Food contact materials: what do the new rules state?

Since the entry into force on September 26th, 2020, of Legislative Decree No. 116 of September 3rd, 2020, which implements EU Directives 2018/851/EU and 2018/852/EU—part of the “Circular Economy Package”—we see how the approach to urban waste and packaging waste has changed. Indeed, this measure modified previous European directives on waste, packaging, and packaging waste, aiming to achieve a lower production of materials that would otherwise expand landfills instead of being converted back into new raw materials. What changes for packaging waste? Regarding packaging and packaging waste, the main new features concern reusability characteristics. In an increasingly sustainable world, packaging placed on the market is required to be as recoverable as possible, in order to limit disposal in landfills and reintroduce new raw materials into circulation, thereby achieving a circular life cycle aimed at eliminating waste. In this regard, the regulation concerning packaging labeling also changes, with the obligation to inform consumers by providing proper instructions to enable correct sorting within the separate collection of each individual material.  For packaging destined for B2C commerce, this would make it easier for consumers to distinguish materials, allowing better recovery of separable multi-material packaging as well as biodegradable and compostable containers. In Italy, the Milleproroghe decree postponed the obligation for environmental packaging labeling until June 2022, to allow stocks to be exhausted and avoid waste. Another aspect worth highlighting relates to packaging recovery strategies. In this period, we are witnessing the resurgence of returnable deposit systems, offering benefits not only for manufacturers but also for the final consumer. Packaging management increasingly geared toward reuse and recycling Under the new directives, the measures undertaken aim to prevent and eliminate packaging waste. Concurrently, all activities that enable the recovery and reuse of packaging waste are promoted. The measures within the decree thus aim to reconceive packaging in terms of circularity. In this sense, the new responsibilities of all actors involved in the packaging supply chain are also outlined, with the purpose of incentivizing production methods that conform as closely as possible to new environmental demands while remaining competitive within the packaging market. To encourage the production of reusable packaging, which would further accelerate the ecological transition driven by circular economy principles, efforts are being made to promote deposit-return systems, stimulating the final consumer to reconceive the value of packaging. All these processes must occur while ensuring the safe use of recovered packaging, especially when dealing with packaging designed to contain water, beverages, or food products. This is particularly relevant for glass, metal, and plastic waste used as primary packaging for various product types. Ultimately, this should translate into a rewarding system for both the consumer and the packaging manufacturer, who must be supported through policies designed to foster the creation of packaging that increasingly becomes a raw material and less of a waste product. Urban waste: the impact of paper and cardboard and the recycling results The 2021 Urban Waste Report aims to gather information regarding waste production, how it is recycled, and the effect of current regulations in force.  The reference year is, naturally, 2020. Regarding the total percentage of urban waste produced, we recorded a 3.6% decrease compared to 2019. Out of 28.9 million tons, we registered a drop of 1.1 million tons over the past year. Currently, recycled waste stands at 63% of national production, a figure that is up compared to 2019. Among urban waste, paper and cardboard account for a significant share, representing 19.2% of the total. In detail, breaking Italy down into macro-regions according to Comieco data, Central Italy (Tuscany, Marche, Umbria, and Lazio) leads the rankings for average per-capita separate collection at a local level, with a rate of 67.1 kg/inhabitant.   The North follows (Emilia Romagna, Valle d’Aosta, Piedmont, Trentino Alto Adige, Veneto, Lombardy, Friuli Venezia Giulia, and Liguria) with a figure of 63.3 kg/inhabitant. Southern Italy concludes the list (Sardinia, Abruzzo, Sicily, Calabria, Basilicata, Campania, Puglia, and Molise), where collection stands at 43.2%. While the 2025 targets appear safe for most packaging categories, this is not the case for plastic. As established by the NRRP, funds are allocated to strengthen plastic recycling systems through dedicated “Plastic Hubs” performing both mechanical and chemical recycling. Undoubtedly, in the coming year, it will be necessary to boost packaging recovery figures as much as possible. Concurrently, it is desirable to implement adequate policies to keep the packaging sector competitive, ensuring ever-greater investment in innovation to make packaging more high-performing, reusable, or recyclable.

2023 will be remembered as the year in which paper and cardboard recycling in Italy reached an unprecedented peak. The 29th Annual Report by Comieco, the National Consortium for the Recovery and Recycling of Cellulose-based Packaging, highlights an exceptional result, with paper and cardboard confirming themselves as the most recycled materials in our country, surpassing all other types of packaging. 29th Comieco Report: paper and cardboard recycling in Italy, 2023 marks a new historic record. In this article, we analyze the data from the report and discover how Italy has become a virtuous example of circular economy. See also: “Unveiling the false myths about paper and its recycling: truths and lies to dispel” Record-breaking separate waste collection 2023 was an extraordinary year for paper and cardboard recycling in Italy. According to the 29th Comieco Annual Report, in 2023, the separate collection of paper and cardboard in Italy saw a growth of 3% compared to 2022, reaching a total volume of over 3.7 million tons. This result represents a true milestone for the sector, reflecting the solidity and efficiency of the Italian collection and recycling system. Every Italian citizen contributed with an average of nearly 64 kg of collected paper and cardboard, setting a new national record. In particular, Southern Italy showed significant growth, with an average of 50 kg per inhabitant, demonstrating how commitment and cooperation among citizens, local authorities, and environmental service managers can lead to exceptional results. The map of separate waste collection in Italy The Comieco report highlights regional performances, emphasizing the differences among the various macro-areas of the country. In the North, Emilia-Romagna stands out with over 93 kg of paper and cardboard collected per inhabitant, followed by Tuscany in the Center with nearly 90 kg per inhabitant, and Sardinia in the South with more than 61 kg per inhabitant. These figures show that all macro-areas of the country contributed to the growth, albeit with different intensities. Northern Italy confirms itself as the region with the highest collection quantity, reaching nearly 1.9 million tons, with an increase of 2.8% compared to 2022. This result was mainly driven by Veneto (+9.9%), Emilia-Romagna (+2.7%), and Liguria (+8.1%), which offset the stability of the other regions and the slight decreases in Valle d’Aosta (-0.7%) and Trentino-Alto Adige (-0.2%). In the Center, collection grew by 1.5%, reaching a total of 871,000 tons. Lazio (+2.7%), Tuscany (+1.5%), and Umbria (+0.9%) were the regions that contributed the most to this increase, while Marches recorded a 2.2% drop, confirming the negative trend of the last two years. Southern Italy showed the most significant growth, exceeding 983,000 tons collected, with an increase of 4.5%. Among the southern regions, Sicily recorded the best performance with an increase of 9.9%, matching Veneto's percentage, and alone accounting for over half of the total volume increase in the South. Sardinia also saw a 3.2% increase, maintaining the best per-capita performance in the macro-area. Rome and major cities Among the major Italian cities, Rome deserves a special mention. The capital increased its paper and cardboard collection by 3,600 tons (+1.5%) compared to the previous year. However, there is still a large unexpressed potential, with an estimated margin of 80,000 tons/year that could be collected and sent for recycling. Despite the progress, there is still much work to be done to improve the quality of collection, especially among Roman households. The 29th Comieco Annual Report confirms that 2023 was a year of extraordinary success for separate collection and paper and cardboard recycling in Italy. With over 3.7 million tons collected and a recycling rate for cellulose packaging exceeding 90%, Italy positions itself as a leader in Europe, surpassing EU targets well ahead of schedule. However, there is still room for improvement, especially in terms of collection quality and exploiting unexpressed potential in large cities. With the joint commitment of citizens, administrations, and sector operators, Italy can continue to improve and lead the change toward a more sustainable future. Do your part to contribute to the success of separate paper and cardboard collection! Every small gesture can make a difference for the environment and the future of our country. To learn more: “Paper and cardboard food packaging: a sustainable revolution in the world of packaging”

Paper has been one of the inventions that significantly changed human history. It replaced parchment and other supports used for writing, making the flow of information global and playing a fundamental role in the ability to pass down documents through time. Even after 2000 years, paper is still indispensable in our daily lives. Surely, the approach to this element has changed, and strategies have been designed to recover used paper and cardboard, which would otherwise end up increasing the volume of waste sent to landfills. At the same time, the production and sourcing system has changed, thanks also to the use of renewable energy and the careful management of forest heritage. Paper: a precious commodity to produce and recycle According to past methodologies, paper required a significant production effort, both regarding raw material sourcing and the energy used for production. Thanks to environmental policies implemented over the years, the spread of greater sensitivity towards environmental issues, and, last but not least, the dissemination of the concept of circular economy, the approach to paper and cardboard production has changed considerably. The widespread adoption of separate waste collection has allowed the recovery of raw materials, so even industries within the paper supply chain have launched strategies to recover production waste—just like CART-ONE—in order to convert reel waste as well. Thanks to paper recycling, we can obtain sheets of different weights and, at the same time, many types of colors. The packaging sector has also undergone a radical change by selecting eco-sustainable and recyclable solutions: in this case, a prominent place belongs to corrugated cardboard packaging, the main players in the e-commerce era. The importance of certifications in paper production “The area of forests in Europe has grown by nearly 3 million hectares (an area roughly the size of Greece) in the last 15 years, mainly due to the planting of new forests and the natural expansion of existing ones to encompass what was once agricultural land.” MCPFE, Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe. 2007. If we look back, this is the snapshot we recorded a few years ago. To this data, we can add that between 1990 and 2010, the forest area increased by about 11 million hectares. The increase is due to natural expansion and reforestation efforts. (https://www.europarl.europa.eu/factsheets/it/sheet/105/l-unione-europea-e-le-foreste) Forest exploitation is subject to regulations, which also include the reforestation of areas exploited for wood and paper production. Paper production is subject to certifications attesting its origin from sustainably managed sources. Among the certification systems, the main ones are FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) and PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification). FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) This certification indicates that global standards for forest management are respected, maintaining the balance between environmental, social, and economic aspects. These standards are based on 10 Principles and 70 Criteria (Principles & Criteria, P&C). We can find FSC trademarks applied to products in the following ways: FSC 100% The FSC 100% label accompanies products made exclusively from inputs originating from FSC-certified forests. FSC Recycled This label bearing the wording FSC Recycled indicates that the wood or paper used to make the product comes from recycled and recovered material. FSC Mix The last label is named FSC Mix. It can be used when FSC-certified paper or wood, recycled material, and/or controlled wood have been used to create a product. PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) PEFC is a certification scheme that examines forest management from a sustainability perspective. To achieve certification, the Criteria and indicators defined in the Ministerial Conferences on the protection of forests must be respected. These guidelines are created to protect biodiversity and the very life of forests. Advantages of recycled paper and myths to debunk The use of recycled paper brings several benefits to the environment: It does not require cutting down new trees. Waste sent to landfills is minimized. The production process requires less energy. The production process with recycled paper requires less use of chemicals. The spread of recycled paper, however, has been hindered by the circulation of false myths such as: Recycled paper is more expensive: false Recycled paper is not more expensive than white paper; in the long run, it turns out to be more cost-effective. From a qualitative standpoint, it is inferior to white paper: false The processing techniques of recycled material allow us to obtain an aesthetically and qualitatively excellent product. Recycled paper is unhygienic: false The paper undergoes a treatment that reaches temperatures up to 150°C, which destroys pathogens and microorganisms. Recycled paper is now a fundamental resource to be cared for and managed to safeguard the environment and for a more sustainable and green life.