Until now, 13 states and over 500 cities across the United States have enacted bans on single-use plastic bags, with more potentially on their way. These measures aim to reduce plastic waste from single-use plastics and their negative impact on the environment. Despite the positive intentions behind these bans, however, data suggests that they may…
The first European Flexpack Summit is scheduled to take place in early 2025. Organized by Flexible Packaging Europe (FPE), this event will bring together key players in the flexible packaging industry to discuss global market developments, trends, sustainability, and European legislation. Event and Activities The European Flexpack Summit will be hosted at the Torre…
The United States is facing significant challenges in expanding its compostable packaging infrastructure due to contamination by look-alike single-use plastics. A recent report by Closed Loop Partners (CLP) has highlighted these issues, emphasizing that misidentification of compostable packaging is setting back the industry’s environmental goals. Environmental and Economic Potential The report, “Unleashing the Economic…
In conjunction with the recent World Environment Day, Eunomia Research Consulting published the Global Recycling League Table – Phase One Report, in collaboration with the Welsh Government, Reloop, Tomra and other companies. The report ranks the recycling of municipal waste from 48 countries, aiming to standardize recycling data reporting and provide a clear picture of…
The Highland Community Waste Partnership (HCWP) has launched an innovative pilot scheme in collaboration with Vytal, a German sustainable packaging company. This initiative aims to promote the use of returnable packaging across Scotland, encouraging businesses to reduce single-use packaging waste. The Returnable Packaging Scheme The pilot scheme seeks to enlist 20 businesses across both…
Regulation (EU) 1781/2024 was published in the Official Journal of the European Union during last June. Known as the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), it sets forth comprehensive ecodesign requirements aiming at enhancing the sustainability of products available in the EU market. Framework for Sustainable Product Design Regulation (EU) 1781/2024 introduces a robust…
Plastic Free July, an annual event dedicated to reducing plastic consumption by specifically targeting single-use plastics, is completing its 15th year of running. This key initiative of the Plastic Free Foundation takes place every July, encouraging individuals, communities, and businesses to rethink their reliance on plastic and adopt more sustainable practices. The Origins of…
In a bold move aimed at tackling Europe’s greenhouse gas emissions, Zero Waste Europe (ZWE) has called upon the European Commission (EC) to integrate waste incineration into the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS). The advocacy group argues that such a step would effectively penalize the incineration of fossil-based materials like plastics and synthetic textiles,…
Mislabelled or unclear food labels and packaging, pose a significant threat to consumers with food allergies, as highlighted by recent research from GS1 UK. The study found that 56 % of people that have experienced allergic reactions, was due to incorrect or confusing labels. To address this issue, GS1 is promoting the use of next-generation…
In a groundbreaking collaboration, industry giants BASF, UBE, Envalior, DOMO Chemicals, and Grupa Azoty ATT Polymers have established the non-profit Advanced Packaging Association (APA). Launched in 2023, the APA aims to advance the use of polyamide-based packaging, showcasing its high-performance capabilities and promoting fact-based sustainability assessments for flexible materials. Highlighting Polyamide’s Sustainable Benefits The…
International organizations are urging the European Commission (EC) to extend the current ban on polyvinyl chloride (PVC) beyond food packaging, and include medical applications. This initiative, led by the environmental law organization Client Earth, aims to address the health risks associated with PVC in a wider range of packaging applications. ECHA Report Highlights PVC…
Τις τελευταίες ημέρες κυκλοφόρησαν διάφορες ψευδείς ειδήσεις σχετικά με την έναρξη του Συστήματος Επιστροφής Εγγυοδοσίας (Deposit Return System – DRS) στην Ελλάδα από την 1η Ιουλίου 2024, καθώς και για σχετικές ανατιμήσεις σε προϊόντα. Το Υπουργείο Περιβάλλοντος και Ενέργειας διέψευσε τις εν λόγω φήμες σχετικά με το DRS σε επίσημη ανακοίνωση. Οι ανατιμήσεις, παρόλα αυτά,…