El IV Packaging and Circular Economy Meeting, held at the Chamber of Business School in Valencia on December 1 and organized by the Packaging and Packaging Innovation Cluster, has been marked by a key legislative change such as the forthcoming implementation of the Royal Decree on packaging and packaging waste .
Aspects on how to face the taxes on non-reusable plastics that arrive on January 1, 2023, as well as the need to innovate in technology, and do it collaboratively with the entire supply chain, have focused a day in which experts They have described the situation in the sector and the paradigm shift that is going to take place imminently towards the circular economy as a 'tsunami'.
La Ministry of Sustainable Economy, Productive Sectors, Commerce and Labor of the Generalitat Valenciana has financed a meeting in which they have also collaborated Innotech (Emsur-Coexpan Innovation and Development Center), Alpesa-Upalet, Grupo La Plana, Grabalfa and the AIMPLAS technology center.
La President of the Packaging and Packaging Innovation Cluster, Amaya Fernández, was in charge of inaugurating the event, which began with a presentation by the director of institutional relations of the Spanish Confederation of Consumer and User Cooperatives (HISPACOOP), Carmen Redondo.
One of the first conclusions of the meeting is that it is very important to make both users and companies aware of what the new circular economy paradigm means, since it is the user himself who is going to set the model from now on. According to a HISPACOOP study presented at the meeting, the end consumer is highly aware, since 80,3% have the idea that eating habits (purchase and consumption) have an environmental impact.
Legislation and taxes
The first discussion table has focused on the technical and legislative environment. It has been moderated by the dean of the College of Chemists of the Valencian Community, José Guaita, and the representative of Ayming, Faysal Assakale; and Fernando Cacho, partner at Broseta Abogados. Here, the tax on non-reusable plastic has been the protagonist at the discussion table, since it affects practically the entire commercial and industrial sector. It has also been explained at this table that there is a general feeling in the insecurity sector, since the apparent absence of regulations means that it is not possible to know in detail how this tax is going to be developed.
El ecodesign It has also been a prominent theme at the meeting. The speakers have defined it as a basic piece in this entire process of circularity, and have focused both on the producer's prevention and initial planning, and on the growing demand for eco-designers.
Another of the major themes of this edition of the Packaging and Circular Economy Meeting of the Cluster has focused on recycling and post-consumption, at a table moderated by María Rodríguez, director of sustainability of Grupo Lantero, in which they have intervened Ismael Sánchez, purchasing manager at SP-Berner; Víctor Monje from NOVAPET and the director of the Hinojosa paper division, Isabel García. The incorporation of chemical recycling stands out as a conclusion, which has become a fundamental complement to mechanical recycling.
In the table dedicated to the technologies that stimulate the circular economy, moderated by Ana Carolina López from the IATA-CSIC packaging grouphave been involved since AIMPLAS, Lorena Rodríguez; Mari Pau Balaguer, representative of CONSTANTIA FLEXIBLE; Paula Torrijos from ITENE; and Concha Bosch from AINIA. Highlights as a conclusion Breaking into the market of new materials that facilitate recyclability. Making it clear that the materials not only have to be sustainable, but they must also fulfill their function. It has also been explained at the meeting that these new packaging laws seem antagonistic to those on food waste, since there is a significant confrontation between the different regulations, as a topic to follow for the coming months.
The last table of the day, moderated by Andrés Gil-Nogués from Feria Valencia, has brought together representatives of user companies, where they have participated Marta Riesgo de Chovi, Virginia Muriel de García Carrión and Virginia Esteve de Babaria. In addition to recounting their latest projects and launches where sustainability is key, they have highlighted that for all developments and to achieve circularity, the entire value chain must be involved, including the consumer.
Finally, Jesús Pérez, director of the Packaging and Packaging Cluster closed the day by summarizing technology, legislation, sustainability and, above all, the great variety of points of view shown, both by the speakers and the public, which once again has become a very active part throughout the day .
