1. Recycling and Recovery of Plastic Packaging - An Industry Perspective -
Financial opportunities & legislative barriers for the Circular Economy
Brussels, Belgium 21 March 2016
Dr. Gerald Rebitzer
Amcor

2. Amcor is a Global Packaging Leader
$10
29,000+ US
BILLION ANNUAL SALES
CO-WORKERS GLOBALLY
190+
OPERATIONS ACROSS
40+
BEGAN OPERATIONS IN THE
1860 S
MANUFACTURING SITES WORLDWIDE
COUNTRIES
73,000+
SHAREHOLDERS

3. Life Cycle of Cup of Coffee (example carbon footprint)
Source | ‘More is Less‘ - European Aluminium Foil Association

4. It is much more important what the Packaging does than what it is
Packaging plays a vital role in protecting the product and reducing waste across the supply chain.
Responsible packaging doesn’t over-package or under-package.
Source | The Consumer Goods Forum | A Global Language for Packaging & Sustainability | The Innventia AB Model

5. Goals of Circular Economy
Reducing resource use
Reducing environmental impacts
Growth & job creation, boosting competitiveness
Which food pack is more resource efficient ?
A non flexible pack (weight 50g) having a recycling rate of 80%: Material loss = 10g
A flexible pack (weight 5g) with the same functionality. Zero recycling: Material loss = 5g
Resource Efficiency is the overall goal

6. Is the Waste Hierarchy Useful to work towards Resource Efficiency?
Only undisputed element: Prevention
What if there are tradeoffs between Prevention and Reycling?
What if there are contradictions between hierarchy and LCA (PEF?)
What about the big impacts, i.e. food waste
Prevention
Preparing for Re-Use
Recycling
Recovery
Disposal
Product
(Non Waste)
Waste
Waste Hierarchy
According to Directive 2008/98/EC

7. Barriers to Implementation of Circular Economy
Overall barriers for effective implementation
Perception of policy makers on packaging waste vs. material issues (e.g. food waste and packaging-product interaction)
Inconsistent legislative initiatives: Recycling-centric vs. Life Cycle Approach (Product Environmental Footprint)
Specific barriers to improved recycling and recovery
National collection and sorting targets. vs. demand of recycling industry
Existing EU regulation not enforced in many member states
Lacking collection for recycling for ALL packaging in many member states
Expectation that collection, sorting, recycling pays for itself

8. Opportunities for Implementation of Circular Economy
Use life cycle approach (PEF) consistently to focus on material issues and inform policies
Copy and further improve success models of some member states in the areas of recycling and recovery  some member countries are the recognized world leaders
Investment in infrastructure that enables the packaging industry, packaging users and recyclers to plan ahead and develop packaging solutions that are resource efficient and recyclable