Every Hungarian receives 30.5 kilograms of plastic packaging waste per year

(Photo: AMCO)

In 2015, all packaging waste generated in the European Union amounted to approximately 85 million tons, approximately 3.4 percent of the total waste generated. In Hungary in the same year, nearly 300,000 tons of plastic packaging waste ended up in the bins, which means 30.5 kilograms per person. Kálmán Magyar, managing director of AMCO Csomagolástechnikai és Konzultációs Kft., pointed out that since 2005 the average total packaging recycling rate in the EU has been continuously increasing, in 2015 it was already 65.8 percent. In our country, however, the situation is not nearly as rosy, according to the European Commission’s 2018 report, only 27.5 percent of plastic packaging waste was recycled.

“Nowadays, thanks in part to general market expectations and in part to basic human aspirations, the so-called environmentally conscious corporate decisions are getting more and more prominent. Both smaller and larger organizations have recognized the role they play in having a say in the development of climate change. They have the opportunity to do this indirectly with a whole series of small decisions, and thus they increasingly turn to environmentally friendly solutions in relation to packaging technology as well,” he said. He also drew attention to the fact that there is still room for improvement in Hungary, and this is also our obligation. According to the new objectives, all plastic packaging on the EU market must be recyclable by 2030, the consumption of single-use plastics must be reduced, and there will be restrictions on the intentional use of microplastics.

Paper box, textile packaging, GreenFill space-filling foam

Kálmán Magyar also spoke about the fact that most packaging materials are used up before Christmas, and that the population also has an important role in choosing environmentally friendly solutions.

“To make boxes made from recycled paper, for example, significantly less energy, wood, and water are used, and they cause much less environmental damage during production than in the case of paper made from primary fibers. Glasses, plates, vases, and even fragile electronic devices should be wrapped in newspaper or textile, just like our grandparents did,” he listed. He emphasized that in addition to using environmentally conscious packaging materials, it is important for companies to fill the empty space in their boxes with material that protects the product from various damages. GreenFill biodegradable space-filling foam considerably speeds up and makes packaging more efficient. One of its biggest advantages, in addition to environmental awareness, is efficiency. It is extremely light, does not significantly affect the weight of the package, and thanks to its shape, it surrounds the products perfectly, said the specialist, who finally spoke about the fact that both companies and individuals can now easily access environmentally friendly packaging materials in online stores. And if someone receives their Christmas gift in plastic packaging, make sure to put it in the selective waste bin, so they can recycle it.