During the first quarter of 2024, Europe has witnessed a notable surge in the prices of flexible packaging materials, due to significant disruptions in supply chain, and particularly on the case of shipping security in Red Sea. According to a recent press release by Flexible Packaging Europe (FPE), these disruptions have led to increased prices…
In a recent press release, Finnish producer Neste, a leader in renewable solutions, has announced its partnership with Lotte Chemical, a prominent South Korean chemical company. Together, they aim at revolutionizing the manufacturing market by replacing conventional fossil resources with renewable raw materials, for the production of chemicals and plastics. The Partnership This collaborative…
E-commerce has revolutionized the way we buy our products, offering convenience and accessibility with a few clicks. However, behind this seamless experience, exists a significant environmental cost, particularly when it comes to the return of e-commerce products. A recent report from CleanHub sheds light on the alarming environmental impact of online shopping returns, revealing staggering…
On March 26th, 2024, the European Union, in its effort to empower consumers for a greener transition, implemented Directive (EU) 2024/825, also known as the Empowering Consumers Directive (ECD). This directive aims at fostering sustainable consumption patterns and tackles various misleading commercial practices, like greenwashing, that hinder consumers’ ability to make informed choices regarding the…
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) have been extensively utilized across various industrial and consumer sectors since the 1950s, due to their useful properties, including low surface energy and durable water- and oil-repellency, and finding application in a number of products, ranging from food packaging to firefighting foams. By taking into account a recent study, published…
Reverse vending pioneer, TOMRA Collection, has recently introduced its new Basic Line of Reverse Vending Machines (RVMs), tailored for retailers that enter Deposit Return Systems (DRSs). This initiative aims to simplify the collection of empty beverage containers for recycling, offering an easy and affordable solution to consumers and retailers, while conserving space and resources. Basic…
Α few weeks ago, European Union took a significant step towards addressing the ongoing challenge of packaging waste with the provisional political agreement reached between the Council presidency and the European Parliament’s representatives on a proposal for the regulation on packaging and packaging waste (PPWR). The agreement was made in EU’s efforts to reduce the…
Τον Μάιο του 2023 εκδόθηκε ο νέος κανονισμός 2023/1115, για τη διαθεσιμότητα στην αγορά της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης και την εξαγωγή από την Ένωση ορισμένων βασικών και παράγωγων προϊόντων, που συνδέονται με την αποψίλωση και την υποβάθμιση των δασών, από το Ευρωπαϊκό Κοινοβούλιο. Με τον κανονισμό να τίθεται σε ισχύ τον Ιούνιο του 2024, αναφέρουμε λεπτομέρειες…
In alignment with global efforts to reduce plastic pollution and promote environmental sustainability, Germany has recently joined the countries implementing a plastic tax. Following the footsteps of Spain and UK, Germany introduced its plastic tax through the “Single-Use Plastic Fund Act” of May 11, 2023, (EWKFondsG in German) for short. Having taken effect on January…
In recent years, the issue of plastic waste exports has gained increasing attention, creating the demand for a re-evaluation of policies surrounding the export of plastic waste to non-Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (non-OECD) countries. Plastic recycling charity RECOUP has presented compelling arguments against a sudden ban on such exports, highlighting the need for…
The World Packaging Organization (WPO) has recently announced the winners of this year’s WorldStar Global Packaging Awards, which make up for the largest international packaging awards across the world. With the awards’ ceremony slowly approaching, we reveal the countries with the most winning entries of the competition, while showcasing some examples of the innovative packaging…
The Packaging Innovations event is vital for a large range of industries, including pharma, beverage, food service, FMCG, food, and beauty and personal care.