We can drown in plastic instead of recycling paper: the circular economy is shot in the foot by the proposals of the EP representatives

By: Trademagazin Date: 2023. 10. 17. 13:10

Last year, the European Commission proposed new regulations to eliminate wasteful packaging and encourage a circular economy. However, the noble objective was jeopardized by the amendments made in the European Parliament.

The amending proposals of the MEPs pose a serious threat to the industry that has so far done the most for the implementation of the circular economy: almost 90% of corrugated paper packaging is already recycled in Europe. According to the Association of Hungarian Corrugated Products Manufacturers (MAHUSZ), the alarm bell should be sounded, because as a result of the amendments, plastic crates and crates could flood Europe instead of this environmentally friendly packaging material. The organization would also like to draw the attention of decision-makers to do everything in order to redirect the new regulation from this wrong path leading to a dead end in the right direction.

The Association of Hungarian Corrugated Manufacturers (MAHUSZ) welcomed the fact that the European Commission proposed new EU-level rules in order to increase the recycling of packaging last November. The manufacturers united in the organization have already successfully put the idea of the circular economy into practice: the corrugated paper packaging materials they produce have a uniquely high recycling rate of 90% and a similar average content of recycled raw materials.

At the same time, MAHUSZ observes with concern that the content of the European Commission’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation proposal (PPWR) has taken a negative turn in recent weeks. A group of representatives in the European Parliament has put forward amendments that not only support, but directly threaten the circular economy, could nullify the achievements in the field in recent decades and flood Europe with plastic packaging materials.