{"id":44237,"date":"2021-04-28T09:57:26","date_gmt":"2021-04-28T07:57:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/?p=44237"},"modified":"2021-04-28T10:31:06","modified_gmt":"2021-04-28T08:31:06","slug":"gvm-study-examines-paper-composites","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/packaging-journal.de\/en\/gvm-studie-untersucht-papierverbunde\/","title":{"rendered":"GVM study on paper composites: More waste and less recycling"},"content":{"rendered":"

A study by the Gesellschaft f\u00fcr Verpackungsmarktforschung (GVM) has scrutinised the trend towards replacing more and more plastic packaging with paper composites and examined the effects on the circular economy.<\/p>\n

Experts from industry, politics and science have been critically observing the trend towards the substitution of pure plastic packaging with paper composites for some time. i.e. packaging made from a material mix of paper and plastic.<\/strong> It is not uncommon for these to be Less plastic<\/em> This means that the packaging is advertised as being particularly environmentally friendly. This trend can be observed more frequently, especially with service packaging and higher-priced food and organic products.<\/p>\n

A study by the Society for Packaging Market Research<\/strong> (GVM<\/a>) on behalf of the IK<\/a> Industrievereinigung Kunststoffverpackungen now confirms these concerns and comes to three key conclusions under the heading: Paper composites harm the circular economy.<\/p>

\"\"<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n

Insight no. 1: Paper composites cause more packaging waste<\/h2>\n

Paper composites are already increasingly replacing pure plastic packaging and their Share will continue to increase until 2025<\/strong>. The decisive factor is their good marketability in times of general plastic bashing. On average, paper composites require 40 per cent more material to package the same amount of products. It is expected that paper composites will generate 25 thousand tonnes more waste in total by 2025.<\/p>\n

Insight no. 2: The material mix of Paper and plastic cause recycling problems<\/strong><\/h2>\n

As a rule, only the fibre content of the composite packaging is recyclable, which is usually over 70%. The only option for the remaining plastic coating is energy recovery. In addition, the GVM states that the actual recycling of the fibre content is currently lagging far behind the theoretical recyclability and that the increasing proportion of composites in composite packaging is not yet fully recyclable. Increasing problems with waste paper recycling<\/strong> is prepared. It is therefore particularly regrettable when easily recyclable plastic packaging is replaced, which is the case in the majority of cases.<\/p>