Packaging
policy
Beer bottles, cardboard packages, cans and bags: everyone deals with packaging in everyday life. Our packaging waste in Europe in recent years has been drastically increased. We often only use packaging for a very short time, then the vast majority of it disappears into the trash. We are committed to dealing with packaging differently. By avoiding disposable packaging wherever possible or replacing it with reusable packaging, we need fewer raw materials and the amount of packaging waste is rapidly decreasing.
together against unnecessary packaging
Packaging policy is regulated at different political levels. For example, the European Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation sets the rules for all the different types of packaging materials, while the Single-Use Plastics Directive specifically determines how to handle plastic products. There are also rules around producer responsibility, which require producers to pay for the cost of collecting and processing certain packaging waste.
Fair Resource Foundation is pushing both nationally and internationally for ambitious packaging policies and proper implementation of new regulations to stop the uncontrolled growth of packaging waste. At the European level, we are working together in a coalition of environmental organizations with different expertise (plastics, paper, standards), so as to be able to present a strong voice together in the various negotiations.
disposable paper containers are not the solution
Paper and cardboard make up the majority of packaging waste materials and are the second fastest growing stream of packaging waste. Reduced demand for paper from other sectors, such as graphic and sanitary papers, is being offset by rapid growth in packaging, driven in part by emerging trends such as e-commerce and food delivery. Paper packaging remains the largest source of packaging waste in the European Union (41.1%).
Yet paper packaging is often seen as a “sustainable” alternative to plastic packaging. Research shows, however, that paper alternatives present many problems, and that paper is almost always combined with plastics and chemical coatings. Paper packaging for food and beverages faces multiple challenges throughout its life cycle, including the pulp and packaging industry’s impact on climate change, biodiversity loss, water stress and deforestation.
Fair Resource Foundation wants Europe to introduce effective rules to address the uncontrolled growth of single-use packaging, regardless of the material from which it is made.
Latest publications
About Packaging Policy
[Position paper] On the road to ambitious Deposit Return Systems all over Europe
@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF90aXRsZSIsInNldHRpbmdzIjp7ImJlZm9yZSI6IiIsImFmdGVyIjoiIn19@ While the general ambitions of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), especially regarding the reuse targets, have been largely watered down by industry lobbies, we do still welcome the direction given to DRS in the new revision of the PPWR. With this joint letter – signed by 50 European organizations – we comment on the regulation, which consecrates DRS as a solution to increase selective collection, foster reuse
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#EndDoublePackaging: Your pictures can end double packaging
RNB joins forces with other Belgian NGOs to launch the #EndDoublePackaging campaign to encourage consumers to report cases of overpackaging.
Yearly 98 mln kilos plastic, cardboard and paper through the front door
Unnoticed, however, they also receive a lot of paper and plastics through their regular letterbox mail. The annual quantity of plastic magazine wrappers is even twice the quantity that is received as parcels in plastic shipping bags. After all, magazines and advertisements are often packed in such plastic wrappers. 87 mln kilos of cardboard and plastic shipping materials via packages According to Ecommerce News, from all European countries, Dutch consumers
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