European food packaging companies are demanding that the authorities have a scientifically sound revision of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive (PPWD), as disposable paper packaging has significant environmental benefits.
The report of the independent research consulting company Ramboll showed that such packaging has less impact on nature in 6 of the 9 categories, compared to reusable and plastic, according to EURACTIV.
“Rules should not be adopted solely on the basis that they meet projected general expectations and the view that reusable use is good in nature and disposable use is not. On the contrary, ”the article reads.
Thus, disposable paper packaging is renewable, recyclable and environmentally efficient, and paper has the highest level of recycling (82%) of all packaging materials.
The study compared the overall environmental impact of both disposable and reusable food and beverage containers used in fast food restaurants (QSR).
According to their results, reusable systems generate almost three times more CO2 emissions and require 3.6 times more fresh water than disposable paper-based systems. And replacing disposable packaging with reusable utensils in the QSR across Europe would result in as much carbon emissions as a million petrol cars and a loss of fresh water equivalent to the city's population of 750,000.
"These are huge numbers. Although these results may be unreasonable for some European consumers and possibly for the Commission itself, they remain in fact correct and based on extremely careful analysis, ”writes EURACTIV.
The paper also noted that Ramboll's findings should be taken into account in the forthcoming revision of the PPWD, and it is crucial that the rules to be adopted be based on a thorough study of the entire product life cycle.
This position is shared by food packaging companies, scientists and the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), which stressed in a recent recommendation that the European Commission should focus on the entire life cycle of products before deciding on packaging.
"There is no doubt. The European Commission must stand up for solutions that achieve the best environmental results. Disposable paper packaging is just such a solution, ”the article summed up.
We will remind, in CMI predicted growth of the global packaging market without waste until 2028.
As EcoPolitica reported earlier, called top unknown benefits hemp to save the environment.
