How to ship household appliances: suitable packaging

December 16, 2024, marks a decisive turning point for the packaging sector: the Council formally adopted the new regulation on packaging and packaging waste. This regulatory innovation, detailed in the PPWR special by ItaliaImballaggio, represents the latest evolution for a sector that, throughout its entire lifecycle, is moving towards more responsible and sustainable management.   News on packaging regulations: towards safe, sustainable, and circular packaging. In this article, we will explore the changes introduced, the implications for different application sectors, and the key role that efficient packaging can play in a circular economy strategy. Discover how these rules can transform your business and how Cart-One stands as a strategic partner in this transition.   Read also: “CE marking of machinery: what changes with the EU/2023/1230 regulation”   Safe, sustainable, and recyclable packaging: the new requirements The new regulation provides a series of ambitious targets for 2030 and 2040, aimed at promoting packaging that reduces environmental impact throughout its lifecycle. Among the main requirements are: Recycled content: by 2040, single-use plastic bottles must contain up to 65% recycled material, a key milestone to reduce dependence on virgin raw materials. Weight and volume reduction: the new rules require minimizing both the weight and volume of packaging, eliminating superfluous wrapping and optimizing design to reduce waste. Limitation of hazardous substances: substances of concern will also be reduced, for example by limiting the placement on the market of packaging in contact with food products that contains PFAS above certain thresholds. Labeling and information: requirements regarding labeling and marking aim to make sorting and proper disposal of packaging easier for the consumer, facilitating more conscious purchasing choices.   Restrictions on single-use plastic packaging The regulation introduces specific measures to limit the use of single-use plastic, particularly targeting: Pre-packaged fruit and vegetable products, especially if the weight is less than 1.5 kg. Food and beverages served in hotels, bars, and restaurants, with special attention to individual portions of condiments, sauces, cream, and sugar. Small single-use cosmetic and personal hygiene products typical of the hospitality sector (for example, shampoo bottles or lotions). Ultra-lightweight plastic bags, those often provided in markets for bulk food items. These restrictions are designed to encourage the adoption of alternative materials and drastically reduce the amount of single-use plastic that ends up in landfills.   Reuse targets and refill obligations The regulation sets new binding reuse targets for 2030 and indicative targets for 2040, diversified depending on the type of packaging. For example, for packaging intended for transport and sale, a binding target of 40% is planned, while for grouped packaging the target is set at 10%. Furthermore, businesses operating in the take-away sector will be obliged to offer customers the option of using personal containers, allowing them to be filled with food and beverages at no additional cost. This measure not only favors reuse but also encourages more sustainable consumption behaviors.   The packaging lifecycle and the new regulatory vision Despite progress in recycling, the EU still records high packaging waste production: in 2022, nearly 186.5 kg of waste were generated per inhabitant, with 36 kg from plastic alone. This scenario highlights how the amount of waste exceeds that of recycled material, making an update to the regulatory framework essential. The proposal to revise Directive 94/62/EC, now transformed into a regulation (PPWR), was conceived to promote a transition towards a circular economy and to steer Europe towards climate neutrality. The European Parliament and the Council agreed on their positions and, following a provisional agreement reached on March 4, 2024, the regulation will enter into force 18 months after its publication in the Official Journal of the EU.   The role of Cart-One in the transition towards innovative packaging In this evolving regulatory context, Cart-One confirms itself as a strategic partner for companies wishing to align with the new regulations and adopt cutting-edge packaging solutions. Our solutions offer: Safe and recyclable packaging: we design packaging that guarantees product protection and facilitates recycling, helping to reduce environmental impact. Design optimization: with Cart-One, it is possible to reduce the weight and volume of packaging, improving logistics efficiency and reducing transport and storage costs. Transparency and information: labels and markings compliant with the new standards allow for clear information on recycled content and the packaging lifecycle, making sorting and correct disposal easier for consumers. The new regulation on packaging and waste represents an important regulatory evolution, aimed at transforming the packaging sector into a model of safety, sustainability, and circularity. With ambitious goals and restrictive measures, Europe is charting the course toward a future where every stage of the packaging lifecycle will be optimized to reduce waste and environmental impacts.   Cart-One stands as the ideal partner for companies wishing to make this leap in quality, offering innovative, safe packaging solutions compliant with the new regulations. Are you ready to transform your packaging and lead the change toward a circular economy?   Contact us today to discover how we can help you create packaging that is a true competitive asset for your business.   You might also be interested in: “Food product labeling: what changes with the new MIMIT guidelines”

Desire increases anticipation, and when paired with enthusiasm, it is with this very spirit that the industry trade fairs resume in the month of May 2022.  Two in-person events for companies in the packaging and corrugated cardboard supply chain: Milan May 3rd-6th IPACK-IMA and from May 18th-20th the FEFCO Summit in Amsterdam.  These events represent an interesting meeting opportunity for key players in the eco-technological packaging innovation market, because it is the exchange of ideas that fuels ingenuity.  The Ipack-Ima Event  IPACK-IMA, the trade fair organized by Ipack Ima Srl—a joint venture between UCIMA (Italian Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Association) and Fiera Milano—will showcase innovative solutions for the entire consumer goods and durable goods industry, covering all processing stages of the production chain. From processing, packaging, end-of-line, labeling, packaging materials and design, through to automation and digitalization.  An excellent opportunity for market professionals on an international scale and a privileged meeting place for food and non-food industry buyers, it stands as a significant event and a symbol of restart for all involved sectors. The FEFCO Summit  FEFCO – the European Federation of Corrugated Board Manufacturers – is organizing “Fit for the Future”, the Summit that will take place in Amsterdam at the NH Collection Barbizon Palace.  During the sessions, urgent issues that the sector must promptly address will be tackled, particularly the European Green Deal—a strategic plan involving the adoption of a wide array of initiatives such as laws, decrees, and investments, aimed at countering global warming and ongoing climate change.  For this reason, the Summit has placed the themes of sustainability and climate neutrality at the very top of its agenda: a crucial moment to understand how the European corporate system can transition toward a climate-neutral society to build a better future. The objective is to show how the continuous efforts within the corrugated cardboard industry offer significant and concrete solutions in this regard.

4.5 billion Euros in turnover, a 13% growth, and 8.3 billion square meters produced: these are the results relating to the Italian corrugated cardboard packaging industry, which were announced during the annual GIFCO conference held last May 13th and 14th, 2022, in Lecce. What emerged from the GIFCO 2022 annual conference The corrugated cardboard packaging sector continues to grow. Among the main factors are the exponential growth of e-commerce and the increasingly strong choice to adopt more sustainable packaging for the planet. An important sector, which accounts for nearly 20% of the paper supply chain, represented by the Federation of Paper and Graphics, which generates a turnover of 25.3 billion Euros, approximately 1.4% of GDP. This was communicated by GIFCO, the specialization group belonging to Assografici (Italian National Association of Printing, Paper Converting, and Transforming Industries), during the annual reporting meeting of activities carried out in the previous year. In the opening report, President Fausto Ferretti – Managing Director of Cart One Parma – presented the official figures for the sector, which in 2021 recorded a total national production – by weight – of nearly 4.5 million tons, with a growth of 12% compared to 2020. During the event, the topic of the evolution of raw material prices was addressed, which influences the costs of paper and finished packaging, as well as corporate budgets. According to data recorded by the Milan Chamber of Commerce, comparing April 2021 with April 2022, there was an increase ranging from +46% to +69% for linerboard and from +22% to +76% for fluting paper. To this scenario, the continuous and significant difficulties in raw material procurement must be added, affecting not only paper-based materials but also auxiliary resources. The well-known journalist Sebastiano Barisoni, deputy director of Radio 24 and historical voice of Focus Economia, also moderated the round table organized during the morning of May 14th. This panel was composed of distinguished representatives from the business and banking worlds, who discussed the national and international economic scenario within a context, like the current one, heavily influenced by the energy shock and complex sourcing of all raw materials. Stay updated on our NEWS.