ANALYSIS | PACKAGING


n Extended producer responsibility (EPR)


n Separate collection objective


n Awareness raising Implementing


these measures through various initiatives and finan- cially incentivising stakeholders, is hoped to rectify the shortcom- ings of the existing system. It is certain that action is required to curb the flow of plastic into the marine environment, but chosen measures should not compromise other sustainability objec- tives, such as reduction of carbon and toxin emissions, water consumption and efficient use of land.


Insights Focussed analysis of the implications the SUP Directive’s policy measures will have on the European packaging industry has unearthed intriguing insights from AMI. Each measure has its role to play in mitigating the impact of plastic packaging on the environment, but some are more impactful than others. For instance, the purpose of introducing a market restriction is to entirely prevent particularly prob- lematic products from being placed on the market, therefore removing any and all risk of them being inadequately disposed of. The benefit of capturing and managing this waste stream has been deemed not sufficient to warrant the necessary cost associated with improved waste management. Plus, there


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would remain a possibility for these items to continue escaping the system. Consequently, packaged goods groups are forced to adopt alternative formats, non-plas- tic materials or polymers with credible circularity. Scheduled for


national bans by July 2021, disposable utensils, expanded polystyrene foam containers and oxo-degradable polymers will face a clear decline in


production and


utilisation. Importantly for the European plastics industry, the reach of this policy measure is decidedly low. Those who are likely to suffer economically from this measure are in fact Asian producers and European import and distribution companies. A matter for consideration is for compliance organisations and auditors to ensure food service companies are not bypassing distributors by sourcing restricted items directly from producers.


Options The European Union has some experience of implementing consumption reduction measures associated with lightweight bags. A similar model can be followed and applied to disposable food containers and disposable cups. As the measure implies, the


PLASTICS RECYCLING WORLD | November/December 2019


objective is to reduce the volume of (but not ban) these products being placed on the European market. It is expected that small charges for the provision of these items will be applied at the point of sale encouraging either returnable or reusable formats to be adopted. Alternatively, these


products may be supplied in competing materials such as non-plastic or composta- ble bio-resin if their key life cycle metrics (carbon emission, toxin emission, land and water require- ments) do not contradict other sustainability objec- tives. In this case, streamlin- ing the plastic packaging recycling process may well be more beneficial both from an environmental and a commercial perspective. Fibre solutions are not typically recycled circularly and often downcycled which makes establishing a plastics circular economy an attractive proposi- tion whereby reuse


and recycling are paramount. Sheet extrud-


ers, thermoform- ers, injection moulders and


polymer suppliers alike


will be appreciative of the fact the European Commis- sion incorporated the caveat of life cycle thinking in the consumption reduc- tion measure. Member states will decide how best to implement these initia- tives with variations based on the environmental impact of each product. The policy measures to


decrease the volume of single-use plastic packaging being placed on the market almost seem to overlook the fact that the plastics industry has for a long time been committed to raw material reduction. In fact, in some cases, measures that seek to address packaging circular- ity (instead of reducing the market share of plastics) will have unintended conse- quences on polymer consumption.


Design


On a positive note, product design requirements will help establish a clean polymer stream for recy- cling opening the door for recyclers to establish high quality processes capable of producing a reprocessed material of certified quality with the potential to re-enter the packaging value chain as recyclate. Securing an end-use for reprocessed polymer, either by mandat- ing minimum levels of recycled content inclusion for certain products or incentivising stakeholders to adopt recyclate, is a clever use of policy instruments to support the European recycling industry which is expected to reach a target recycling rate of 55% of all plastic packaging placed on the market by 2030. Reformed EPR schemes scheduled to be implement- ed no later than the turn of the year 2024/2025 will be critical in prompting design- ers, brand owners and retailers to opt for packaging solutions that facilitate recycling. Some market leaders have already made inroads in the transition towards “sustainable”


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