Eco-sustainability and packaging: a review of 2023

Italy shines once again on the European recycling stage, setting a new record in 2023 with a recycling rate for paper and cardboard packaging exceeding 90%. An extraordinary achievement that not only widely surpasses the 85% target set by the European Union for 2030, but also places our country at the forefront of the transition toward a circular and sustainable economy. Italy leader in recycling: 9 out of 10 paper and cardboard packages are recycled. This success, resulting from citizens' commitment to separate waste collection and the efficiency of the national paper supply chain, demonstrates that the circular economy is a concrete reality in our country. But what are the numbers behind this success? What are the future challenges and the role of packaging companies in this context? Let's find out together in this in-depth analysis. Read also: “Packaging: paper is the fastest-growing food packaging material” The numbers behind success: an in-depth analysis Reaching this milestone, as highlighted by Alberto Marchi, former president of Comieco (National Consortium for the Recovery and Recycling of Cellulosic Packaging), has allowed for the diversion of over 4.7 million tons of paper and cardboard from landfills. A massive amount of material that, thanks to the Italian paper supply chain, is transformed into new raw material, reducing pressure on natural resources and contributing to the fight against climate change. The excellence of the Italian paper industry, capable of recycling 12 tons of waste paper per minute, translates into equivalent CO2 emissions savings, proving how the circular economy can be a driver of sustainable development. Separate waste collection: the engine of recycling Behind this success lies the commitment of Italian citizens, who, with over 3.6 million tons of paper and cardboard collected annually, demonstrate a high level of environmental awareness and active participation in the recycling process. Separate waste collection represents the first, fundamental step to ensure that recyclable materials are correctly sent for recovery, preventing them from ending up in landfills or the environment. Challenges and future prospects: a South to be empowered Despite these excellent results, Italy cannot rest on its laurels. There is still room for improvement, particularly in certain areas of the South, where separate waste collection and recycling infrastructures still face some critical issues. To address this challenge, Comieco has implemented a specific Action Plan for the South, which provides targeted investments and support to municipalities to boost separate collection and improve waste management. The goal is to bridge the gap between North and South, ensuring all citizens have the same opportunities to contribute to recycling and environmental protection. Packaging companies: protagonists of change In this context, packaging companies have a crucial role to play. Choosing recyclable materials, designing eco-sustainable packaging, and promoting separate waste collection are concrete actions that can make a difference. Companies can also invest in research and development to find innovative solutions that reduce the environmental impact of packaging, such as using biodegradable or compostable materials, or designing reusable packaging. Italy as a model of Circular Economy Italy, through its commitment to paper and cardboard recycling, stands as a reference model for the circular economy. A model that, starting from waste reduction and material reuse, aims to create a more sustainable and resilient economic system. The success of paper and cardboard packaging recycling demonstrates that it is possible to combine economic development and environmental protection, creating a greener and more prosperous future for all. To learn more: “Sustainability: recycling and reuse for a second life of materials”

Who are the pilots and what is their mission? The pilots are a team of innovation’s representatives of each alliance’s member (see below for more detailed information). They define themselves as: “We are a bunch of pragmatic and entrepreneurial colleagues on a mission to discover sustainable, corrugated based packaging solutions that will bring value to our most respected global customers.” For them, identifying the precise issue to be solved and co-design tomorrow’s solution is one of the best ways to serve our customers. How do they do it? By offering exclusive working sessions together with clients and cross-functional profiles (marketing, R&D, designer, production manager) and one of the partners of the European innovation eco-system. Based a design thinking method facilitated by Board Of Innovation with Michiel Mol and Robin Vermeulen, the objective is to quickly prototype and to accelerate projects that are already identified or that will be soon in the pipeline. In November 2022, the Innovation Academy was hosted at H.B. Fuller’s location in close partnership with Elizabeth Staab and Martin Riswick. Even with the COVID situation, it was decided to maintain the session, on a hybrid version that was really appreciated by our clients: "Even if this was done remotely, this was interactive, really appreciate their enthusiasm to work on the topic”European Packaging Engineer With an average success rate of 8.34/10, the Innovation Pilots have decided to continue this very valuable and customer-centric event and to set-up four Innovation Academies for 2022. Please save the dates! March 2022 (date to be confirmed) – topic: how to design alternative to single use plastic in the beverage industry? – France - already full 5th to 7th April 2022 – topic: how to tackle e-commerce supply chain impacts? – location to be defined 13th to 15th September 2022 – topic: how to identify paper-based options for your business? – location to be defined 15th to 17th November 2022 – topic: how can we imagine the future of e-commerce? – location to be defined Do you want to know more about the program and the topic? Please have a look at the document! 2022_BBP_HbFuller_Innovation-Academies_Teaser-1Download Do you want to have an entire team dedicated to your issue? Please contact us! daphne.deledicq@vpkgroup.com Origin of the European Pilots team Since January 2021, our Chief Innovation Officer, Daphne Deledicq decided to create a dedicated team in order to answer global customers’ requests and to work together on key strategic packaging topics, sustainability and e-commerce . This team gathers packaging design experts from the alliance with complementary profiles: VPK: Arnaud Bertelli and Nikolaas Verhelst Klingele: Christian Hoessle Hinojosa: Norman Masia Cart-One: Daniele Plazzi and Fiorentino Pirone Most of them were already the ones trained in 2019 for FFP certification #Ecommerce / #Sustainability

The summer of 2023 turned out to be one of the hottest ever recorded, resulting in significant impacts on the environment. This is why it is essential to provide innovative solutions that meet both corporate requirements and planet preservation needs. Climate change and environmental impact: summer 2023 the hottest in history. The aim of this article is to understand how the scorching summer of 2023 influenced the packaging sector, focusing on the essential role of corrugated cardboard. Read also: “Packaging cardboards: what materials are they made of?” Increasingly extreme climate records The summer of 2023 set a global heat record, with an average temperature of 16.77°C, over half a degree above the seasonal average. The Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) released this news, highlighting that it was the hottest ever recorded. At the European level, the average summer temperature was 19.63°C, making it the fifth hottest with an increase of 0.83°C compared to the average. During the June-July-August 2023 period, above-average rainfall occurred in various regions, causing floods in several areas, including parts of Northern, Western, and Northeastern America, Asia, Chile, Brazil, Northwestern Australia, Western Europe, and Turkey. In August, the global ocean recorded both its hottest daily sea surface temperature on record and its hottest month overall. Scientific evidence clearly indicates that humanity will continue to face new climate records and more intense, frequent extreme weather events until greenhouse gas emissions are reduced. Climate change and more sustainable packaging Corrugated cardboard packaging is well-known for its eco-sustainability and, thanks to its lightweight yet resistant structure, proves to be an even more advantageous choice under extreme weather conditions. The material maintains its integrity, ensuring that the products inside are safe from damage caused by excessive heat. At a time when sustainability is at the heart of global concerns, manufacturing this material requires fewer resources compared to less sustainable alternatives, thus contributing to the reduction of the overall carbon footprint. Furthermore, the recyclability of corrugated cardboard translates into a more responsible waste management. The Cart-One research and development team is at the forefront of implementing innovations to further improve the performance of corrugated cardboard packaging through the circular economy, utilizing the produce-consume-regenerate-recover model, actions that result in the use of clean and innovative technologies. This represents an eco-design intended as packaging development that pays the utmost attention to saving raw materials and preventing waste, along with continuous improvement of production processes aimed at decreasing impacts on water, air, and soil. Cart-One demonstrates how the packaging sector can proactively adapt to climate change by leveraging the intrinsic features of corrugated cardboard. With a steadfast commitment to innovation and sustainability, the company is proving that it is possible to tackle climate challenges without compromising the integrity of packaging solutions. Investing in our products means investing in quality, innovation, and environmental responsibility. Contact us for further information or to get a customized quote for your company or business. You might also be interested in: “The right packaging to best preserve fruit and vegetables”