Before the meeting of packaging and intralogistics takes place on 17-20 November 2014, the Pack Experts Committee of the international packaging exhibition "Emballage" continues its work and examines the repercussions of the circular economy on companies.
Emballage exhibition Presse Release
From eco-design to recyclability
Companies not only have to reduce the quantities of materials employed with increasingly smaller packaging but also take account of heavy but uncertain life cycle analysis. Their concern is therefore to design recyclable packaging with equivalent materials and functions.
With this in mind, recycling channels were judged to be inadequate since they do not generate sufficient secondary raw materials. The lack of innovation in recycled materials and information on eco-design along the supply chain were also noted.
Moreover, the experts highlighted that the perception of packaging among the general public and politicians is a source of additional difficulties. Declarations and official statements constantly tarnish its image. Packaging is too often linked with “waste” and often carries “sorting” information or labels which need to be standardised.
Radical changes required at every level
Despite the above difficulties, the Pack Experts committee members looked at the contribution of packaging to the circular economy.
Their global approach to this concept may well result in true changes in the current vision of packaging in terms of design and production.
The contribution of packaging to the circular economy calls for a more holistic approach in the long term. …