Never before has the impact of climate change been felt in Europe. With temperatures set to reach record highs in October and November 2022 after a summer of dramatic drought, our leaders must continue to work toward implementing policies that will effectively reduce our environmental footprint and mitigate the effects of global warming. will limit To get there as quickly and efficiently as possible, science and evidence must form the basis of decision-making.
It only makes sense for European institutions, in particular those European commissions in charge of drafting regulation, to allow scientific evidence to guide their policy actions. Yet, when it comes to proposed waste legislation, good intentions have not translated into sound science-based policy.
On November 30, 2022, the European Commission presented a proposal that ignores scientific evidence and does not focus on solutions that achieve the best environmental outcomes. In contrast, the proposal goes against the CO2-reduction target set by the Commission within the EU Green Deal, and further exacerbates water stress and resource depletion.
The commission calls for a complete ban on paper-based single-use packaging in restaurants by 2030. It additionally mandates that 80 percent of beverages and 40 percent of food for delivery be included in reuse systems by 2040, along with several other metrics. As demonstrated by numerous studies and life-cycle analyses, these prescriptive measures will harm the environment, the economy, businesses and consumers if implemented.
Forcing restaurants to serve takeaway and delivery meals in reusable containers would require systemic changes of epic proportions. The environmental impact is likely to be profound – with many studies pointing to significant increases in pollution, carbon emissions as well as freshwater consumption. The results of a new Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) for takeaway in quick-service restaurants found that switching from reusable single-use paper-based packaging to reusable products generated 48 percent more CO2-equivalent emissions. and 39 percent more fresh water will be consumed. As a reference (for example, 100 percent) a system with a higher impact.
The implications of moving to large-scale reuse systems include countless new washing machines on the market, new vehicles for transportation, and increased energy and water consumption. The cost of these changes will be borne by consumers and small businesses and result in a lower quality of life.
While single-use paper-based packaging is renewable, reusable, durable and fit-for-part, reusable packaging is often made from non-renewable, and difficult or impossible to recycle, materials such as plastic or sand. Most of the reusable products will be imported from outside the EU further reducing our flexibility – especially given the pandemics and wars affecting supply chains. On top of that, reusables require more fuel to transport, and energy and water to wash in a way paper-based packaging doesn’t use. Life-cycle analysis, particularly on takeaway, has shown that transport is one of the most impacting factors for the environment when it comes to reusability, as well as the large amount of energy required to wash and dry the containers. it occurs.
For example, reusable packaging will add a lot of plastic to the market, mostly originating from outside the EU, in contrast to renewable single-use paper packaging which is predominantly European – and will eventually become waste itself. Will go
In addition, renewable and recyclable single-use paper-based packaging is inexpensive to produce, recycle, and reuse. This means that small businesses that need green alternatives to delivery and takeaway services can become more sustainable and faster. Alternative reuse systems would involve the introduction of millions of tons of plastic as easy-to-scratch-and-bleach products with a limited number of possible ‘real life’ reuses. If washed up to four times a day, plastic reusable tableware that claims to be reused 50 times will need to be discarded after 12 days. This means that the entire restaurant set has to be changed three times per month for 12 months a year.
Furthermore, in an ever more integrated and globalized economy, Europe must ensure that it achieves its green goals while maintaining its competitive advantage. For example, reusable packaging will add a lot of plastic to the market, mostly originating from outside the EU, in contrast to renewable single-use paper packaging which is predominantly European – and will eventually become waste itself. Will go The result will be that other countries will become more attractive for investment, cutting jobs and livelihoods in Europe at a time when people can least afford it.
Single-use paper-based packaging… [is] material with the highest recycling rate (82 percent) of all packaging materials; The fibers of paper packaging can be recycled up to 25 times.
So the risk is clear. Enforcing a mandatory switch to reusable packaging stores for quick-service restaurants as well as takeaway services is unwise and counterproductive. Single-use paper-based packaging represents a real solution to the circular economy. In addition to being the material with the highest recycling rate (82 percent) of all packaging materials, the fibers of paper packaging can be recycled up to 25 times and converted into high-quality secondary products.
This means that at a time when a climate emergency meets a survival crisis not seen in generations, policymakers should not feel compelled to take action that will exacerbate both of these issues. Economical, eco-friendly solutions are already available and have been developed and improved over the past decades.
We urge the European Parliament and Council to do what the Commission failed to do: look at the full life-cycle impact of all packaging products and champion solutions such as renewable, recyclable paper packaging.
We urge the European Parliament and the Council to do what the Commission failed to do: look at the full life-cycle impact of all packaging products and champion solutions that achieve the best environmental outcomes. Renewable, reusable paper packaging is one of these solutions.
To achieve the objectives of the EU Green Deal and create a truly circular economy, the final form of this regulation must be guided by science, not ideology. This is how we can achieve better environmental results for the planet and for all Europeans.