December 20, 2023 (press release) –
From the perspective of the German paper industry, the current decision by the EU environment ministers on the European Packaging Regulation points in the right direction.
“Especially for transport packaging made of corrugated cardboard, a clear signal was sent that the established system of recycling paper, cardboard and cardboard offers ecological advantages and is to be viewed as equivalent to reusable packaging,” explains the general manager of the DIE PAPIERINDUSTRIE association, Alexander von Reibnitz. However, there is still a need for improvement in some areas. When it comes to reusable quotas and packaging bans, there must be additional exceptions that are based on life cycle assessments and take into account high separate collection and recycling rates. This promotes the successful coexistence of reuse and high-quality recycling. The EU Parliament has clearly spoken out in favor of exceptions in order to protect established, sustainable and well-functioning systems.
The paper industry is confident that the final trilogue negotiations will find solutions that take into account the idea of the circular economy and that support the exemplary system of paper recycling.
Packaging made of paper, Cardboard and cardboard can be completely recycled. They are characterized across the EU by an extremely high recycling rate of 82 percent. This rate is even exceeded in Germany at 85.1 percent. Around 60 percent of the total German paper production of 23.1 million tons per year is packaging paper. Their fibers can be recycled at least 20 times.
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