The discussions about the draft EU Packaging Regulation (PPWR) dominated the 13th Green Dot Customer Forum. Managing Director Jörg Deppmeyer welcomed well over 200 guests online for the first time. Due to planned, partly drastic obligations and despite transition periods, the PPWR makes investments and adjustments of operational processes very likely necessary. What exactly is planned, what changes are to be expected, what is the attitude of affected business circles towards the PPWR? The expert panel attempted an impact assessment.
To anticipate: In principle, the European Commission's intended shift towards a sustainable economy meets with approval. In his keynote speech "Green Deal - Drivers for Circularity and Climate Protection in Europe", Prof. Dr. Stefan Lechtenböhmer from the Wuppertal Institute presented the depth and breadth of the thinking involved. His position: An economy can only become climate-neutral and circular if the challenges of a profound industrial transformation throughout Europe are met. This requires an integrated industrial-climate policy consisting of the sub-areas of climate, energy and innovation policy with resource efficiency as well as trade, growth and structural policy. Here, the EU Green Deal with the instruments of the EU climate protection package "Fit For 55" could provide the framework, he concluded.
From the (still) theoretical model of a European industrial transformation to Brussels' concrete plans for packaging: Stephan Rösgen, roesgenconsulting, looked from a legal perspective at what obligations Green Dot customers will face - and in what timeframes. Despite a large number of proposed amendments, he said, there was a lot to look forward to, from specifications on the recyclability of packaging and planned sales bans in the event of non-achievement, to differentiated recyclate use quotas for plastic packaging, including those for foodstuffs, and EU-wide specifications on the labelling of packaging, to an increased administrative burden, such as the preparation of comprehensive declarations of conformity for each package.
The plastics producing industry is particularly affected by the PPWR. The question of his presentation "PPWR - a catalyst for the circularity of plastic packaging?", was answered by Dr. Alexander Kronimus from the plastics manufacturers' association Plastics Europe Deutschland e.V. with a yes under certain conditions. These are an enforceable legal framework, no duplicate regulations and the avoidance of pettiness and excessive complexity. He also spoke in favour of incentives for technology-open recycling and non-fossil raw material bases, in line with the association's strategy, which focuses on the complementary use of mechanical and chemical recycling processes.
The final presentation of the Green Dot Forum was the practical view of a producer of plastic packaging: Michael Schmitz of the Jokey Group presented in his contribution "Holistic Circular Economy" how his company, with the Jokey Eco Concept 3.0, is getting ready to meet the challenges of the circular economy and thus also to master aspects of the PPWR in a forward-thinking manner.
Green Dot also welcomes the European Commission's vision of optimising the circular economy, especially for plastics, by providing strong impetus for recyclability and the use of recycled materials. "At the same time, we share the reservations," says Jörg Deppmeyer. "In order to make the proposed draft of the EU packaging regulation implementable for all stakeholders involved, adjustments have to be made to bring effort and benefit into a better relationship. Together with our forum guests and all customers, we are eager to see which objectives for the sustainable orientation of the circular economy for packaging will be binding for the 14th Customer Forum Green Dot next year."
The Green Dot position paper on the draft EU packaging regulation can be found here