What does plain packaging mean? Let\'s find out together

From July 1, 2025, the new rates for CAC Environmental Contributions for paper, wood, glass, and plastic packaging will come into force. These changes, established by CONAI in collaboration with the Rilegno, Corepla, Comieco, and Coreve consortia, aim to maintain the economic sustainability of recycling chains and promote a more efficient circular economy. New CAC 2025 rates: what changes for paper, wood, glass, and plastic. Let's discover together in detail the introduced changes, how they will influence companies, and what strategies to adopt to optimize packaging management. Read also: “CE marking of machinery: what changes with the EU/2023/1230 regulation” Why are the new CAC rates necessary? The modulation of the CAC stems from the need to guarantee the financial balance of the consortia responsible for the collection, sorting, and recycling of different packaging materials. In recent years, changes in the raw materials market and a decline in revenues from the sale of recycled materials have put pressure on the system, requiring a structural intervention to maintain the sustainability of operational activities. In particular, the new rates aim to: Support supply chain consortia in their recycling activities. Adjust contributions to the actual management costs of packaging waste. Promote greater environmental responsibility among companies that place packaging on the market. Paper packaging: more tiers and benefits for certified composites For the paper sector, the contribution tiers will increase from six to eight, with greater granularity in packaging classification. This choice will allow the contribution to be applied more fairly and reward companies that choose more sustainable packaging solutions. The main changes include: Introduction of benefits for certified composites in categories B1 and C1, which could benefit from reduced rates. One-year trial: A trial period will allow monitoring the impact of the new rates and making any adjustments based on the results obtained. Operational guidelines: CONAI and Comieco will shortly publish guidelines to help companies adapt correctly to the new criteria, with particular attention to small companies that place minimal volumes of composite packaging on the market. Wood packaging: a gradual increase to support Rilegno Wood packaging will also see an increase in the environmental contribution, which will rise from 7 €/ton to 9 €/ton. This modification has been designed to support the Rilegno consortium, ensuring the coverage of management costs and maintaining financial balance. Why this increase? The wood sector is facing challenges related to the decline in revenues from the sale of recycled material. The increase in the CAC allows collection and recycling operations to remain active, avoiding disruptions in the service. This is an adjustment that had been planned for some time, part of a long-term financial stabilization plan. Glass packaging: environmental contributions doubled in two phases The environmental contribution for glass packaging will undergo a significant increase in two phases: From July 1, 2025: The CAC will rise from 15 €/ton to 35 €/ton. From January 1, 2026: Further increase to 40 €/ton. What led to this decision? Market difficulties: the Coreve consortium reported a drastic reduction in revenues from the sale of recycled materials. Drop in auction prices: in the last auction of October 2024, prices fell to a quarter compared to the beginning of the year, heavily impacting the consortium's budget. Increase in operational costs: the return of large quantities of glass packaging waste generated an increase in management costs, making a revision of the environmental contribution necessary. Plastic packaging: rates modulated for all nine tiers For plastic packaging, the nine contribution tiers in force since 2023 will remain unchanged, but the rates will be updated. Corepla recorded a 4.6% increase in collected plastic packaging waste, with a consequent increase in management and sorting costs. New CAC Rates for Plastic (from July 1, 2025) A1.1: From 24.00 €/ton to 40.00 €/ton. A1.2: From 90.00 €/ton to 87.00 €/ton. A2: From 220,00 €/ton to 258.00 €/ton. B1.1: From 224.00 €/ton to 219.00 €/ton. B1.2: From 233.00 €/ton to 228.00 €/ton. B2.1: From 441.00 €/ton to 611.00 €/ton. B2.2: From 589.00 €/ton to 724.00 €/ton. B2.3: From 650.00 €/ton to 785.00 €/ton. C: From 655.00 €/ton to 790.00 €/ton. How to prepare for the new CACs? The support of Cart-One Companies in the packaging sector will need to adapt quickly to these new rates, reviewing their packaging and waste management strategies. Cart-One offers innovative solutions to: Optimize the use of packaging materials, choosing lighter and more recyclable solutions that reduce CAC costs. Avoid overpackaging, proposing smart packaging that minimizes waste. Support companies in the transition towards sustainable packaging, helping them comply with new regulations and improve their environmental footprint. Facing 2025 with the right solutions The modulation of environmental contributions represents a challenge, but also an opportunity to rethink packaging strategies from a sustainable perspective. Preparing at best means adopting solutions that not only comply with the new regulations but also improve the company's operational efficiency and competitiveness. Cart-One is ready to guide you along this path, offering the necessary support to transform your packaging into a true strategic asset. Want to know more about how to optimize your packaging in view of the new CACs? Contact us for a personalized consultation and discover how our solutions can help you make a difference! You might also be interested in: “Food product labeling: what changes with the new MIMIT guidelines” Source: ItaliaImballaggio

The separate collection of paper and cardboard has now become a well-established habit throughout Italy. A fundamental process that requires maximum attention to avoid mistakes that would undermine efforts to create new cellulose-based products. Paper and cardboard for recycling: what are the most common mistakes? Thanks to the separate collection of paper and cardboard, it is possible to recover valuable raw materials that can be reused to make new cellulosic products. Unfortunately, however, many mistakes are still made by citizens. In this article, we will focus on the most common errors regarding the collection of paper and cardboard, explaining how to avoid them to make a concrete contribution to environmental protection. Find out more: “How to correctly separate paper and cardboard collection (without mistakes!)” The importance of paper and cardboard recycling Paper and cardboard packaging, like all other waste, if not disposed of correctly, can represent a problem for the health of the environment. Although it has become a practice that is now part of our daily lives, the collection of paper and cardboard still creates some confusion, negatively affecting the quality of recycling. Don't worry, avoiding some quite common mistakes is very simple if you follow a few precise rules within everyone's reach. Let's find out the most frequent mistakes when recycling paper and cardboard. Boxes outside the containers The first rule to follow for correct separate collection of paper and cardboard is to throw them into their designated container. Indeed, many citizens think they are making the dustmen's job easier by leaving boxes next to the containers or near the bins. This practice is not only wrong, but also harmful to the environment and to proper waste management. Leaving boxes outside means risking that they get wet due to rain, and therefore degrade before being fed into the recycling chain. Furthermore, boxes and cartons must be flattened in order to reduce their volume. Paper tissues One of the most common mistakes in the separate collection of paper and cardboard is the disposal of paper tissues inside the paper container. Many people believe that paper tissues are composed of the same type of material as paper and are therefore perfectly recyclable, although this is actually not the case. Throwing paper tissues into the paper bin can compromise the entire recycling chain, contaminating other materials and hindering the waste selection and separation process. For this reason, paper tissues, even when clean, do not belong in the separate collection of paper because they are wet-resistant and therefore difficult to recycle. Specifically, if soiled with food, they must be thrown into the organic waste, based on the provisions of the Municipality; if soiled with other substances, instead, into the unsorted waste. Receipts Receipts, although made of paper, are not entirely recyclable and must not be disposed of along with paper and cardboard. Most receipts are coated with a protective plastic film, which serves to protect them from water and rubbing. This coating makes receipts incompatible with recyclable paper, turning them into a mixed waste of paper and plastic. This type of waste is very difficult to manage, as it requires a specific selection and treatment, which can be very expensive in terms of energy and resources. For these reasons, receipts must be thrown into the unsorted waste, unless it is explicitly stated that they are made of recyclable paper. Greaseproof paper and baking paper Greaseproof paper and baking paper are both treated with oily or silicone substances, which make them waterproof and heat-resistant. These substances, however, make these types of paper non-recyclable along with paper and cardboard, as they compromise the production process of recycled paper. Furthermore, greaseproof paper and baking paper can contain food residues, fats, and oils, which can contaminate the paper to be recycled and hinder the material selection and separation process. Greaseproof paper, such as that used to wrap cold cuts and cheeses, must be thrown into the unsorted waste bag. Regarding baking paper, where explicitly indicated, it can be thrown into the organic waste (thanks to compostable solutions), or alternatively into the unsorted waste. Packaging with food residues Food packaging, such as pizza boxes, fast-food cartons, chips and snack packs, are often made of paper and cardboard, but can contain food residues, fats, and oils, which can contaminate the material to be recycled and compromise the production process of recycled paper, reducing its quality and strength. Consequently, paper and cardboard packaging that is greasy or on which food residues remain must not be thrown into the separate collection of paper and cardboard, but into the organic waste container, always checking the regulations of the Municipality. Paper and packaging soiled with chemicals Paper and cardboard contaminated by chemical substances, such as paints, solvents, inks, mineral oils, and other toxic substances, can contaminate the entire recycling process, making the recycled paper and cardboard unusable or harmful to health. Furthermore, the chemical substances contained in the waste can pollute the soil and groundwater, compromising the health of animals and plants, and representing a serious risk to human health. For these reasons, paper and packaging soiled with chemicals must also be recycled in the unsorted waste container. Adhesive tape and staples Throwing adhesive tape and staples into the separate collection of paper and cardboard is a common mistake that can compromise the recycling chain and the quality of the material to be recycled. Adhesive tape and staples are materials different from paper and cardboard and are not biodegradable, so they cannot be recycled together. In addition, these materials can damage the machines used for recycling paper and cardboard, causing technical problems and additional costs for the companies managing the separate collection. Therefore, all non-cellulosic base materials such as adhesive tape, staples, and/or other metal parts (like those found in appliance packaging) must be separated from the paper or cardboard before they are thrown away. Plastic wraps Plastic wraps are made of materials different from paper and cardboard and are not biodegradable, so they cannot be recycled along with paper and cardboard. Furthermore, plastic can damage the machines used for recycling paper and cardboard, causing technical problems and additional costs for companies managing separate collection. If a plastic or bioplastic bag is used to carry paper to the appropriate container, it must not be thrown away with its contents: if you decide to dispose of it, in the first case it must go into the plastic container, in the second case into the organic waste one; if intact, it can instead be reused. The correct recycling of paper and cardboard is an important gesture for environmental protection and the safeguarding of natural resources. A concrete commitment that can make a difference for the quality of life of people and future generations, helping to reduce environmental impact and build a more sustainable future. And remember: when you dispose of paper and cardboard packaging, always find out about their correct management and follow the guidelines of your Municipality of residence. You might also be interested in: “Recycled and recyclable paper: the differences between the two processes”

Consumers' purchasing choices increasingly seem to be influenced by packaging, especially when it comes to products with sustainable packaging. The confirmation comes from the research conducted by Nomisma, entitled “Packaging speaks green”. It has been dedicated a forum and its results. Consumer awareness and the sensitivity for green issues are nowadays a fact that must be taken into account if you want to give your products a superior appeal. Can the perception of sustainability affect purchases? Efforts towards a sustainability policy must be evident for the consumer: according to research, in fact, only 4% of users believe that companies make targeted choices in this sense, and the percentage drops by one point when it comes to industrial processes. The situation in Italy shows a considerable delay on the part of companies in taking concrete actions aimed at sustainability and the creation of ecological packaging, an element that falls within the category of activities that should be consolidated and be part of the best practices adopted from any entrepreneurial reality. 46% of Italians make their choice fall on products with recyclable packaging and with a low environmental impact. This behavior mainly affects personal and household products. The sustainable cosmetics and packaging sector The cosmetics sector seems to be particularly involved in this revolution, made by consumers who require products with the lowest possible environmental impact, but also biodegradable, recyclable or compostable green packaging. As is well known, the design pertaining to the beauty sphere has always also focused on packaging to increase the appeal of the product. From the color to the silhouette of the package, the packaging becomes a real trademark, the vehicle through which the product can be recognized at first sight without having to read its name. As we have seen, the new habits and needs of consumers are also changing the Beauty sector, not only by adapting their cosmetic formulas in favor of more sustainable products, but also by transforming packaging to reduce waste. The importance of the cosmetics sector within the national economy and the need for greater attention to packaging The cosmetics company represents a strategic sector in the economy of our country. While on the one hand the Made in Italy make-up and creams are well known throughout the country, on the other hand the sector is also profitable in terms of exports. The Covid-19 pandemic has changed the habits of using cosmetic products. After a physiological decline in sales, there was a shift in interest in certain products. In addition, the demand for products with a natural connotation and attention to new channels have increased, for example eCommerce, which has brought new consumers closer to purchasing products. The industry did not stand still during the pandemic; however, some plants have reconverted part of the plant for the production of sanitizing products and for the manufacture of gels. And the advent of Covid-19 has created a new awareness in the consumer, as claimed by Clare Henningan, who holds the position of senior beauty analysts at Mintel. With the pandemic there has been an increase in requests for clean and safe products, without toxic ingredients and with a low environmental impact supply chain. Packaging also comes into play in this scenario. The digitized generations are those grown up with ecological values ​​matured through study paths, carrying out separate collection and showing attention to the choice of products that reduce the weight of packaging in terms of waste and quantity of materials used. The choice is oriented towards products with eco-friendly packaging, that is, which follow an ethical production cycle. This trend should also be attested in the course of 2021 hoping for a convincing recovery in consumption, as long as they are lived in a sustainable perspective. To create customized packaging for your products, CART-ONE offers ideas and solutions with a low environmental impact, eco-sustainable and aimed at offering fully satisfactory performance for the creation of both primary and secondary packaging.