Quo vadis plastic packaging? Workshop organised by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation has a clear goal in mind: the circular economy. We need to move away from our linear system towards a circular one. Greiner also shares this ambition and has therefore been a member of the Foundation since 2016.

To discuss the future of plastic packaging, Jörg Sabo, Global Director Marketing & Innovation at Greiner Packaging, met with many other members at Schloss Krickenbeck near Düsseldorf in May (pictured). In an interview, he gave us an insight into the future of plastic packaging and the collaboration between Greiner and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.

Jörg, what do you see as the most important elements in achieving a circular economy for plastics?

The development of a circular economy for plastic packaging requires several key measures: Design for recycling, efficient collection and sorting systems, policy frameworks and innovation. Packaging should be designed for recycling from the outset to facilitate the process. Modern collection and sorting technologies are essential to ensure a high return rate and quality of recycled materials. Legislation and financial incentives can motivate companies to use recycled materials. Collaboration between science, industry, and politics is essential for developing new technologies and advancing the circular economy. Only through cooperation along the entire value chain can a true circular economy be achieved.

What does the plastic packaging of the future look like to you? What will it need?

The plastic packaging of the future will be sustainable and intelligent. It will not only need recyclable packaging, but also appropriate recycling infrastructures to establish raw material cycles and be able to use recycled materials repeatedly. Technology can support this, for example through digital watermarks (note: see image), RFID chips or QR and barcodes, which improve the sorting process and provide additional information - keyword ‘Digital Product Passport’. Political support is also needed to promote the use of recycled materials and strengthen extended producer responsibility. At the same time, companies should be incentivised to invest in sustainable packaging solutions and recycling technologies.

What goals has Greiner Packaging set itself in the area of plastic packaging by 2025?

In 2018, we made a commitment to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation to ensure that our product portfolio is 100 per cent reusable, recyclable or compostable and that our products contain ten per cent recycled materials. The EU's Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) is now in the final stages of development. We will set the PPWR requirements as a target, as we must be compliant with these targets in order to continue selling our products.

Why is Greiner a member of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation?

In 2018, we, like the entire industry, were at the beginning of the circular economy. Nobody knew what goals to set or what content to include. The Ellen MacArthur Foundation helped us with this. Participation offers Greiner Packaging many advantages: it promotes sustainability and innovation through access to best practices and new technologies. Greiner can position itself as a market leader for environmentally friendly packaging and strengthen customer confidence. Membership enables valuable networks and partnerships as well as insights into regulatory developments. Overall, participation strengthens Greiner's competitiveness, improves its brand image and contributes to the development of sustainable packaging solutions.

What do you take away from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation workshop in Germany?

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation is at a critical point. The companies have committed to their goals until 2025 - the key question now is how things will continue after 2025 and how the Ellen MacArthur Foundation can position itself in the future in order to persuade as many partners as possible to extend their contracts. The discussions centred on how the Ellen MacArthur can position itself alongside the PPWR. Can or should the goals be more ambitious than those of the PPWR?

In recent years, it has become clear that it is impossible to define a target for the entire value chain, as each player has only limited room for manoeuvre. Brands and retailers, plastic producers and packaging manufacturers are therefore given their own targets. Initial drafts show that packaging manufacturers are aiming towards the mandatory use of PCR, i.e. post-consumer recyclate, and that all packaging must be designed to be recyclable. It was an interesting exercise to put oneself in the shoes of another player in the value chain and assess whether the targets are ambitious. This was particularly insightful in order to better understand the challenges of the other players. Participants in the workshop included representatives from Lyonel Basel, BASF, SC Johnson, Werner & Mertz, Mars, Unilever, Nestlé and Mondelez - to name just a few.

Thank you very much for the interview and the exciting insights, Jörg!