Decoupling packaging waste production from economic growth Jordi Bruno 2nd UPC International Seminar on Sustainable Technology Development

2 Trends – waste generation Packaging waste generation per capita and by country Source: EEA

3 Trends – waste generation Average packaging waste generation per capita (kg/year) Source: EEA

4 Trends – waste generation Generation of packaging waste and GDP in the EU-15 Source: EEA

5 Trends – waste generation Per capita packaging consumption in EU-15, (in kg) Source: EUROPEN, 2009

6 Trends – waste generation Municipal waste generation in Catalonia Source: ARC

7 Trends – waste generation Packaging waste per capita in Catalonia Source: Fundació Catalana per a la Prevenció de Residus i el Consum Responsable

8 Trends – waste recycling Progress towards the EU recycling targets (2006) Source: EUROPEN, 2009

9 Trends – waste treatment Treatment of packaging waste Source: EEA

10 Trends – waste recycling Energy recovery and recycling rates in EU-27, 2006 Source: EUROPEN, 2009

11 Packaging & Society Factors driving packaging waste Lifestyles Consumption patterns Packaging Reduction of household average size Ageing of population Less time devoted at home More consumption and specialization Reduction of household average size Ageing of population Less time devoted at home More consumption and specialization Smaller packaging units Increase of pre-cooked food Adapted to old people and children Consumption outside home Smaller packaging units Increase of pre-cooked food Adapted to old people and children Consumption outside home Social changesDemand of new products Source: ECOEMBES

12 Packaging & Society Packaging functions TRADITIONAL MODERN Source: FCPRCR & EUROPEN Containment Protection Conservation (transport) Potential barriers to waste prevention!

13 Packaging & Society Influencing factors when purchasing food products (%) Source: ECOEMBES – Shopping Basket Study (Nielsen / IRI) Prize Trade mark Amount of product Recommended Easy to manage Easy to storage Advertised on TV Packg. material

Law 9/2008, on waste management Selective waste collection Material recovery more important than proximity Directive 2008/98/CE, on waste Waste hierarchy: prevention, preparing for re-use, recycling, other recovery (i.e. energy recovery), disposal 50% objective for recycling and recovery in 2020 Follow-up indicators Legislation & policy

Objective in PROGREMIC : To reach this (in packaging waste): Encourage the use of products with reusable containers. Promote the consumption of tap water. Develop reusable bags. To avoid the over-packaging. Legislation & policy “Prevent waste generation in weight, volume, variety and hazard, decoupling waste production from economic growth”. Municipal Waste Planning in Catalonia

Legislation & policy PROGREMIC – potential reduction of packaging waste ActionProduction (kg/inh/yr) Potential reduction (kg/inh/yr) Potential CO2 reduction (kg/inh/yr) Encourage reusable packaging To promote use of tap water624 To develop reusable bags212 To avoid over-packaging

Grants to prevent municipal waste generation (834 projects during ; 14M€) Dissemination: –Waste Reduction Week –Awareness campaigns (aquireduim.cat) –Specific publications on methodologies, guidelines,… Studies Specific projects and collaboration agreements Awards (Design for recycling) 17 Legislation & policy Actions at the Catalan Waste Agency Source: ARC