Starting August 12th, the European Union will be phasing in stricter requirements for packaging. Those using materials that are difficult or impossible to recycle will be subject to heavier taxes. Companies will therefore have greater responsibility regarding the packaging in which their products are offered. To understand where your company stands and to take concrete steps toward sustainability, insight is essential. The new PackR8 tool from Greenhouse Sustainability offers a solution.
When the new European Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) comes into effect in August, it will be up to companies to package their products as sustainably as possible. The goal is to reduce the enormous amount of packaging waste in the EU through mandatory recycling, reuse, and sustainable design for all packaging. Every supplier, regardless of size, will have to pay a fee on the materials used in packaging. These costs will depend on the degree of recyclability. Therefore, sustainable packaging will become cheaper, while less sustainable packaging will become more expensive.
Insight and advice
Therefore, it is critically important to gain insight into the ‘rating’ of your current packaging in a timely manner, says Utku Aydinci of Greenhouse Sustainability. He developed a tool that allows companies to map the environmental performance of their packaging. But the tool offers more. “Because we have also integrated a piece of consultancy into the tool,” says Aydinci. “This way, you not only gain insight into the sustainability of your packaging, but also advice on alternative materials, design, and the next steps to take.”
The development of PackR8 began a year and a half ago. “It's an important topic that entrepreneurs need to take seriously,” says Aydinci. “That's why we started in a timely manner to create a complete and accurate tool that provides insights and advice for further sustainability.” It also offered the opportunity to thoroughly test the tool in practice and improve it further. “We started in the horticulture sector through our existing customer relationships, but soon we also received requests from other sectors. PackR8 is a tool that supports compliance with PPWR regulations in all sectors, not just horticulture. The tool we are now offering in the market fully addresses the challenges that every entrepreneur faces.”
‘License to operate’
According to Aydinci, not everyone is aware of the upcoming regulations and their consequences. He expects that awareness will come with the data. “As soon as companies understand how they currently perform with their packaging and what the associated costs are, the need for sustainability will become clear. At Greenhouse Sustainability, we also inform our clients and contacts about this, so they can adapt in time.” Because the impact will be significant, Aydinci predicts. “Those who tackle this issue will truly be able to make a difference in the market. There will be an increasing demand for data on packaging. Those who have that data in order and can also demonstrate that their packaging is sustainable will gain a preferential position with buyers. In fact, it will eventually become a ‘license to operate.’ If you cannot provide data about your packaging, companies will eventually not want to do business with you anymore. So, the need to improve is definitely there.”
PackR8 was recently presented for the first time at the Horticulture Footprint Event. Companies can now contact Greenhouse Sustainability to start using the tool.
