Overpackaging: sustainable packaging starts with simplicity

The environmental impact of packaging has become an increasingly significant issue in the current context, where the production and consumption of goods are constantly rising. Reducing the environmental impact of packaging: what Europe mandates. Europe has recognized the need to address this challenge and has adopted several measures aimed at reducing the environmental impact of packaging. In this article, we will explore the main initiatives and policies of the European Union (EU) to tackle this issue and promote sustainable solutions. Read also: “Packaging labeling: mandatory since January 1, 2023” Greater sustainability for packaging in Europe Europe is firmly tackling the challenge of reducing the environmental impact of packaging. Through a series of policies and initiatives, the EU is focusing on waste prevention, recycling, reducing single-use plastic, promoting the circular economy, and consumer awareness. These measures aim to create a more sustainable packaging system that minimizes environmental impact, fosters resource efficiency, and drives the transition toward a greener economy. It is vital for consumers, businesses, and institutions to work together to adopt sustainable behaviors and solutions, contributing to a better future for our planet. The proposed EU regulation On November 30, 2022, the European Commission submitted a proposal for a regulation establishing new rules on packaging and packaging waste in the EU. The proposal will apply to all packaging of any material placed on the Union market. The subsequent regulation will repeal the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive, becoming directly applicable in all EU Member States without needing to be transposed into local legislation. The proposal is currently being reviewed by the European Parliament and the Council of the EU. The European Commission's initiative was introduced concurrently with the release of the packaging labeling guidelines issued by the Italian Ministry of Ecological Transition. The introduction of mandatory labeling from January 1, 2023 primarily aims to facilitate collection, reuse, recovery, and recycling of packaging, providing consumers with accurate information on its final disposal. Objectives and proposals for the EU market The general objective of the legislative proposal is to reduce the negative environmental impacts of packaging and packaging waste. Specifically, the proposal aims to: reduce the production of packaging waste; promote a circular economy for packaging in a cost-effective manner; foster the uptake of recycled content within packaging. The proposal introduces new rules regarding packaging placed on the EU market, specifically: Recyclability: all packaging placed on the market must be recyclable. Packaging recyclability will be measured on a scale from A to E, where E corresponds to non-recyclable packaging, which will consequently be banned from the market; Reusability: all packaging placed on the market must be designed and used in a way that allows it to be reused as many times as possible. Economic operators placing reusable packaging on the market must ensure the existence of a reuse system for such packaging. Furthermore, certain single-use packaging will be explicitly banned (for example, single-use packaging for fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as miniature single-use packaging like shampoo bottles); Dimensions: every packaging unit must be reduced to the minimum necessary dimensions in terms of weight and volume. It must be ensured that the empty space ratio does not exceed 40% of the total packaging volume; Use of recycled content: the plastic parts of packaging must contain a specific percentage of recycled content recovered from post-consumer plastic waste for each packaging unit. In addition, regarding the first two points (recyclability and reusability), it will become mandatory to display: harmonized symbols across Europe on bins and packaging to indicate sorting, as well as on packaging to show reusability. This includes the obligation to add, by January 1, 2028, labels that allow for the separate collection of each material; QR codes to be added to packaging to provide consumers with more information on the reusability of the product's packaging and to indicate recycling collection points. Find out more: “Recycled paper and recyclable paper: the differences between the two processes”

The practice aimed at encouraging the sustainable use of recoverable materials is now increasingly widespread, focusing attention on respecting the Planet and adopting increasingly eco-sustainable practices. Recyclable, compostable, biodegradable: what are the differences? In modern society, there is an increasing focus on the health of the Planet thanks to good daily practices related to the correct management of waste recycling, but also to the knowledge of certain terms that concern precisely these actions. Terms such as biodegradable, compostable, recyclable, and non-recyclable materials are used. Having greater knowledge and awareness of these now commonly used terms means understanding what the real differences are in product disposal, in order to select and purchase objects, packaging, and materials knowing their disposal cycle in advance. So let's discover all the details.   Read also: “Environmental labeling in packaging: what Italian regulations say”   What recyclable means A recyclable material is a waste material that can be used again in production processes, such as glass, paper and cardboard, aluminum, plastic, and wood. In this regard, Directive 94/62/EC 17 recognizes the social and economic function of packaging. Packaging, in fact, must be designed to allow the recycling of at least a percentage of the materials used in compliance with European Community regulations, based on specific criteria concerning all stages of the packaging life, the so-called Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), the life cycle analysis that evaluates the environmental footprint of a product or service. In recent years, the percentage of recycled waste was recorded at 63% of national production; according to the 2021 Urban Waste Report, paper and cardboard account for 19.2% of the total. A figure that demonstrates how necessary it is to continue on this path, increasing the recovery of packaging as much as possible, making them more performing, reusable and, above all, recyclable.   “The term recyclable is constantly used to define materials and products without a defined and shared reference. But the recyclability of a product goes beyond being technically recyclable: consumers must have access to a collection and recycling system, a recycler must be able to treat the material, and an end market is needed for the regenerated materials”. (Steve Alexander, President of The Association of Plastic Recyclers)   The recycling of these materials has become possible only thanks to a correct and conscious waste separation operation, which allows these waste elements to be transformed into a resource, giving them new life, thus reducing materials that end up in landfills.   Non-recyclable materials This refers to dry waste, also called unsorted or residual dry waste, waste products that cannot be recycled in any way. On the contrary, they must be disposed of in landfills, in a waste-to-energy plant, or in a facility where refuse-derived fuel is produced. Non-recyclable dry waste includes, for example: diapers, sanitary pads, cotton swabs, cotton, plastic objects that are not packaging, objects composed of various materials that are not easily separable, cash receipts, ceramics, ballpoint pens, dirty paper, sponges, etc.   What compostable means A compostable material, after degrading, is transformed into compost, a substance rich in nutritional properties usually used as a fertilizer to enrich the soil. According to the UNI EN 13432 standard, a material is compostable if it is: biodegradable; disintegrable, meaning it consists of fragments smaller than 2 mm; free of eco-toxic substances; low in heavy metals and fluorinated compounds; with pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, magnesium, and potassium values below the established limits.   Always according to European regulations, a product can carry the word “compostable” if it is biodegradable within just 3 months and if it passes ecotoxicity tests as proof that it cannot exert any negative effect on the environment. A classic example of compost is pruning waste and fruit and vegetable leftovers.   What biodegradable means Biodegradable is defined as waste consisting of materials that decompose thanks to the action of microorganisms and bacteria, sunlight, or other natural atmospheric agents. Degradation can occur under two different conditions: Aerobic - in the presence of oxygen: the substance produced can be used as a fertilizer or substrate in agriculture and floriculture; Anaerobic - in the absence of oxygen: the substance produced, in addition to agriculture, can be used as a gaseous fuel.   A material can be defined as biodegradable if it is able to transform within six months; this means that what remains of the object must be able to be absorbed into the ground in the form of water, carbon dioxide, mineral salts, and other elements.   Difference between compostable and biodegradable From what has been said so far, it is clear that for waste to be defined as compostable, it must inevitably be biodegradable and, conversely, a biodegradable material is not necessarily compostable because, for example, it might not disintegrate sufficiently during a composting cycle. The main difference between the two types of material therefore lies in the degradation speed, but also in the complete non-toxicity and chemical composition: this means that what is compostable returns to the earth as a nutrient substance in the form of compost, while the biodegradable returns to nature in the form of mineral salts and other simple elements.   Cart-One's eco-sustainable commitment The main problem, until a few years ago, was the inability to dispose of packaging, containers, and other plastic objects made of non-recyclable materials, which therefore ended up in unsorted waste. Today, thanks to new circular economy models, it is possible to produce ecological, safe, and advantageous materials for the environment, health, and the economy. Cart-One, for example, has decided to invest more and more in sustainability and innovation, with great sensitivity towards environmental protection policies. Always a promoter and implementer of the circular economy, Cart-One has adopted the produce-consume-regenerate-recover model, thanks to which production waste becomes a reel and then a box again. In the packaging universe, these actions translate into the use of clean and innovative technologies, an eco-design understood as a packaging design that pays maximum attention to raw material savings, and with the continuous improvement of production processes aimed at reducing water, air, and soil impacts. ECOGRIP, for example, is the corrugated cardboard alternative to plastic shrink film, developed by the joint experience of the Paneuropean Alliance Blue Box Partners (BBP) of which Cart-One is a member. ECOGRIP eliminates the need to use a single-use plastic shrink wrap when transporting multiple bottles. It provides 100% biodegradable packaging, designed to fit any type of bottle on the market.   You might also be interested in: “Packaging Trends 2023: all the new packaging developments”   Cart-One produces and develops innovative corrugated cardboard packaging that meets the specific needs of every product sector, thanks to active collaboration with customers, but also to a flexible and efficient service with eco-sustainable projects and concrete examples of cost reduction. Contact us to receive all information.

Companies' interest in environmental protection is increasingly vibrant. Among these is certainly the paper and packaging industry, which is becoming ever more attentive to the health of our planet. Recycled paper and recyclable paper: the differences between the two processes. The theme of sustainability is now close to the heart of most industrial activities. Paper, for example, is one of the most widely used materials in the world, and this is why, to reduce the environmental impact of its production, the use of recycled paper and recyclable paper is chosen with increasing frequency. However, there is still a great deal of confusion regarding the two products, given that they derive from two separate processes. In this article, we will explore precisely these differences.   Find out more: “Recyclable, compostable, biodegradable: what are the differences?”   What is recycled paper Recycled paper is produced from the waste of already used paper and not from plant cellulose. And since paper recycling leverages separate waste collection, it consequently does not cause the cutting down of additional trees. In fact, the production of recycled paper is based on the collection, processing, and recycling of paper items that have reached the end of their product life cycle. Just think that producing one ton of paper requires about 15 trees and the consumption of more than 400,000 liters of water and 7,600 kWh. Conversely, starting from the fiber of paper waste, about 95% is transformed into new paper; therefore, compared to other productions, using waste paper entails great savings in energy, water, and timber. The production process of recycled paper involves repeated phases of de-inking, grinding, and drying, during which the mechanical and chemical properties of the fibers, the degree of cellulose polymerization, and the structure of the components in general are altered. Overall, the process consists of several stages: separate collection by consumers and businesses and storage in recycling centers; selection of the waste paper and elimination of impure paper materials that are unsuitable for processing or of poor quality; pressing of the waste and binding into bales; shredding into paper micro-fragments; bleaching with chemical decolorization; removal of the ink printed on the waste paper; pulping of the semi-finished product by adding hot water; refining and elimination of impurities from the mixture;   The final result is clean paper that is transformed into new paper using a process similar to that of producing virgin cellulose paper, which can be used to manufacture a wide range of paper products, such as printing paper and cardboard.   What is recyclable paper Recyclable paper is paper that can be recycled up to 7 times, beyond which the yield decreases because the fibers shorten and weaken. Specifically, recyclable material refers to all those waste items that can be reused to produce new objects identical to the waste, or new materials. Recycling an object means converting waste into a new object or a new material of the same value. In this regard, the raw materials that are recyclable today include paper and cardboard, wood, glass, aluminum, steel, fabrics, tires, and plastic. Recyclable paper is produced using virgin cellulose from trees that are grown specifically for paper production. Furthermore, recyclable paper must be produced using processes that minimize environmental impact so that it can be recycled repeatedly. The production process of recyclable paper follows these steps: harvesting of virgin cellulose, which is obtained from trees through deforestation; once harvested, the cellulose is shredded and transformed into a cellulose pulp; the cellulose pulp is then mixed with water and other chemical substances to improve the strength and quality of the paper; the mixture is then transferred into a machine, where it is separated into sheets and pressed to remove excess water; the paper sheets are then dried and cut into the desired dimensions.   It is important to note that the production process of recyclable paper requires a greater environmental impact compared to the production of recycled paper, as it involves deforestation to obtain the virgin cellulose. However, the use of sustainable processes can certainly reduce the environmental impact of recyclable paper production.   Differences between recycled paper and recyclable paper Often, recycled paper and recyclable paper are erroneously used as synonyms. However, they represent two different processes. Let us assume that, until recently, white paper created from cellulose fiber and obtained from tree wood was the only type of paper available on the market. Today, fortunately, companies give more and more space to the use of recycled paper, obtained from waste paper, which in turn is derived from separate waste collection. The main difference between recycled paper and recyclable paper is, in fact, the production process: recycled paper uses used paper and is produced using less water and energy compared to virgin cellulose paper, making it a more sustainable choice. Furthermore, the production of recycled paper reduces the amount of paper destined for landfills. recyclable paper uses virgin cellulose. It has the advantage of being able to be recycled more times compared to recycled paper. The production process begins with the harvesting of virgin cellulose, which is obtained from trees through deforestation. Once harvested, the cellulose is shredded and transformed into a cellulose pulp.   In general, the use of recycled and recyclable paper is undoubtedly an important step toward reducing the environmental impact of paper production.   Cart-One has always been a creator and promoter of the circular economy, pursuing the produce-consume-regenerate-recover model, so that production waste becomes a reel and a box again thanks to the use of clean and innovative technologies, and an ecodesign aimed at saving raw materials and preventing waste. Indeed, Cart-One is committed every day to decreasing impacts on water, air, and soil, ensuring a high-quality, efficient, and eco-sustainable service. Discover all our products and contact us for more information or to receive a free quote for your business.   Read also: “Paper packaging in the digital era and the circular economy”