SustainPack is a new four year European research program encouraging the wide use of natural based packaging products by producing easily degradable, renewable, and recyclable packaging based on biopolymers, paper, and board. The organization says that increasing the usage of natural materials to produce water resistant packaging will result in a major reduction of both the amount of energy required to produce packages and the number of packages based on petroleum products. SustainPack hopes to make these renewable materials industry standards by 2015. The program has $49 million in funds to research: market needs and sustainability; materials and degradable coatings; 3D and communicative packaging needs. Read more at www.sustainpack.com
The Waste & Resources Action Program (WRAP) began the GlassRite
Food project in January in an effort to ensure that the United Kingdom
meets European Union requirements on reducing packaging waste. This
government-backed program aims to take 20,000 ton of glass out of the
waste stream by March 2008. Read more at www.wrap.org.uk.
In December 1994, the European Union issued the Directive on Packaging
and Packaging Waste. This legislation places direct responsibility and
specific packaging waste reduction targets on all manufacturers,
importers, and distributors of products on the EU market. To meet the
requirements of this legislation, manufacturers, importers and
distributors must either: develop and implement their own take-back
schemes for their product packaging; or
join industry-driven non-profit organizations, such as the Green Dot
Program, that are established to organize the collection, sorting and
recycling of used sales packaging. Green Dot is currently the standard
take-back program in 19 European countries and Canada. Read more at
www.packaging-waste.com/home.htm
Monadnock Paper Mills introduced a premium, 18 point single-ply
uncoated paperboard in two grades — 65 and 80 percent post-consumer
waste. This new offering is Forest Stewardship Council certified. Up to
45 percent of the electricity used to manufacture the new paperboard is
generated on site through company-owned, low environmental impact
hydroelectric generators. The company says the new paperboard is ideal
for packaging applications in fragrance, cosmetics, gourmet food, wine,
spirits, and entertainment. www.mpm.com
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