How are Nestlé, PepsiCo and Unilever progressing on packaging sustainability? - 'EU recycling targets becoming question marks' - Algae-based packaging

Welcome to the latest edition of the Packaging Europe LinkedIn newsletter! This is our weekly recap of the most significant packaging stories from the past seven days to keep you on top of the important news and developing trends in the industry.

Let's get into the stories.

‘Imports, lack of enforcement and control mechanisms turn EU recycling targets into question marks’

March 4th, 2024 promises to be a landmark day in the history of the European packaging industry. On this day, the last of the trilogue negotiations around finalizing the much-discussed Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation will be taking place. In this article, Ton Emans, President of Plastics Recyclers Europe, gives his views on why – and how – the EU should ensure the ongoing protection of the European plastics recycling industry in this context.

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Report: How are the top brands progressing on packaging sustainability?

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s most recent Global Commitment Progress report was a chance to evaluate how far the packaging industry has come in its voluntary efforts to achieve a circular economy for plastics. In this report, we put the focus specifically on the progress made by FMCGs – and discuss the next steps.

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Algae-based polymer packaging revealed by Somater and Eranova

Somater and Eranova have worked together to produce biobased packaging derived from green algae in hopes of replacing fossil-based polymers with an environmentally conscious alternative.

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Data implies LCAs could underestimate CO2 emissions from fossil-based plastics

New data sets have led the Renewable Carbon Initiative to suggest that products derived from crude oil and natural gas have much higher carbon footprints than previously thought, with those for commodity plastics rising by around 30% and fossil naphtha’s footprint almost doubling.

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DS Smith invests in new fibre preparation line at paper mill

DS Smith has announced a £48 million investment in a new fibre preparation line at its Kemsley paper mill. The company says this multi-year investment will deliver returns through improved efficiency and reduced costs.

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