FEFCO’s new roadmap aligns corrugated circular economy with climate neutrality
01 Dec 2022 --- FEFCO (the European Federation of Corrugated Cardboard Manufacturers) is launching its Climate Neutrality Roadmap conducted by Climact, an organization empowering governments and organizations to act on climate change. The roadmap describes how the corrugated cardboard sector is committed to achieving climate neutrality. It lays out milestones, plausible scenarios, required investments and necessary policy measures to reach this goal.
The key findings show that the corrugated cardboard industry can reduce its carbon footprint emissions through actions directly within its control by 2050.
FEFCO says the roadmap responds to the EU Green Deal goal to cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions 80-95% by 2050. The European corrugated cardboard industry is “circular by nature” and has always been committed to environmentally sustainable growth. This new ambition reflects the industry’s efforts to preserve the environment and reduce GHG emissions.
Becoming carbon neutral
Eleni Despotou, director general at FEFCO, tells PackagingInsights that “FEFCO acknowledges the EU Green Deal, corrugated packaging is circular by nature, as it is 100% recyclable, designed to be recycled, with 88% average of recycling content. However, we understand the need to align the circular economy with climate neutrality.”
“We have worked with our members for more than one and a half years to deeply look at the possibilities to decarbonize our products by 2050 and have been striving to put together a credible roadmap for climate neutrality for the corrugated industry.”
The corrugated industry, as identified in the FEFCO roadmap, can reduce emissions by around 35% through material efficiency via better design, energy efficiency and renewable energies.
“The analysis showed that 55% of the carbon emissions are upstream emissions from paper production. If the roadmap is realized, corrugated will be carbon neutral by 2050. If it reaches 100%, then it may even become carbon negative,” asserts Despotou.
Collective engagement of the wider value chain will enable corrugated cardboard to become carbon neutral, says FEFCO.Conditions to be met
Looking beyond direct action, collective engagement of the wider value chain will enable corrugated cardboard to become carbon neutral and even carbon negative. Notably, the bulk of the reductions must be achieved upstream, particularly by reducing the climate footprint of paper production.
The ambitions of the corrugated cardboard sector’s Climate Neutrality Roadmap can only be achieved if the following enabling conditions are met:
- A predictable and stable regulatory framework to steer investments.
- The availability and affordability of climate-friendly energy carriers.
- An adequate and robust energy infrastructure.
- Policies and measures to enable the decarbonization of the paper sector.
- Policies and measures to enable the decarbonization of the transport sector.
- Recycling policies to improve the quality of waste streams.
Challenges to overcome
Despotou explains that the possible challenges to be faced while striving to meet the conditions laid out in the roadmap include maintaining industry competitiveness and resilience and, in light of the current energy crisis, decarbonization efforts and the need for investments.
“Investments are needed to support the energy transition and innovation. Furthermore, intensifying renewable energy production and building energy infrastructures must be realized.”
“They can be overcome by political will and measures in place supporting the transition toward climate neutrality, for example, through supportive, enabling policies,” she says.
Alex Manisty, chairman of the FEFCO Climate Neutrality Roadmap Steering Committee, adds that “The roadmap reflects a credible plan that can be implemented in the required timeframe and shows the strong will of the industry to build a climate-neutral future for corrugated cardboard. Already the most recycled packaging material – with 88% recycled content – climate-neutral corrugated cardboard will enable sustainable global supply chains for the long-term.”
By Natalie Schwertheim
