A Perspective from the European Flexible Packaging …...Europe 2020 Targets • The goal is to...

Towards a Resource Efficient Europe (And by Extension, the Rest of the World)

“It’s not only about Recycling”

A Perspective from the European Flexible Packaging Industry as to why “Prevention” is key to achieving the Europe 2020 Strategy targets.

Presented by: Tom Bezigian, Adj. Prof.Univ. of Massachusetts - Lowell

+1 315 382 [email protected]

Agenda

• Goal• Background / Definitions• Case studies / Scenarios• Comparison of CO2/H2O footprints• Comparison of water footprints• Conclusions

Goal of this Presentation

•The purpose of this talk is to review the benefits of substituting traditional rigid packaging materials with flexible packaging materials

Europe 2020 Targets

• The goal is to reduce addition to the waste stream at its source via increased utilization of flexible packaging

• That is, the substitution of traditional rigid, non-flexible packaging with flexible packaging.

• This will not result in re-arranging the pie, but to have a bigger pie

• This could conceivably double the size of the flexible packaging market while at the same time become more resource efficient

Why are we here today?To raise awareness for “Prevention”

• To review the Europe 2020 Strategy vision, the primary objective if which is the RESOURCE EFFICIENT use of all resources; including the packaging, water, energy, etc.

• Packaging is seen as an advocate for to achieve the strategy, i.e.,

• Packaging reduces food waste not only by PREVENTINGfood waste (spoilage), but by increased utilization (parts of the food that would be thrown away), thus enables more sustainable consumption

Examples of “Prevention”


• Old paradigm• REDUCE• REUSE• RECYCLE• DISPOSAL


• Modern paradigm (US)• REDUCE• REUSE• RECYCLE• ENERGY RECOVERY

• Dow Energy Bag Program, pyrolysis – waste to oil

http://www.dow.com/en-us/packaging/sustainability/energy-recovery


• Modern paradigm• REDUCE – Downgauging is well established• REUSE – Cannot reuse most packaging for its

intended use• RECYCLE – Possible, if mechanisms are in place –

room for improvement• ENERGY – Inefficient use of resources, but better

than landfilling

Europe 2020 Strategy

• New European paradigm• PREVENT – Resource efficiency• RECYLE• RECOVER

Global Flexible Packaging Market Size, $

Source: SusPack2015

Food & drink packaging, 4711.2,

60%

Other packaging, 842.4, 11%

Transportation, 795.6, 10%

Electrical, 686.4, 9%

Other markets, 429, 6%

Construction, 335.4, 4%

2016 WORLD CONSUMPTION OF ALL SPECIALTY FILMS = 7.8MM TONS

Source: Pira 2016 Specialty Films

Food & drink packaging, 4711.2,

60%

Other packaging, 842.4, 11%

Transportation, 795.6, 10%

Electrical, 686.4, 9%

Other markets, 429, 6%

Construction, 335.4, 4%

WORLD CONSUMPTION OF ALL SPECIALTY FILMS = 7.8MM TONS

Source: Pira 2016 Specialty Films

Total Packaging Films = 5,553 metric tons

CO2 Footprint Definitions

• Gasoline / Petrol / Benzene:1 litre: 2.331kg of CO2 1 US gallon: 19.453 lb of CO2

• Diesel:1 litre: 2.772kg of CO2 1 US gallon: 23.133 lb of CO2

• Crude oil:1 barrel: 317kg of CO2 1 barrel: 699 lb of CO2

• 1 metric ton of CO2 is :- 429 litres / 113.33 gal of gasoline- 360.75 litres / 95.3 gal of diesel- 3.15 barrels of crude oil

• 22.27 lb/gal of gasoline, or ~1 lb/mile

• 1 ton polymer ~ 3 tons of CO2 (broad estimate)

Macro Contributions

1) Source: http://www.nationmaster.com/country-info/stats/Energy/Oil/Consumption2) FPE

Europe USA

Oil Consumption (Bil barrels/MM tons)(1) 5.16 / 716 7.08 /983

CO2 Footprint, billion tons (est.)(1) 2.63 3.60

Flexible packaging resource depletion, MM tons (2)

188 243

Non-flexible Packaging resource depletion, MM tons (2)

580 745

http://www.nationmaster.com/country-info/stats/Energy/Oil/Consumption

Macro Contributions

1) Source: http://www.nationmaster.com/country-info/stats/Energy/Oil/Consumption 2) FPE

Europe USA

Oil Consumption (Bil barrels/MM tons)(1) 5.16 / 716 7.08 /983

CO2 Footprint, billion tons (est.)(1) 2.63 3.60

Flexible packaging resource depletion, MM tons (2)

188 243

Non-flexible Packaging resource depletion, MM tons (2)

580 745

This becomes the opportunity in resource efficiency,and also a huge opportunity for flexible packaging

The Facts

• Resource Efficiency starts with Prevention.

• High recycling rates do not necessarily mean superior resource efficiency.

PreventionPreparing for Re-

Use

Recycling

Recovery

Disposal

Product (Non Waste)

Waste

Waste HierarchyAccording to Directive 2008/98/EC

Target: Resource Efficiency(Flagship initiative of the Europe 2020 Strategy)

Tool:

PreventionTool:

Recycling

Tool:

Energy Recovery

The three “levers” to increase R.E.

Some places use a lot of flexible packaging, but have a 0% recycling rate.

Waste in Port Klang, Malaysia, washed ashore by the tide.

The cause of this pollution is not due to the packaging itself.

Places with 100% Recycling Rate

• Kamikatsu, Japan (Source: CityLab)

• Toray Plastics America, Rhode Island; Company policy of zero waste to the landfill, using a waste-to-energy facility to accomplish this goal

(Source: Providence Journal)

Case Studies / Examples

Question 1:Is the objective of ‘circular economy’ to:

1. Recycle as much as possible?2. Prevent, i.e., keep resources in “the loop” for as long

as possible?


Question 2:Which food package is more resource efficient ?

1. A non-flexible package (weight 50g) having a recycling rate of 80%:

2. A flexible package (weight 5g) with the same functionality. Zero recycling:


Question 2:Which food pack is more resource efficient ?

1. A non-flexible package (weight 50g) having a recycling rate of 80%: Material loss = 10g

2. A flexible package (weight 5g) with the same functionality. Zero recycling:


Question 2:Which food pack is more resource efficient ?

1. A non flexible package (weight 50g) having a recycling rate of 80%: Material loss = 10g

2. A flexible package (weight 5g) with the same functionality. Zero recycling: Material loss = 5g

The Two Scenarios: 0%

100%

60%

40%

Substitution of all flexible packaging

with non- flexible packaging (except beverages)

non-flexible packaging

flexible packaging

Food PackagingSituation (in units) in EU today

Source: ifeu 2014, verified/reviewed by Carbotech 2014

0%

100%

1

2Substitution of all non-flexible packaging

with flexible packaging (except beverages)

Substitution of all flexible packaging

with non- flexible packaging (except beverages)

3.70 0.00

30.70

57.63

0.00

10.00

20.00

30.00

40.00

50.00

60.00

70.00

Situation today Replacing flexibleswith non-flexible

packaging


flexible packaging

0%

100%

Food PackagingSituation in EU today

Scenario 1: Focus on Recycling

60%

40%

Increases the packaging by 23,3 million tonnes of

packaging materialper annum (or 67% more

packaging by weight)

Million tonnes primarypackaging in Europe

=


60%

40%


flexible packaging

1

60%

40%

60%

40%

Food Packaging (in units)Situation in EU today

Scenario 2: Focus on Prevention

0%

100%

3.70 3.70

30.70

4.220

10

20

30

40

Situation today Replacing non-flexibles with flexiblepackaging

Preventing26,48 million tonnes of

packaging materialper annum (-77%)

Million tonnes primary packaging in Europe

=


0%

100%

Substitution of all non-flexible packaging

with flexible packaging (except beverages)


flexible packaging

2

The CO-2 Footprint of Food Packaging in Europe(Global Warming Potential million tonnes CO2-eq)

26.37 26.37 26.02

65.60 64.69

81.60

68.16 68.16114.00

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Situation Today: non-flexibles and flexibles with

today's end-of-life rates

non-flexibles with 100%recycling rate / flexibles with

today's end-of-life rate


100% recovery rate

substitution of flexibles withnon-flexibles (100%

recycling rate)

substitution of non-flexibleswith flexibles (with today's

end-of-life rate)

substitution of non-flexibleswith flexibles (with 100%

recovery rate)

Non-flexible packaging

Flexible packaging 1) Focus on recycling2) Focus on Prevention

(resource efficiency)

12,5%

40,1%39,2%

-5,6%

12,8%


80% recycle rate

100% recycle rate

Today’s end-of-life

rates

Today’s end-of-life

rates

100% recycle rate

100% recycle rate

100% non-flexibles100% recycling rate

100% flexibles, today’s end-of-life rate

100% flexibles100% recycling rate

Global Warming Potential

A reduction of 42.37 million tonnes of CO2-eq is equivalent to

• 0,93% of the total GHG emissions in EU28 (2012)

• 100% of Slovakia’s GHG emissions of (2012)

• 2/3 of Ireland’s GHG emissions of (2012)

• 2/3 of Sweden’s GHG emissions of (2012)

• 80% of Denmark’s GHG emissions of (2012)

• 50% of Austria’s GHG emissions of (2012)

• …

138.50 138.50 140.04

344.00 348.00

480.66

391.49 391.49 652.00

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700






100% recovery rate


recycling rate)


end-of-life rate)


recovery rate)

Non-flexible packaging

Flexible packaging

The Water Footprint of Food Packaging in Europe(million m³ water)

14,4%

43,8%44,4%

-5,3%

14,1%


1) Focus on recycling 2) Focus on Prevention(resource efficiency)

188.67 188.67 195.58

469.00384.05

579.52

384.05 384.05

640.00

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800






100% recovery rate


recycling rate)


end-of-life rate)


recovery rate)

Non-flexible packaging Flexible packaging

Non Renewable Resource Depletion Indicator (ADP)

1) Focus on recycling 2) Focus on Prevention(resource efficiency)

25,5%

50%

39%24,6%

* Abiotic resources are non-living natural resources, like iron ore or crude oil

Abiotic* Depletion Potential (ADP) (million tonnes Sb-eq)

Source: IFEU (Institute for Energy, Heidelburg, Germany) 2014, verified/reviewed by Carbotech 2014

16,7%

SUMMARY Prevention = Resource Efficiency Scale of the opportunity

PREVENTION is the FIRST objective in the EU (packaging) waste hierarchy.

• Scientific Study: More usage of flexible packaging – due to its resource efficient use of materials (even with zero recycling) – may annually save up to:

PreventionPreparing for

Re-Use

Recycling

Recovery

Disposal

Implications for Circular Economy waste targets

1. As a minimum, stick to ‘dominant material approach’ for multilayer packaging recycling

2. Need to ensure current legislative focus on high material recycling targets does not compromise the overall resource efficiency objective and conflict with the European Resource Efficiency policy and targets!

3. Recognise/Reward (proven) Resource Efficient Packaging by either:• including the material saved as counting towards the “recycling

targets”.• Excluding it from the recycling target calculation.

Follow-on Project:Measuring Resource Efficient Packaging

NB: Work in progress Waste to final disposal

Energy (fossil fuels + nuclear)

Material Resources (incl. all feedstocks)

Circular Economy Vs Resource Efficiency

A reduction on this axis would indicate a more Circular Economy

However, a reduction on the Energy or Resource axes would be more Resource Efficient which might be more effective at reducing overall environmental impact than reducing Waste

Ongoing Project:Recycling of Flexible Packaging

Note: FPE is continuously searching out technologies that may facilitate increased recycling of flexible packaging.

mtm Plasticsinput material

Promising flexible packaging recycling technologies reviewed todate:

Saperatec – Layer separationMDS – high speed sorting of flakes by polymer type

Pellenc – high speed sorting of flake by type and colourStora Enso - pyrolysis

Enval – Microwave pyrolysisSystec Plastics PE Recyclers

mtm Plastics PP/PE recyclers

FPE website:http://www.flexpack-europe.org/sustainability-new.html

Conclusions• Legislation which focuses only on “Recycling” risks increasing packaging

waste by as much as 23 million tons (and EU GHG’s by up to 5%) by weakening the market positions of more difficult to recycle, but very resource efficient, packaging solutions.

• Prevention of packaging material becoming waste is more important for a resource efficient Europe than further increasing recycling rates – especially for some packaging solutions like flexible packaging. Opportunity to reducepackaging material waste by as much as 26 million tons and EU GHG’s by almost 1%.

• If a ‘circular economy’ is the goal, then there is a pressing need to change mind sets and to open up for more differentiated policies that reward PREVENTION, rather than a single focus on higher recycling targets.

• Having a national strategy vs. fragmented state strategies is more likely to succeed.

Acknowledgements

Thank you to Graham Houlder and Flexible Packaging Europe for its time and resources

http://ec.europa.eu/europe2020/index_en.htm

Thank you

Questions?

Presented by: Tom Bezigian, ConsultantPLC Technologies Film Consulting

Syracuse, New York+1 315 382 3241

[email protected]

Who we are:Flexible Packaging Europe (FPE)

• 70 member companies = flexible packaging manufacturers

• 9 FPE members listed in Europe’s Top 10

• 6 national associations are FPE member

• Representing almost 80% of European flexible packaging turnover (EU 28, CH, TR, UKR,…)

• Networks:• Member Save Food Initiative FAO/UNEP/Messe Düsseldorf• Co-signatory to Food & Drink Europe “Every Crumb Counts”

campaign• Member EU Fusions FP& project on Food Waste• European Round Table for SCP• European Retailer Forum

A Perspective from the European Flexible Packaging …...Europe 2020 Targets • The goal is to...

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