Session «Strategies for aligning packaging with circular economy policies»

European policies aimed at transforming into a circular economy published since 2015 by the EU have resulted in a series of action plans which in turn entail the corresponding legal provisions and their related obligations. The frame referred to is presented in the following painting.

Currently, the 2015 European Circular Economics Action Plan – from which the Plastics Strategy and the Waste Strategy were developed – has resulted in the amendment of the Packaging Directive and its Residua Directive, as well as the Waste Framework Directive, and its Management (Castle and Waste Transport) Directives.

In addition, as a result of the 2018 Plastics Strategy, the SUP Directive (single use plastics) was published in 2019 and a non-recyclable plastic tax of 0.8 €/kg was provided for by the Member States from 2021 and it will be possible to finance the post-covid recovery package.

The achievement of circular packaging requires a clear strategy and a roadmap for its development. Circular packaging implies that at the end of life every item initiates a new cycle as a biological or technological nutrient.

How do we prepare our packaging for this milestone? What strategies are the airlines considering?

These issues and others will be discussed by Montse Castillo, who holds a PhD in Chemical Sciences from the University of Barcelona, director of RepaQ Embalage Consulting and Academic Coordinator of the Embage Area in IQS Executive.