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The European Paper Bag Day will take place for the fourth time on 18 October. The aim of the day of action is to raise awareness of paper carrier bags as sustainable packaging with the help of Europe-wide activities. The day was launched by the manufacturers„ association “The Paper Bag".
Whether bioeconomy strategy, Green Deal, plastics strategy or plastic tax - many of the EU-wide initiatives aimed at curbing environmental pollution and climate change will have a fundamental impact on the Packaging design and the materials used have an impact. „There are still many uncertainties. However, we expect that bio-based materials such as paper will be a high priority,“ says Elin Gordon, Secretary General of CEPI Eurokraft. „The recycling of packaging will also become more important, as will increasing the proportion of recycled fibres. As Paper carrier bags fulfil these and other requirements, we are convinced that they are the ideal packaging for a more sustainable future.“
To highlight these aspects, the manufacturers„ association "The Paper Bag„, of which CEPI Eurokraft is also a member, awarded the European Paper Bag Day out. Throughout Europe, various campaigns and events - both online and offline - will draw attention to paper carrier bags as sustainable and efficient packaging. An overview of the various campaigns can be found on the Website from „The Paper Bag“. Under the hashtag #EuropeanPaperBagDay, all important information about the activities will also be shared on the social media channels of „The Paper Bag“. Consumers are invited to join in the discussion under the hashtag, take part in local campaigns or get involved with their own activities.
New video series shows advantages of the paper bag
Paper carrier bags are very sturdy and can carry a wide variety of products weighing up to twelve kilograms. They can be reused several times for different purposes. When a paper carrier bag can no longer be used, consumers can simply recycle it. In Europe, the infrastructure for recycling paper is very good: in 2020, the recycling rate was 73.9 per cent.
„The Paper Bag“ has a short Video animation on the theme of this year's European Paper Bag Day. The video shows why paper carrier bags can be a good choice for consumers and retailers who want to make a commitment to the environment. It starts with the fibres and ends with completing the cycle. Already on European Paper Bag Day 2020 The Paper Bag„ produced a four-part video series in which the resilience of a conventional paper carrier bag was put to the test.
The platform „The Paper Bag“ was founded in 2017 by the leading European manufacturers of kraft paper and paper carrier bags. They are committed to publicising the benefits of paper packaging. „The Paper Bag“ is operated by the organisations CEPI Eurokraft and EUROSAC.
Paper as a sustainable packaging material
The raw material used for paper production - cellulose fibres obtained from wood - is a renewable and regenerative natural resource. The fibres for carrier bags mainly come from sustainably managed European forests. Sustainable forest management is a central component of the paper carrier bag value chain. It promotes the growth of forests, preserves biodiversity and ecosystems and creates habitats for wildlife, recreational areas and jobs.
Forests also have enormous potential to mitigate climate change, as they store carbon dioxide as they grow. Scientists believe that global reforestation is one of the most effective measures in the fight against climate change. Printed labels allow consumers to see whether a paper carrier bag has been produced using sustainably sourced fibres.
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