Bridging the circularity gap: European authorities launch flexible packaging guidance

14 Jul 2020 --- As European plastic circularity targets draw closer, CEFLEX, the European consortium of companies representing the flexible packaging value chain, and UK sustainability non-profit WRAP, have both published new guidance on establishing effective recycling systems for flexible packaging. WRAP warns that urgent cross-sector action is required to meet the UK Plastics Pact target to make all plastic packaging reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2025. Similarly, CEFLEX’s guide aims to inspire “much needed investment in sorting and recycling infrastructure to make all flexible packaging circular,” in line with the EU Plastics Strategy’s requirements that all plastic packaging must be recyclable by 2030.

CEFLEX’s comprehensive guidelines were compiled collaboratively between 160 European companies, associations and organizations to help the flexible packaging value chain design recyclable consumer packaging solutions and accelerate a circular economy. Providing a catalyst for change across Europe, the D4ACE guidelines aim to produce higher quality recycled materials that are kept in the economy and used in a wider number of sustainable end markets. In turn, this will help support investment in sorting and recycling infrastructure.

Mono-material focus
Focused on polyolefin-based structures representing over 80 percent of consumer flexible packaging on the European market, CEFLEX’s guidelines provide advice on the key elements of flexible packaging, including the materials used, barrier layers and coatings, size, shape, inks and adhesives. The guidelines build on the work of Project Barrier, a pioneer project of the New Plastics Economy Initiative, and current best practices, to align and accelerate progress already made.CEFLEX's guidelines aim to produce higher quality recycled materials that are kept in the economy.

“The [D4ACE] document will guide brands and retailers who play a key role in specifying consumer packaging to make informed design choices so that all flexible packaging is suitable for sorting and recycling but retains the functionality needed for its primary purpose, protecting the product,” notes Graham Houlder, CEFLEX Project Coordinator. 

In most cases, this will mean favoring mono-material over multi-material flexible packaging formats as these are recognized as the most efficient to sort and recycle. However, the preference for mono-material flexible packaging solutions brings challenges like delivering similar functionality and use on existing packing machinery, CEFLEX acknowledges. Regardless, progress is being made in this space, with the likes of Mondi and Reckitt Benckiser’s mono-material flexible plastic portfolio for the premium line of Finish dishwasher tablets Quantum Ultimate exemplifying what can be achieved.

UK confronts dismal flexible recycling rates
In near-Brexit Britain, UK Plastics Pact leader WRAP published a roadmap to galvanize action across the plastics supply chain: “Creating a Circular Economy for Flexible Plastic Packaging.”

While flexible plastic constitutes a quarter of all UK consumer plastic packaging, only 4 percent is recycled.UK Plastics Pact members, who account for around 85 percent of plastic packaging on UK supermarket shelves, are working towards all plastic packaging being reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2025 and increasing the amount that gets recycled to 70 percent. However, while flexible plastic constitutes a quarter of all UK consumer plastic packaging by weight, only 4 percent is currently recycled, according to WRAP. Few local authorities collect flexible plastic, which is sometimes made from lots of different types of plastic, making it difficult to recycle.

“Citizens are frustrated by flexible plastics because our household bins are full of them, and they are a highly visible pollutant which are easily blown into waterways and hedgerows. Our starting point will always be to identify where our members can remove unnecessary plastic packaging. But where flexible plastic packaging serves an important purpose, such as preserving food or for hygiene reasons, it is imperative that we have the means to recycle it,” explains Peter Maddox, Director of WRAP UK.

The new roadmap sets out five key areas where efforts should be focussed to develop a circular economy for flexible plastics:

• Simplifying the design of packaging so it is easier to recycle;
• Capitalizing on the front of store collection points already provided by many supermarkets;
• Implementing collection directly from people’s houses across all local authority areas;
• Investing in sorting and reprocessing capacity and capabilities;
• Ensuring recycled flexible plastic packaging has strong and stable end markets.

UK Plastics Tax lurks around the corner
Positive action is underway, including recent developments in new recycling infrastructure. For example, UK Plastics Pact member Jayplas opened a facility earlier this year that is reportedly capable of recycling 80,000 metric tons of plastic bags and wrappers per year. WRAP is expected to announce further developments of this nature soon.

Recycled solutions must not compromise on product protection, stresses Graham Houlder, CEFLEX Project Coordinator.“Increasing UK infrastructure for the recycling of flexible plastics makes absolute sense for the environment and the economy. Through investing in new capacity we are preventing thousands of tons of plastics from being shipped abroad, which keeps that material in the UK economy and creates local jobs,” comments Mike Maxwell, Operations Director at Jayplas.

“Now more than ever, it is vital we push forwards in our efforts to clamp down on plastic waste and rely more on reusable and recyclable materials. We are bringing forward ground-breaking initiatives to deliver this, ranging from an extended producer responsibility scheme to a new world-leading tax for firms which produce or import plastic packaging that does not have at least 30 percent recycled material,” highlights Rebecca Pow, UK Environment Minister.

As announced at Budget 2018 and following consultation in Spring 2019, the UK government will introduce a plastic packaging tax from April 2022 to incentivize the use of recycled plastic in packaging. The 2020 Budget, announced in March, sets the rate at £200 (US$256) per metric ton of plastic packaging that contains less than 30 percent recycled plastic. This will apply to the production and importation of plastic packaging.

By Joshua Poole