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Paperboard with dispersion barrier coating such as MetsäBoard Prime FBB EB is a great choice for products like chocolate that require resistance to grease or moisture. It’s strong but lightweight and can be recycled with paper or paperboard, or composted.
EU TO COMBAT PACKAGING WASTE
The European Commission is proposing a reform of packaging and packaging waste legislation, effectively replacing the current packaging and packaging waste directive with a new packaging and packaging waste regulation (PPWR). The purpose of the reform is to reduce the amount of packag- ing waste and avoid unnecessary packaging. The objective is to ensure that all packaging used within the EU is reusable or recy- clable by 2030. How will this goal be achieved? The measures proposed by the Commission include the prohibi- tion of certain single-use serving and transport packaging, packing lightly, avoiding over-packaging, and increasing the share of reus- able packaging. In addition, the Commission has proposed man- datory recycled content, as well as harmonised recycling labels for both packaging and recycling receptacles within the EU. According to Anu Rehtijärvi , Metsä Board’s Market Intelligence Manager, the objectives of the proposed packaging and packag- ing waste regulation are by and large good, but the reform also raises questions. “Reducing the weight of pack- aging is a good goal, as is avoiding over-packaging. Our main concern is related to the emphasis on reuse, which may increase the use of plastic and lead to a larger carbon footprint,” she says. Rehtijärvi is referring to the Life Cycle Assessment*** com- missioned by the European Paper Packaging Alliance (EPPA), according to which the envi- ronmental load of a reusable fast-food container was notably higher than that of a fibre-based container. For example, green- house gas emissions were 2.8 times higher. “It should be possible to choose the best packaging solution for each individual case, based on the material’s life-cycle assessment.”
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