The Packaging Cluster, for the fourth consecutive year, has organized a day on the occasion of the Waste Prevention Week – European Week for Waste Reduction (EWWR). This year, the focus of the Week has been Packaging with the motto “Don't get wrapped up”.
Throughout Wednesday, November 22, various presentations and round tables were held with the aim of raising awareness and emphasizing the importance of prevention, sustainable consumption and the circular economy in the sector.
The event began with a welcome by Isaac Perarie, Director of the Waste Agency of Catalonia, and Arthur Costa, vice president of the Packaging Cluster, which led to the presentation “Circular Packaging: Myth or real possibility?” by the Elisava professor and researcher, Maria Isabel Ordóñez.
Next, the round table dedicated to the challenges of implementing the three “Rs” took place, with the participation of Isaac Brusi, CEO of Opsis Vision; Oriol Sagarra, CEO of Bûmerang; Alexandra Cid, marketing director of CAPSA, and Myriam Portillo, European commercial director of Saica Natur. The table was moderated by Carlos Jimenez, head of circular innovation at Lúcid.
After a short coffee break, the speaker Lorena Rodríguez, packaging group leader of Aimplas, has spoken about the need to question whether sustainable packaging is the solution for waste prevention.
Next, the last round table was held focused on learning about strategies to minimize the environmental impact of the entire value chain of the packaging sector. The debate, which has been moderated by Sofia Garin, senior project manager sustainability at Inèdit, has had the participation of Jordi Garriga, senior innovation manager at Klöckner Pentaplast; Lluis Riba, CEO of Cart Service; Victoria Ferrer, manager of the Recovery Guild of Catalonia; Isaac Perarie, director of the Waste Agency of Catalonia; Daniel Garcia, EMEA Graphic Designer by Simon; and Daniel Sánchez, commercial director of Rafesa.
Finally, Mercè Gorina Pradas, sustainability project manager of the Packaging Cluster, closed the session with the conclusions of a day that emphasized the relevance of the good connection between the entire value chain. The importance of ensuring good and transparent traceability of products and packaging made with plastic has been highlighted, not only taking into account the raw materials when determining whether a packaging is sustainable, but also considering the entire life cycle analysis that includes the productive processes, transportation, end of life, etc. To conclude, it has been stated that the transition towards the circular economy is not an easy or short path, but that industrial symbiosis, collaboration between companies and consumer awareness are key factors to advance on this path.
The European Waste Prevention Week, with the support of the LIFE+ program of the European Commission, has the objective of organizing, during the same week and throughout Europe, awareness-raising actions on waste prevention. This year, in its fifteenth edition, which will take place until November 26, it is focused, for the second time, on the importance of reducing packaging. The campaign will raise awareness of the strong environmental impact of packaging and provide ideas, suggestions and support materials to promote more sustainable production and consumption models.
The event organized by the Packaging Cluster had the collaboration of the Waste Agency of Catalonia and was held at the Espai Bital in L'Hospitalet del Llobregat.
