Fibre-Based Packaging Supporting a Sustainable and Competitive EU – Euractiv

Fibre-based packaging supports the EU’s sustainability goals with a high recycling rate and reduced CO2 emissions. It advances a circular economy, boosts competitiveness, and contributes to food security. Clear regulations and innovation incentives are essential for a sustainable, resilient future.

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In today’s world, sustainability is a necessity. As the European Union strengthens its environmental and climate policies, the fibre-based packaging industry is committed to support these goals and has a crucial role to play. With the highest recycling rate across all materials (Eurostat, 2021), exceptionally high uptake of secondary raw materials (Cepi annual statistics, 2023), and a projection for significant reduction of CO2 emissions (Short communication on the role of cellulosic fiber-based packaging in reduction of climate change impacts,Carbohydrate Polymers, 2021) fibre-based packaging can drive progress towards a circular and low-carbon economy in Europe.

The appointment of a Commissioner "for a competitive circular economy," recognises the vital role of secondary raw materials in fostering both economic competitiveness and sustainability. This focus acknowledges that a circular economy, built on resource efficiency and recycling, is essential for securing Europe’s economic future and resilience while addressing environmental challenges.

Our recently released Manifesto outlines key policy recommendations designed to support those strategies. As highlighted in Mario Draghi’s report, cost-efficient and streamlined solutions will be essential to achieving ambitious sustainability goals while maintaining European competitiveness.

While the European Green Deal, and the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) offer significant opportunities to advance sustainable packaging, new initiatives, like the Circular Economy Act, aim to boost demand for secondary raw materials and create a successful business case for the circular economy. The upcoming Act could benefit from lessons learned from the fibre packaging value chain. Fibre based packaging demonstrates high recycling rates, 82.5% in 2021, and has an established well-functioning market for secondary raw materials, 77% of our feedstock is secondary raw materials, namely Paper for Recycling (Cepi annual statistics, 2023).

We strongly endorse the EU's initiatives to boost market demand for secondary raw materials and establish a unified waste market.

Building a Sustainable Bioeconomy

In addition, the upcoming bioeconomy strategy will provide new opportunities for our sector as we focus our efforts to become the first climate-neutral continent by 2050. Our Manifesto calls on legislators to ensure fair competition for bio-based EU products and overall European competitiveness by enforcing the compliance of imported goods, thereby enhancing European competitiveness. Fibre-based packaging is sourced in Europe, manufactured in Europe, and recycled in Europe. Wood fibres are a renewable material, grown under sustainable forest management. As a renewable and bio-based raw material, used for the manufacturing of recyclable products, wood fibres can form the backbone of a resilient EU bioeconomy. Europe's forests have grown steadily over recent decades, thanks to strong forest management practices, ensuring a continuous supply of raw materials for fibre-based packaging. Furthermore, switching from fossil-based packaging materials to fibre-based alternatives has already proven to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, directly supporting Europe’s climate objectives. Our estimations for reductions by 2050 are between 66 to 111 Mt of CO2 (AFRY external report: Substitution potential and climate impact in the EU forest value chain, 2021). Our sector is thus key to driving a more sustainable, decarbonised, and circular economy, making it essential for our industry to be part of the conversation around the updated bioeconomy strategy.

Clear, consistent regulations that recognise the environmental benefits of bio-based materials, paired with incentives for innovation, will help sustainable packaging solutions thrive.

Reducing Food Waste and Promoting Food Security

In the mission letter to Commissioner-designate Jessika Roswall, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasised the importance of food security. Innovative fibre-based packaging can extend product shelf-life and support the bioeconomy. EU policymakers should consider this essential role. In line with the new Commission’s priority of simplifying legislation, we call for further harmonisation of rules for fibre-based food contact materials.

Working Together for a Sustainable Future

The mission letter of Commissioner-designate Roswall also outlines the importance of involving industry expertise in the legislative process, particularly in sectors crucial to achieving the EU’s circular economy goals. We welcome this approach, as the fibre-based packaging value chain has decades of expertise in managing renewable, sustainable, circular systems.

By aligning key EU initiatives such as the Circular Economy Act and the PPWR, we can build a more sustainable Europe. With the right policies, fibre-based packaging will continue to support a competitive, sustainable, and resilient economy. We look forward to turning policy into action.

Check out Fibre Packaging Europe’s latest video here

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Updated: 22-10-2024