The IK Industrievereinigung Kunststoffverpackungen is against a ban on plastic packaging because it jeopardises the future of plastic packaging in a circular economy.
The IK considers the new EU Commissioner for the Environment Virginijus Sinkevicius, The Commission considers it counterproductive to ban plastic packaging in Europe in general and calls on the Commissioner to do more to ensure that plastic packaging in Europe is not on landfills end up in the landfill, but are recycled.
„The Commissioner should ask himself how his statement will be received by those who want to make decisions about investments in recyclable packaging or recycling plants. If politicians exclude plastic packaging from the circular economy, these urgently needed investments will certainly not materialise,“ commented IK Managing Director Dr Martin Engelmann.
While in Germany a strict landfill ban since 2005 household waste may still be landfilled to a large extent throughout the EU until 2030. In a faster End of landfilling the IK sees the most important Levers for the circular economy.
[infotext]The IK Industrievereinigung Kunststoffverpackungen e. V. is an industry association that represents the interests of manufacturers of plastic packaging and films in Germany and Europe. The industry, which is characterised by medium-sized companies, has over 90,000 employees and generates an annual turnover of 15 billion euros. Plastic packaging currently accounts for 44 per cent of the German packaging market[/infotext].„Some politicians are currently suggesting to consumers and voters that the major challenges of environmental and climate protection can be overcome with blanket bans. Unfortunately, they are forgetting to mention the contribution that plastic packaging makes to CO2 savings and food safety, for example,“ criticises Engelmann.
Source: IK
