{"id":116587,"date":"2026-05-28T14:37:03","date_gmt":"2026-05-28T12:37:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/?p=116587"},"modified":"2026-05-28T14:41:13","modified_gmt":"2026-05-28T12:41:13","slug":"sonja-baehr-science-no-knowledge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/en\/sonja-baehr-wissenschaft-kein-wissen\/","title":{"rendered":"Sonja B\u00e4hr | When Science Doesn't Create Knowledge"},"content":{"rendered":"

INSIGHTS INTO THE PACKAGING<\/strong><\/p>\n

If science does not create knowledge<\/h1>\n

The PPWR is on the horizon and the pressure to act is mounting enormously. Companies along the entire packaging value chain are working hard to implement regulatory requirements and adapt processes. While much is in motion operationally, a critical look at the basis for some decisions is worthwhile. Because not everything that is currently considered \u201escientifically sound\u201c lives up to this description.<\/p>\n

This is particularly clear in the previous implementation of Article 12. The labelling for waste separation is intended to provide guidance and improve sorting performance. The extensive report from the Joint Research Centre (JRC), which provides recommendations on design to the European Commission, serves as the basis. A key conclusion from this report: coloured labels work particularly well.<\/p>

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The problem is: this conclusion is not supported.<\/b><\/b><\/h2>\n

Yes, the study shows that labels are generally helpful. No, it does not prove that coloured pictograms are superior to black-and-white pictograms. Nor does it show that additional text is required. Most importantly, however, it lacks a direct comparison of all variants. This is not a trivial detail, but a core methodological problem \u2013 especially when a clear recommendation is derived from this data, with enormous consequences.<\/p>\n

Because we are not in an academic discussion but in a real economic market. If concrete design specifications are derived from non-evidence-based study results, this has direct consequences \u2013 both economically and ecologically.<\/p>\n

For example, ink consumption: while monochrome labels cover about 25 to 30 percent of their surface area with ink, this figure is 85 to 90 percent for coloured labels. This isn't a minimal difference, but a massive leap in resource requirements. Even with conservative calculations, this results in more than a doubling of consumption. Scaled up, this means \u2013 depending on the size of the pictogram \u2013 additional ink quantities amounting to two- or three-figure millions of litres, year after year.<\/p>\n

The scale becomes even clearer when looking at the quantities: Even conservatively estimated \u2013 three discarded packaging items per day per person \u2013 this results in around 493 billion packaging units annually for the EU. An average of one and a half labels per packaging corresponds to approximately 740 billion printed pictograms per year. Every design decision is therefore reproduced billions of times.<\/p>\n