#Circular Economy The official researches on Circular Economy were first raised during 2011-2013 by Ellen MacArthur Foundation in their serial reports, named “Towards the Circular Economy” and were later promoted by Mckinsey &Company.
In 2018, the World Economic Forum, World Resources Institute, Philips, Ellen MacArthur Foundation, United Nations Environment Programme, and over 40 other partners launched the Platform for Accelerating the Circular Economy (PACE).
Since then, Circular Economy has become a new goal for sustainable business. So, what do we know about this new concept and its relation with Packaging Industry.
There are more than 100 definitions of this term used by foundations, organizations, journals and researchers… To briefly understand the meaning of Circular Economy, we can watch a short video from Ellen MacArthur Foundation below:
Link: https://youtu.be/zCRKvDyyHmI
In general, we can understand that Circular Economy helps to create close loops for products, where the productions use the least materials and the disposals can be maximumly recycled or be done with least harm. Renewable energy is used to make sure the least negative effect to environment. In general, it is also based on the concept of 3-R: Reduce – Reuse – Recycle. However, among that, systematic thinking is vital to link the whole economy of different industries and the supply chain of products.
Circular Economy concept in Packaging industry
According to French Packaging Council, in packaging sector, Circular Economy model handles all stages of a product's lifecycle, including: packaging design, production, distribution and use, but also recovery.
Saving resources (materials, water, energy) must be involved, mostly through:
Conceiving the product or packaging combination in an eco-friendly way
Using the resources parsimoniously
Reusing packaging, especially on a business-to-business basis
Preventing packaging waste
Preventing product waste when packing
Preventing waste by improving recyclability of products and packaging
Reusing materials to optimize material flow
Changing people's behaviour to improve packaging.
European Directive 94/62/EC5 on Packaging and Packaging waste have set the target for waste recycling program in EU zone:
“By 31 December 2030, at least 70% of packaging must be recycled. This includes:
55% of plastic
30% of wood
80% of ferrous metals
60% of aluminium
75% of glass and
85% of paper and cardboard.”
… by setting up the Waste Framework Directive focusing on Producers’ responsibility and building packaging recovery systems in EU’s member states.
The concept of Circular Economy is set very clear in Packaging industry when creating a loop for kinds of packaging, from productions from recycled material and disposal for recycling. The waste collection system and recycling firms must be convenient and arranged to save the energy for transportation.
References:
Ellen MacArthur Foundation, Towards the Circular Economy: Economic and Business Rationale for an Accelerated Transition , 2013
Ellen MacArthur Foundation, Towards the Circular Economy: an economic and business rationale for an accelerated transition, 2012
French Packaging Council (Conseil National De L’emballage), Packaging & Circular Economy, A case study of the circular economy model, 2014.
European Directive 94/62/EC5 on Packaging and Packaging waste, retrieved on 1 September 2020.
