material and saved 2.88Mt of CO2 equivalents in 2020 (including avoided incineration). This corresponds to the CO2 emitted by about 2 million flights from Berlin to New York City. Oeko-Institut e.V. concluded a detailed, peer-reviewed, life cycle assessment (LCA) with ‘real life’ data from the German producer responsibility organisations (PROs) in 2022. The study also discusses how such a system can be improved further. If you look closely (at tables A 5-6, pp. 87-88), the separate collection and recovery of EPS and PS packaging was most efficient, contributing the highest GHG emissions reduction per kg waste among all plastics (-3,09 and -2,20 kg CO2-eq./kg waste in 2020, respectively). Since then, the share of collected PS packaging waste sent to recycling has increased to 67%, in total volume by even 42%, according to the Umweltbundesamt - German Environment Agency (UBA). Initiative "Mülltrennung wirkt" ('Waste separation works' initiative) of the PROs for separate collection: https://lnkd.in/gBH4zq6 Press release (in German):  https://lnkd.in/eESVTAWb LCA study (in German): https://lnkd.in/eWuAibuH German household packaging recovery in 2021-2022 (pp. 22 and 85): https://lnkd.in/g7PhwciP #circulareconomy #recycling #polystyrene #styrenics

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This week the EU Parliament is due to vote on the Packaging Regulation (PPWR). As Teufelberger, we see it as our responsibility to offer solutions that offer our customers added value in terms of safety for their products, efficient processing in their packaging systems and CO2 savings. We have invested a lot of time and money in this over the last few months - together with our partners. At the same time, the European Union defines "Reusable packaging" in Article 11 of the PPWR: An excerpt from it... - They were designed, developed and placed on the market with the aim of being able to be reused or refilled multiple times; (my comment: strapping was never designed for reuse as it is not technically possible) - they can be emptied or unloaded without damaging the packaging and thus preventing further and reuse; (my comment: strapping is damaged when unpacking because it is cut open) These are just 2 examples that clearly show that strapping cannot fall into the category of reuse, in the sense of reusing the finished product. In addition, if the package is reusable, the security of the packaged goods (e.g. transport by truck) cannot be guaranteed! Nevertheless, the strapping product can be found in the PPWR in the “reusable quotas for transport packaging” category (as well as stretch film). Anyone who studies the matter knows that this amounts to a ban on these products. A very drastic decision for the industry of manufacturers of machines and consumables, which is absolutely incomprehensible. The PPWR should actually have the goal of making packaging and the handling of it and the raw materials used for it more sustainable in order to make a positive contribution to the necessary CO 2 reduction. The current regulation is pointless and, if implemented, which is not technically possible, would have the opposite effect. In the specific case of the strapping product, as one of the European market leaders, we see the solution in the circular economy. One of the solutions is not the reusability of the product, but rather its reuse as a raw material. Let's stop burning thousands of tons of strapping as pressed bales for energy production or sending them around the globe to be used for cheap textiles. That's where the problem lies and that's where the PPWR should start!! Teufelberger makes a concrete contribution to the solution! https://lnkd.in/dhbZNd45

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Accelerating the transition to a more sustainable plastics industry and economy requires a culture of collaboration and sharing of insights, best practices, and innovations. It’s crucial to collectively drive this transformative shift. Therefore, it was a great opportunity to participate in AKRO-PLASTIC GmbH’s 15th KUNSTSTOFF-DIA(hr)LOG with the theme “VALUABLE in all areas” - an event that brought together different actors within the plastics industry. 💡🤝 We sent our dynamic duo Christian Kimer and Nanna Milian-Thaulow to present our technology and some of the insights we have gained as a closed-loop recycling enabler. Our approach to this theme was encapsulated in our presentation, "Too valuable to waste" - emphasizing the achievement of the highest level of value retention in recycling through effective sorting of material mixes, intended to re-enter the loop from which they originated. We also gained valuable perspectives from other industry actors, who shared their experiences and insights. A common thread in all the attendees was the shared commitment to advancing the plastics industry responsibly. 🌍♻️ This collaborative spirit is crucial for driving innovation and sustainability across the sector. We thank you, AKRO-PLASTIC GmbH for taking the initiative to host such a well-organized event, bringing together key players from across the industry. #PlasticsRecycling #CircularEconomy #TooValuableToWaste

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Today's theme:The Recyclability of packaging. The European Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) has passed a critical test, with agreement on the text reached. The Paper's main principle is packaging recyclability; polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) will play an important role in this regard. Adapa Group has relied on these materials for some time and has recently increased its offering of PE laminates for flowpacks. “adapa has made significant investments in the recent past, including in the expansionof MDO-PE technology. The constant further development of the MonoFlow(re) E-type family is aligned with strategy, which is based on the motto future is driven by action.  adapa Group #Recyclabilityofpackaging #PackagingWasteRegulation #foodindustry #industrialmeeting https://lnkd.in/dvmVWrdA

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Entries Open Early for Plastics Recycling Awards Europe 2025   Winners to be revealed at Plastics Recycling Show Europe in April    Earlier than usual, the Plastics Recycling Awards Europe 2025 are now open for entries. Participants from every part of the plastics recycling chain in Europe are invited to enter.   The seven award categories cover key areas of plastics recycling innovation and the major market applications for the circular use of plastics. They are:   Plastics Recycling Ambassador Automotive, Electrical or Electronic Product Building & Construction Product Household & Leisure Product Plastic Packaging Product Product Technology Innovation Recycling Machinery Innovation   Brand owners, retailers, product manufacturers, product designers, packaging producers, raw material suppliers, plastics recycling machine manufacturers and suppliers of recycled plastic products are invited to submit their projects by Friday, 18 October 2024. Award winners will be announced on the second day of the Plastics Recycling Show Europe which takes place at the RAI, Amsterdam from 1 to 2 April 2025.   “The quality and number of entries we receive for the Plastics Recycling Awards Europe have increased exponentially since the first awards in 2017, reflecting the outstanding progress in the circular use of plastics in Europe,” said Ton Emans, PRE President. “The 2025 awards are designed to inspire all parts of our industry towards greater use of recycled plastics and raise the bar of innovation even higher to meet Europe’s mandated recycling targets.”   “Winning a Plastics Recycling Award Europe is a significant achievement for any brand committed to sustainability,” said Matt Barber, Global Events Director at Crain Communications. “While we expect this year's competition to be stronger than ever, I very much encourage all organisations to showcase their achievements by entering.”   For more information and online entry to the Plastics Recycling Awards 2025 visit: https://prseventeurope.com   Plastics Recycling Awards Europe 2024 video: https://lnkd.in/exx8sM3P 

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