How should circular economy solutions be implemented, and how can the market be encouraged to adopt them? What opportunities and challenges await the packaging industry in the coming years? These were among the questions addressed by participants of the Natureef Connect conference, held in Poznań at the beginning of March.

The discussion, moderated by Professor Artur Bartkowiak, a board member of the Natureef Association, featured: Marta Krawczyk, Sustainability Manager at SGS; Dorota Ostrowska, Director of Compliance, ESG, and Sustainability at Tedmark; and Michał Malka, Chief Technologist at Ela Wyrób Folii i Opakowań.

Mandatory Recyclates: But Are They Desirable?

Does the fact that the mandatory use of recycled content will apply to an increasing range of packaging mean that business interest in recyclate-based solutions is growing? Michał Malka cited the example of InPost, which as early as 2021 approached Ela Folie regarding the possibility of creating courier mailing bags containing a minimum of 80% recycled material with the Blue Angel certification: “Thanks to our cooperation with various recyclate producers, we have been the primary packaging supplier for the entire Modivo Group, CCC, Eobuwie, and InPost for several years.”

In contrast, in the takeaway food packaging industry, it is rare for customers to request recyclates of their own accord. This is particularly true given that recycled content costs more than virgin raw materials, admitted Dorota Ostrowska of Tedmark: “It is usually us reminding customers that they will have to use recyclates. In response, we hear questions: why, if it is a more expensive solution? Customers also have doubts because the addition of recyclates changes the appearance of the packaging. Therefore, market education remains a challenge.”

Magda Krawczyk from SGS Poland noted a growing interest in laboratory services among companies producing recyclates, which indicates that recyclers are increasingly prioritising quality, purity, and safety. The testing industry is rapidly expanding its range of research and certification services to meet market demand. Laboratories should strive to employ increasingly better, more cost-effective, and faster methodologies.

The growing interest in the subject is also evidenced by the results of a survey conducted during the Natureef Connect conference, which showed that one-third of the companies associated with the organisation purchase recyclates in Poland, while the vast majority do so within the European Union.

“Polish recyclers are appearing on European markets with increasing frequency. This is evident, for instance, at the Plastic Recycling Show in Amsterdam,” added Michał Malka.

Circular Economy is the Future

Companies in the packaging industry are aware that the circular economy is the future and are introducing changes to meet its requirements.

“To this end, it is essential to accurately map the entire value chain. We must know what we are selling, where the raw material comes from, who the product reaches, and what our regulatory obligations are. We then weigh technological capabilities against customer expectations. All of this must be translated into a realistic business plan, timeline, and investment level,” explained Dorota Ostrowska.

For packaging manufacturers, operating in the spirit of the circular economy involves producing packaging in such a way that the resulting recyclate is of the highest possible quality. This means designing packaging that is easy to process via mechanical recycling – which primarily means mono-material solutions.

“We have them in our portfolio and are working on further ones. However, the lack of standardisation on shop shelves remains an issue – many different packaging materials are used for products in the same category, which subsequently complicates the work of recyclers,” noted Michał Malka.

One of the key factors determining the popularity of circular-compliant solutions is cost. And prices in the packaging industry are heavily influenced by the oil market.

“Geopolitical crises can suddenly make recyclate more competitive than virgin material. State support mechanisms can also encourage the use of recyclates. In France, subsidies for the use of recyclates produced within a 1,500 km radius are set to be launched soon,” said Marta Krawczyk.

Certificates and Communication in the Value Chain

The discussion participants considered what could be done to encourage Polish companies to opt for circular economy solutions more frequently. This is facilitated by certifications and assessment systems that account for companies’ environmental goals, such as EcoVadis. These systems ensure that an increasing number of enterprises require circular solutions from their suppliers. It is also vital that sustainability strategies are an integral part of business strategies. Environmental goals must be linked to real technological and economic capabilities, and there is immense value in companies maintaining a dialogue with partners across the entire value chain – recyclers, sorting plants, and research firms.

“In many companies, it is worth paying attention to internal communication. It happens that when calculating a carbon footprint, different departments lack full knowledge of the data that already exists within the organisation,” said Marta Krawczyk.

Financial Costs, Environmental Benefits

A solution that seems to be within reach is reusable packaging systems. However, the lack of a mandate to use them or systemic support means they are not applied on a large scale.

“We offer coffee cups or meal packaging that can be washed up to a thousand times without the risk of substance migration into food. So, technology is not the problem. Furthermore, these vessels are more cost-effective than their single-use counterparts. However, the barrier lies in the costs of implementing the logistics for collection and dishwashing,” explained Dorota Ostrowska.

As a result, such solutions currently operate most often only during mass events, such as concerts or matches, where deposit return schemes are in place.

“The example of the reusable packaging system shows that the State can and should play a key role in supporting such solutions. Subsequently, their profitability must be assessed – not only financially but also environmentally, by analysing the carbon or water footprint. If a solution proves to bring real environmental benefits, it will be a strong argument for its implementation. However, the question remains: in the current geopolitical situation, will environmental issues remain as high a priority compared to other challenges? It is difficult to provide a definitive answer to that today,” concluded Marta Krawczyk.