Businesses and residents in Europe will be seeing some big changes to packaging in the coming years if a European Commission proposal goes through. The new rules, released Nov. 30, would set very specific targets for recycling, waste reduction and recyclability over the coming years, with a target of being climate neutral by 2050.
Karen Laird, editor of our sister paper Sustainable Plastics, talked with PN Editor Don Loepp about some details of the proposal during the Dec. 6 Sustainable Plastics Live webinar (free to PN subscribers) and said it's very likely that the proposal will be accepted.
"In general, it's something the public also wants," she said. "I don't know if the public quite understands what the ramifications are, but everybody wants packaging waste to go away. We have to find a way to make that happen and that's what the European Commission has come up with."
Expect some changes to happen quickly, such as eliminating the single-use plastic wrap on an individual cucumber, she said. But at the same time, leaders in business and government — as well as the public — will have to weigh the value in reducing packaging waste with increased food waste due to items spoiled due to a lack of protective packaging.
And while 2050 may seem a long way away, people focused on making changes now recognize the importance of the work, Karen noted.
"I know I'm probably not going to be there when it happens, but I'm perfectly willing to help make it happen," she said.
