Driving the packaging revolution: Best practices & mandatory REUSE in the PPWR

9th European REUSE Conference

8th June 2023. 9h30-16h00
NH Hotel Brussels EU Berlaymont, Bd. Charlemagne 11/19, 1000 Brussels, Belgium and livestreamed via Zoom

A clear call for fast action against growing packaging waste in the EU emanates from the 9th REUSE Conference. The Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) currently under negotiation must be adopted before the end of this legislative period to ensure the most ambitious possible provisions for waste prevention and reuse in all EU member states.

The REUSE Conference is organised every two years by Environmental Action Germany (Deutsche Umwelthilfe – DUH), the European Association of Beverage Wholesalers (CEGROBB), Private Breweries Germany, and the Reloop Platform. More than 260 representatives from politics, civil society, companies, science and administration took part in the 2023 edition of the conference, which was held in Brussels and online.

Delara Burkhardt (left), Barbara Metz (right) (©: Bernal Revert/BR&U)

The keynote speeches make clear how important the PPWR is for the transformation of the packaging market in the EU and under what immense pressure the legislators are in drafting a legislative text that is as ambitious as possible. Delara Burkhardt, Member of the European Parliament for S&D and shadow rapporteur for the file, sharply criticises that the work in the Parliament is hindered by pseudo-scientific studies of the single-use industry.

Reuse is the key to avoiding packaging waste: Mattia Pellegrini, Head of Unit from Waste to Resources in DG Environment at the European Commission, emphasises that reuse alone can account for around 50 percent of the waste prevention target set out in the draft PPWR by 2030. The German Federal Minister for the Environment, Steffi Lemke, also stresses that the reuse targets in the PPWR are essential in preventing packaging waste and protecting valuable resources. She emphasises that good cooperation is important to avoid unnecessary packaging and to strengthen reuse systems in Europe.

 

Strong reuse targets & removal of exemptions for paper packaging needed

Companies like McDonald’s, Coca-Cola and Pepsi are trying to derail provisions for reuse in the PPWR, in order to be able to stick to their path of disposability. Reuse targets for takeaway packaging have now been eliminated in the shadow rapporteur’s report. This is a concerning development, since food and drink takeaway packaging is particularly likely to end up in the environment.Fernando Rodríguez-Mata, President of the recently founded association of reuse businesses across Europe, New ERA, points out that ambitious reuse targets for takeaway packaging will not only be enabling a decrease in CO2 emissions, but also incentivise further development of large scale systems for reusable takeaway packaging. He urges to reinstate the targets as proposed in the Commission draft of the PPWR as well as provide legal certainty to accelerate the thrive of truly circular and sustainable reuse systems. Davide Mazzanti, CEO and Co-Founder of Sykell, a company that provides reusable packaging for the food industry and the takeaway sector, shows how a favourable legal framework encourages new concepts for reusable packaging and emphasizes that the key to the success of reusable packaging is convenience - both for consumers and retailers.

Cornelius Antor, Vice-Secretary of Reusable Packaging Europe, emphasises how reusable transport packaging results in a significantly lower carbon footprint, reduced food waste and limited waste volumes in general compared to single-use cardboard transport packaging. The exemption of cardboard from meeting the reuse targets for transport packaging is abolishing their effectiveness almost entirely. Not only this exemption, but also other provisions in the PPWR could lead to an increased demand for fibre for paper packaging. In a moving presentation, Nurul Fitra from the Indonesian organization Jakalahari shows the immense consequences that an increase in demand for raw materials for paper packaging has on producing countries. In Indonesia there has been 5.3 million hectares of deforestation in the last 40 years which equals 1.7 times the area of Belgium. If the PPWR does not make it clear that single-use paper packaging is not a sustainable alternative, these numbers could increase further in the coming years and decades.

Best practices in pool management and cleaning are enablers for reuse

Julia Klein – MMP (left), Emmanuel Auberger – Uzaje (right) (©: Bernal Revert/BR&U)

The fact that single-use packaging can be replaced practically everywhere by climate-friendly reusable alternatives was demonstrated by numerous innovative reusable solutions presented at the conference. Reusable beverage bottles, takeaway food containers, coffee cups or shipping pallets are increasingly being used throughout Europe. Standard reusable packaging solutions are also available for dairy products and other foods such as sauces and spreads. For advancing and disseminating this approach, the German initiative "Mach Mehrweg Pool" (MMP) received the European Refillable Award. The French company Uzaje received the European Reusable Award for its innovative and energy-efficient washing technology for a wide variety of reusable packaging, among other things facilitating the easy removal of labels.

The PPWR marks a transition towards a sustainable packaging market in Europe

In the lively panel discussion, the panelists discussed how the requirements in the PPWR must be designed in order to efficiently promote reuse. Malte Gallée, Member of the European Parliament for the Greens/EFA, emphasized that in a world of limited resources we cannot afford to declare things as waste. However, it was also emphasized that reuse and recycling are not opposites, but that high-quality recycling of packaging that reached its end-of-life after many rotations within a reuse system is essential and doable. A consensus was that clarity needs to be provided in the PPWR as a roadmap for transition as soon as possible, allowing reuse companies to make safe investments in large-scale reuse systems.At the upcoming REUSE Conference in 2025, we will discuss whether the PPWR has indeed initiated the transition to a sustainable packaging market and whether reuse has become the new normal. We are looking forward to welcome once again many participants from politics, civil society, businesses and science.

08 Jun 2023 - Brussels, Belgium - Reuse Conference “Driving the packaging revolution: Best practices & mandatory REUSE in the PPWR", organised by Environmental Action Germany (Deutsche Umwelthilfe – DUH), the European Association of Beverage Wholesalers (CEGROBB), Private Breweries Germany and Reloop Platform. © Bernal Revert/ BR&U© Bernal Revert
08 Jun 2023 - Brussels, Belgium - Reuse Conference “Driving the packaging revolution: Best practices & mandatory REUSE in the PPWR", organised by Environmental Action Germany (Deutsche Umwelthilfe – DUH), the European Association of Beverage Wholesalers (CEGROBB), Private Breweries Germany and Reloop Platform. © Bernal Revert/ BR&U© Bernal Revert
08 Jun 2023 - Brussels, Belgium - Reuse Conference “Driving the packaging revolution: Best practices & mandatory REUSE in the PPWR", organised by Environmental Action Germany (Deutsche Umwelthilfe – DUH), the European Association of Beverage Wholesalers (CEGROBB), Private Breweries Germany and Reloop Platform. © Bernal Revert/ BR&U© Bernal Revert
08 Jun 2023 - Brussels, Belgium - Reuse Conference “Driving the packaging revolution: Best practices & mandatory REUSE in the PPWR", organised by Environmental Action Germany (Deutsche Umwelthilfe – DUH), the European Association of Beverage Wholesalers (CEGROBB), Private Breweries Germany and Reloop Platform. © Bernal Revert/ BR&U© Bernal Revert
08 Jun 2023 - Brussels, Belgium - Reuse Conference “Driving the packaging revolution: Best practices & mandatory REUSE in the PPWR", organised by Environmental Action Germany (Deutsche Umwelthilfe – DUH), the European Association of Beverage Wholesalers (CEGROBB), Private Breweries Germany and Reloop Platform. © Bernal Revert/ BR&U© Bernal Revert
08 Jun 2023 - Brussels, Belgium - Reuse Conference “Driving the packaging revolution: Best practices & mandatory REUSE in the PPWR", organised by Environmental Action Germany (Deutsche Umwelthilfe – DUH), the European Association of Beverage Wholesalers (CEGROBB), Private Breweries Germany and Reloop Platform. © Bernal Revert/ BR&U© Bernal Revert
08 Jun 2023 - Brussels, Belgium - Reuse Conference “Driving the packaging revolution: Best practices & mandatory REUSE in the PPWR", organised by Environmental Action Germany (Deutsche Umwelthilfe – DUH), the European Association of Beverage Wholesalers (CEGROBB), Private Breweries Germany and Reloop Platform. © Bernal Revert/ BR&U© Bernal Revert
08 Jun 2023 - Brussels, Belgium - Reuse Conference “Driving the packaging revolution: Best practices & mandatory REUSE in the PPWR", organised by Environmental Action Germany (Deutsche Umwelthilfe – DUH), the European Association of Beverage Wholesalers (CEGROBB), Private Breweries Germany and Reloop Platform. © Bernal Revert/ BR&U© Bernal Revert
08 Jun 2023 - Brussels, Belgium - Reuse Conference “Driving the packaging revolution: Best practices & mandatory REUSE in the PPWR", organised by Environmental Action Germany (Deutsche Umwelthilfe – DUH), the European Association of Beverage Wholesalers (CEGROBB), Private Breweries Germany and Reloop Platform. © Bernal Revert/ BR&U© Bernal Revert
08 Jun 2023 - Brussels, Belgium - Reuse Conference “Driving the packaging revolution: Best practices & mandatory REUSE in the PPWR", organised by Environmental Action Germany (Deutsche Umwelthilfe – DUH), the European Association of Beverage Wholesalers (CEGROBB), Private Breweries Germany and Reloop Platform. © Bernal Revert/ BR&U© Bernal Revert
08 Jun 2023 - Brussels, Belgium - Reuse Conference “Driving the packaging revolution: Best practices & mandatory REUSE in the PPWR", organised by Environmental Action Germany (Deutsche Umwelthilfe – DUH), the European Association of Beverage Wholesalers (CEGROBB), Private Breweries Germany and Reloop Platform. © Bernal Revert/ BR&U© Bernal Revert
08 Jun 2023 - Brussels, Belgium - Reuse Conference “Driving the packaging revolution: Best practices & mandatory REUSE in the PPWR", organised by Environmental Action Germany (Deutsche Umwelthilfe – DUH), the European Association of Beverage Wholesalers (CEGROBB), Private Breweries Germany and Reloop Platform. © Bernal Revert/ BR&U© Bernal Revert
08 Jun 2023 - Brussels, Belgium - Reuse Conference “Driving the packaging revolution: Best practices & mandatory REUSE in the PPWR", organised by Environmental Action Germany (Deutsche Umwelthilfe – DUH), the European Association of Beverage Wholesalers (CEGROBB), Private Breweries Germany and Reloop Platform. © Bernal Revert/ BR&U© Bernal Revert
08 Jun 2023 - Brussels, Belgium - Reuse Conference “Driving the packaging revolution: Best practices & mandatory REUSE in the PPWR", organised by Environmental Action Germany (Deutsche Umwelthilfe – DUH), the European Association of Beverage Wholesalers (CEGROBB), Private Breweries Germany and Reloop Platform. © Bernal Revert/ BR&U© Bernal Revert
08 Jun 2023 - Brussels, Belgium - Reuse Conference “Driving the packaging revolution: Best practices & mandatory REUSE in the PPWR", organised by Environmental Action Germany (Deutsche Umwelthilfe – DUH), the European Association of Beverage Wholesalers (CEGROBB), Private Breweries Germany and Reloop Platform. © Bernal Revert/ BR&U© Bernal Revert
08 Jun 2023 - Brussels, Belgium - Reuse Conference “Driving the packaging revolution: Best practices & mandatory REUSE in the PPWR", organised by Environmental Action Germany (Deutsche Umwelthilfe – DUH), the European Association of Beverage Wholesalers (CEGROBB), Private Breweries Germany and Reloop Platform. © Bernal Revert/ BR&U© Bernal Revert
08 Jun 2023 - Brussels, Belgium - Reuse Conference “Driving the packaging revolution: Best practices & mandatory REUSE in the PPWR", organised by Environmental Action Germany (Deutsche Umwelthilfe – DUH), the European Association of Beverage Wholesalers (CEGROBB), Private Breweries Germany and Reloop Platform. © Bernal Revert/ BR&U© Bernal Revert
08 Jun 2023 - Brussels, Belgium - Reuse Conference “Driving the packaging revolution: Best practices & mandatory REUSE in the PPWR", organised by Environmental Action Germany (Deutsche Umwelthilfe – DUH), the European Association of Beverage Wholesalers (CEGROBB), Private Breweries Germany and Reloop Platform. © Bernal Revert/ BR&U© Bernal Revert
08 Jun 2023 - Brussels, Belgium - Reuse Conference “Driving the packaging revolution: Best practices & mandatory REUSE in the PPWR", organised by Environmental Action Germany (Deutsche Umwelthilfe – DUH), the European Association of Beverage Wholesalers (CEGROBB), Private Breweries Germany and Reloop Platform. © Bernal Revert/ BR&U© Bernal Revert
08 Jun 2023 - Brussels, Belgium - Reuse Conference “Driving the packaging revolution: Best practices & mandatory REUSE in the PPWR", organised by Environmental Action Germany (Deutsche Umwelthilfe – DUH), the European Association of Beverage Wholesalers (CEGROBB), Private Breweries Germany and Reloop Platform. © Bernal Revert/ BR&U© Bernal Revert
08 Jun 2023 - Brussels, Belgium - Reuse Conference “Driving the packaging revolution: Best practices & mandatory REUSE in the PPWR", organised by Environmental Action Germany (Deutsche Umwelthilfe – DUH), the European Association of Beverage Wholesalers (CEGROBB), Private Breweries Germany and Reloop Platform. © Bernal Revert/ BR&U© Bernal Revert
 
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