Austria has criticised the EU's planned packaging regulation. The paper/cardboard/corrugated board value chain particularly criticises the preference for reusable packaging over recycled paper products.
In addition to ecological and economic arguments in favour of recycling as an equivalent solution, The mandatory reusable quotas in the current draft for a European directive on reusable packaging Packaging and Packaging Waste Ordinance (PPWR) the competition and have a massive impact on a functioning circular economy. The collection and recycling rate for packaging made of paper, cardboard and corrugated cardboard in Austria is 85 per cent.
Austropapier as Representation of the interests of the 23 domestic paper and pulp producers expressly welcomes the fact that, alongside decarbonisation, the circular economy is at the top of the EU's agenda as part of the Green Deal and is also included in the draft European Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR).
„Regrettably, however, the current draft lacks a clear commitment that several ways of achieving Europe's climate neutrality target by 2050 are considered equally valid. The EU must take into account what materials the packaging is made of and whether functioning systems are in place to ensure a circular economy.”
Martin Zahlbruckner, President Austropapier
The PROPAK trade association and the PROPAK Austria association, representing the industrial manufacturers of paper, cardboard and corrugated cardboard packaging, can offer a cannot understand the blanket preference for fossil-based reuse packaging„We support the EU targets, but to call into question a perfectly functioning recycling system without necessity and to prioritise reuse across the board is the wrong approach and poses a long-term threat to parts of the industry,“ warns PROPAK Chairman Georg Dieter Fischer.
The industry sees the EU's PPWR requirements as particularly problematic. Reuse quotas that do not allow a sensible coexistence with recycled paper, cardboard or corrugated cardboard. „The mandatory quotas envisaged in the draft are diametrically opposed to the EU's plans for a functioning European circular economy in line with the Green Deal,“ criticises Stephan Kaar, spokesperson for the Forum Corrugated Board Austria. Mandatory quotas for all types of packaging would severely restrict free competition in the internal market and replace a significant proportion of renewable and recyclable paper, cardboard and corrugated cardboard packaging with materials made from fossil raw materials.
From a scientific point of view, there is also no comprehensible justification for favouring fossil-based reuse products. The European corrugated board association FEFCO has calculated that 8.1 billion new plastic boxes will have to be placed on the market by 2040 if the planned mandatory reuse quotas are met are to be realised. This is not in the spirit of the Green Deal and undermines the chosen path of decarbonisation.
Due to the higher transport and cleaning costs compared to recycled paper products, reuse packaging is often used as a substitute for recycled paper products. higher CO2-emissions and are also significantly more expensive. be. A recent McKinsey study has estimated that the CO2-pollution and up to 200 per cent higher costs, which would have to be passed on directly to customers. Switching to reuse instead of recycling would also drastically increase water consumption.
„A commitment to closed product loops would also make absolutely no sense for paper, as one of the greatest advantages of paper recycling is the ability to be able to reconstruct a wide variety of products from local waste paper collections on site, depending on requirements. The consequence would be a massive increase in the transport of packaging for recycling throughout Europe and exorbitant additional and unnecessary CO2-Emssions.“
Horst Bittermann, Director General Per Carton
Austropapier President Martin Zahlbruckner, PROPAK Chairman Georg Dieter Fischer, Pro Carton Director General Horst Bittermann and Forum Wellpappe Austria spokesperson Stephan Kaar are appealing for a rethink from the EU before the voting process: „All ecological, social and economic arguments lead to the absurdity of favouring fossil packaging and suggest an equivalent solution. Only with a Equal treatment of sustainable paper, cardboard and corrugated board products can achieve further decarbonisation in line with the Green Deal."
Source: Austropaper
