UK packaging and plastics producers risk “leaving money on the table” if they fail to adopt circular business models, according to a new report from WRAP and OC&C Strategy Consultants. The analysis shows companies embracing circular strategies, from designing for reuse and recyclability to offering repair and refurbishment services, are outpacing their linear rivals in…
Η Ευρωπαϊκή Επιτροπή δημοσίευσε την έκθεση SWD(2025)311 με στόχο να αξιολογήσει πού βρίσκεται η Ελλάδα όσον αφορά την εφαρμογή των περιβαλλοντικών πολιτικών της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης. Η επισκόπηση αυτή περιλαμβάνει, όχι μόνο την ανασκόπηση επιδόσεων, αλλά και προτάσεις για το πώς η χώρα μπορεί να βελτιώσει τις περιβαλλοντικές της επιδόσεις στο μέλλον. Τι είναι η…
As of 2025, economic pressures and global uncertainty are strongly influencing consumer behavior in the United States. A new study by McKinsey & Company, conducted in March 2025 across 11 countries and featuring 1,000 US respondents, provides insight into evolving views of US consumer priorities in sustainable packaging. While environmental concerns remain present, they have…
In a recent publication by the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), concerns surrounding the safety of PET bottles were addressed in detail. The report tackled common consumer questions regarding potential health risks posed by these containers, particularly focusing on hormonal effects, chemical migration, and taste alterations in bottled beverages. Assessing the Hormonal…
EUROPEN has introduced a new digital guide to support companies in understanding and complying with the European Union’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR). This tool is designed to simplify a complex legal framework and offer clarity to stakeholders across the packaging supply chain. Clear Overview and Practical Tools The guide delivers a streamlined…
A new report from researchers at Leeds Beckett University explores what the packaging industry could become by 2034, outlining a roadmap shaped by sustainability, collaboration, and resilience. Drawing on insights from top leaders in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector, the study emphasizes the importance of long-term, systemic change rather than fragmented, short-term solutions. …
A recent industry whitepaper by ICIS (Independent Commodity Intelligence Services), projects that global mechanical recycling could reach over 50 million tonnes annually by 2050. This marks a doubling of current recycling rates in regions such as Europe, North America, and North Asia, where mechanical recycling made up just 8% of demand in 2024. The analysis…
The once-promising expansion of rigid polyolefin recycling in Europe has reached an impasse, according to a recent joint analysis by Plastics Recyclers Europe (PRE) and ICIS. After years of steady growth, recycling capacities for high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and polypropylene (PP) plateaued in 2023, revealing a significant slowdown in progress within the European recycling sector. …
In a new publication by Zero Waste Europe, recent research from the ToxicoWatch Foundation has linked waste incinerators in Europe to serious environmental contamination from PFAS and other toxins in parts of Spain, France, and the Netherlands. Toxic Chemicals Found Near Waste-to-Energy Plants The studies, conducted around Waste-to-Energy (WtE) facilities in Zubieta (Spain), Harlingen…
The European pulp and paper industry is rebounding, with both consumption and production rising in the past year. Recycling and packaging demand have driven growth, while exports remain strong. However, energy costs, economic stagnation, and shifting trade policies pose challenges. Recovery in Consumption and Production According to a recent industry report by the European…
Recent research from GoUnpackaged highlights a significant shift in consumer attitude towards single-use plastic. A majority of shoppers in the UK want retailers to offer more reuse and refill options, with many customers even prioritizing shopping at supermarkets that implement such systems, signaling that sustainability is becoming a crucial factor in retail competitiveness. Research…
A recent report from Metal Packaging Europe and European Aluminium highlights a record-breaking achievement in aluminium beverage can recycling across Europe. Despite a minor decline in the overall recycling rate of aluminium beverage cans due to increased consumption and unchanged recycling infrastructure, the total volume of recycled aluminium reached an unprecedented 580,000 tonnes. This marks…