New rules on packaging and waste are due to kick in in around seven weeks.
The Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) will be relevant for many businesses in terms of their obligations around packaging with all packaging to be recyclable by 2030.
Repak’s annual report shows that more than 1.2 million tonnes of packaging was recovered and recycled last year.
It found paper recycling continued its strong upward trajectory, increasing by a further 17,000 tonnes, while plastic recycling recorded its first year of growth since 2022, increasing by more than 5,000 tonnes
The organisation wants to see a minimisation of waste used in packaging material in line with the new rules.
The regulation aims to ensure packaging waste on the marketplace is reduced by 5% by 2030, while all packaging that is placed on the marketplace must be fully recyclable in an economically viable way.
Repak members account for 60% of the packaging waste in Ireland and the environmental not-for-profit organisation is working closely with them to ensure compliance.
However Repak CEO Zoe Kavanagh said they have concerns for the 40% that are not members in terms of compliance with the new rules that impact the whole of Europe.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Ms Kavanagh said non-compliance will result in two huge factors for businesses.
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“First, market access, you will not have access to market if you’re not compliant,” she said.
“You have time to become compliant but certainly by 2030 you will have a market access issue coupled with a reputational issue,” she said.
“And the reputational issue will come from not complying with this environmental regulation and incurring significant logistical cost to actually conform with the key aspects,” explained Ms Kavanagh.
One of the nuances around reducing packaging includes not putting small items in large packaging.
“We’re familiar with opening our door to that delivery and finding that there’s so much wasted space, and this is a really good endeavour by the regulation.”
“Let’s not be wasting space, let’s really optimise because that will help reduce the packaging on the marketplace,” she said.
The PPWR requirements will cover the entire packaging life cycle, from product design to waste handling.
It is described as the biggest overhaul of EU packaging legislation in decades with the first key requirements applying from 12 August.
