The decorative packaging industry is undergoing a significant transformation driven by increasing environmental awareness and consumer demand for sustainable solutions. While companies are increasingly implementing various packaging materials, such as paper, cardboard, glass, and plant-based materials, plastic continues to play a dominant and important role.
Enhancing Recyclability and the Role of PCR Plastics
With plastic remaining a vital material packaging material, the industry offers different options to reduce its environmental impact, such as lightweighting and reducing the amount of plastic used in packaging without compromising its integrity or functionality. Nevertheless, the key to lowering the environmental impact of plastic lies in improving recyclability.
By increasing recyclability, we can use more post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic in new packaging of consumer products. This in turn helps reduce the demand for virgin plastic and helps in closing the recycling loop.
Shrink sleeve labels are an element of the overall packaging that, while providing space for important and mandatory product information, separate contaminants such as colourful ink from the container. This enhances the recyclability of bottles and containers, as detaching the shrink sleeve from the container facilitates easy sorting and allows for the recycling of the packaging, free from contaminants.
To increase sustainability, shrink sleeve labels can also be made from films with even 50% PCR content. However, brands are still hesitant to invest in higher percentages of PCR content for their sleeve labels. The rationale often cited is that sleeves represent less than 10% of overall packaging, leading brands to question the economic feasibility of paying a premium for increased PCR content. Additionally, there's scepticism within the packaging industry about the tangible impact of using PCR in sleeves on the overall PCR content of the containers required by the regulations.
Sustainable packaging materials and technologies have often come with higher upfront costs compared to traditional options. Virgin plastic is still cheaper than PCR plastic, and different stakeholders have varying sustainability priorities in their procurement procedures. Recycled plastic needs to be collected from various sources, sorted by type, cleaned, and processed before it can be reused. These steps add to the overall cost. Despite these factors, the cost difference between recycled and virgin plastic is gradually decreasing as technology advances, economies of scale improve, and environmental regulations incentivise the use of recycled materials.
To be truly and fully aligned with the ethos of environmental stewardship, companies should not hesitate to explore every avenue to use PCR plastics, which contribute to reduced demand for virgin resources, lower greenhouse gas emissions, increase circularity, and reduce landfill waste.
Overcoming Economic Challenges. A Global Perspective on Circular Economy
One of the challenges to achieve economies of scale, meet European legislation goals and support the circular economy, is to have sufficient recycled content on the market. Currently, Europe recycles less than 70% of its plastic. This prompts the question of whether we should address this issue from a global perspective. While improving our own recyclability is essential, should we not also be open to accepting PCR plastic from other parts of the world if local supply is insufficient?
At present, there is no restriction on importing PCR plastic to Europe. However, one significant challenge is the lack of reliable certification and validation mechanisms. When offered imported PCR material, many customers have valid concerns about whether the recycled plastic originates from post-consumer or post-industrial sources. This calls for the development of certification standards and well-established processes for PCR verification to increase its use within the industry. By increasing plastic recycling and adopting a global outlook, we can significantly reduce the environmental impact of plastic worldwide.
The packaging industry is at a pivotal moment, with sustainability goals driving innovation and development. By increasing recycled content, promoting reusable systems, leveraging smart technologies, supporting circular economy initiatives, and complying with regulatory changes, the industry is moving towards a more sustainable future. These trends not only help mitigate environmental impacts but also create opportunities for companies to innovate and lead in a rapidly changing market, benefiting both the industry and the planet.