• Global trend towards sustainable packaging
• EU Packaging Regulation - more opportunities than risks
• Mechanical engineering as a key technology
More and more consumers expect products to be manufactured sustainably - a mandate that many industrial companies are accepting and responding to with innovations.
This also applies to the manufacturers of packaging machines, who are developing new solutions in close cooperation with their customers, for example from the food industry.
"Many companies in the consumer goods industry, and especially in the food industry, started to set their own sustainability goals years ago. Globally, the topic is gaining importance in all regions of the world," said Richard Clemens, Managing Director of the VDMA Food Processing and Packaging Machinery Association at the VDMA press conference on the occasion of the interpack trade fair in Düsseldorf. Clemens referred to studies conducted by the market research company Euromonitor International in 2022, according to which consumers are increasingly including sustainability criteria in their purchase decisions. This holds particularly true with regards to packaging.
According to Euromonitor, a growing awareness of sustainable packaging can be realised particularly when it comes to plastics. At the same time, consumers also recognise the high importance of plastics for food safety.
"The promotion of sustainable packaging is anchored in the circular economy, with a special focus on reducing plastic waste. In view of the fact that 64 percent of consumer packaging is made of plastic (2021), this is an important goal," Clemens emphasised.
New EU Packaging Regulation - more opportunities than risks
Europe is a leader in plastics policy and a global pioneer in waste management and recycling. The EU underpinned this with the circular economy package adopted in 2018. A core part of this package is the European strategy for plastics in the circular economy under the headline reduce-reuse-recycle. In November 2022, the draft of the new EU Packaging Regulation was published, which is to come into force in May 2024. One of the core objectives of the Packaging Regulation is that all packaging must be recyclable by 2030.
"In principle, we support the objectives of the new EU Packaging Regulation and welcome that it is changed from a directive to a regulation. This is because it will be valid for all EU Member States immediately after having come into force. It will thus replace the current 'patchwork' of specific packaging regulations in the EU member states," said Clemens.
According to the new regulation, the consumption of primary raw materials is to be reduced and the share of recycled plastics in packaging materials is to be increased. This also applies to food packaging. The proportion of recycled materials in food packaging is to be 10 percent from 2030 and will increase to 50 percent from 2040. "We are very critical of the mandatory use of recycled materials in food packaging, because this packaging has a protective function for human health. Issues such as possible contamination, food safety and hygiene must definitely be taken into account here. Therefore, packaging with recycled content must comply with the EU regulations for food contact materials," Clemens emphasised.
The trade association managing director sees another problem in the selective bans on packaging types and formats, for example for fruit and vegetables and for disposable packaging used in the hotel-restaurant-catering sector (HORECA). "These bans have an impact on all links in the value chain, including mechanical engineering. Business models established over decades would face extinction due to blanket bans. From our point of view, this needs to be improved," Clemens demanded.
The VDMA submitted these and other arguments to the Commission in March 2023 in the form of a VDMA Position Paper. The criticism is primarily aimed at inaccuracies in individual articles of the regulation; among others, there is a lack of consideration of the overall eco-balance in some contexts.
Innovations for sustainable production and packaging processes
The companies in the food processing and packaging machinery industry offer technologies for the required transformation processes on the way to more sustainable consumption. This contributes significantly to climate protection.
In process technology, the main focus is on reducing the use of energy and water in food production and on optimum raw material utilisation. The manufacturers of packaging machines support their customers in implementing their sustainability strategies through innovative packaging concepts in the sense of "design-for-recycling". An important focus here is on the reduction of materials used and on the increased use of mono-materials instead of multi- layer composites. Fibre-based packaging materials are also increasingly used if the products to be packaged permit this in terms of product safety and shelf life. Research is being conducted into bio-based packaging solutions.
"The companies in the packaging machinery sector have succeeded in recent years in enabling the implementation of sustainable packaging concepts through appropriate technical adaptations and newly developed machine solutions," said Clemens. Intensive exchange with customers, packaging manufacturers and research institutions was and continues to be very important for this. At interpack 2023, the machine manufacturers will present their innovations to the international expert visitors and discuss further new ideas and requirements with customers from all over the world. "Thus, the world's leading trade fair is a showcase for innovations and at the same time a starting point for further development in the direction of a sustainable circular economy," summed up the VDMA trade association director.
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