Consumer information for packaging waste sorting Consumer information for packaging waste sorting January 2012

What is current on-pack info for consumers about pack disposal? Participation symbol (Trademark) Participation symbol (Trademark) Does not (necessarily) mean the pack can be recycled Does not (necessarily) mean the pack can be recycled

Current info Consumers don’t understand, Consumers don’t understand, Apparently Recyclers don’t need Apparently Recyclers don’t need

Current info No consumer understands No consumer understands A Belgium tax symbol A Belgium tax symbol

Current info ff ff Who knows ? Capable of being recycled OR made of recycled material Who knows ? Capable of being recycled OR made of recycled material

Current info Don’t litter (years ago….) Don’t litter (years ago….) But it also means “Put it in a bin” But it also means “Put it in a bin”

Proposal The consumer info missing on-pack is “Which bin do I put it in?” The consumer info missing on-pack is “Which bin do I put it in?” Paper ? Plastic? Aluminium? Glass? Carton? General? Paper ? Plastic? Aluminium? Glass? Carton? General?

Improved consumer information Improved consumer information Not language based Not language based Works across EU’s diverse collections schemes Works across EU’s diverse collections schemes Uses a familiar and immediately understandable logo (tidy man) Uses a familiar and immediately understandable logo (tidy man) Usable across different waste management systems Usable across different waste management systems

Proposal Pack logo (printed or embossed) Consumer action: Put in bag marked: EffectNotes Put in general waste bag/bin Material not able to be recycled Put in paper/card recycle bag/bin Incl board, non-bev cartons Put in the plastic containers recycle bag/bin

Proposal Pack logo (printed or embossed) Consumer action: Put in bag marked: EffectNotes Put in plastic films recycle bag/bin Some supermarkets have take back schemes for secondary packaging (eg UK) Put in the beverage cartons recycle bag/bin Some countries eg Austria, UK, Cz have bev.carton separation or dedicated facilities Put in the aluminium recycle bag/bin Some countries collect aluminium separately.

Proposal Pack logo (printed or embossed) Consumer action: Put in bag marked: EffectNotes Put in the other metals recycle bag/bin Put in glass recycle bag/bin Also applies to kerb- side skips (bottle banks). Colour sorting info at bottle bank. Put in biowaste recycle bag/bin Applies to biodegradable polymers certified for industrial composting under DIN CERTCO or Vinçotte.

Proposal Pack logo (printed or embossed) Consumer action: Put in bag marked: EffectNotes Do not put in any bin – take to specialised depot Eg hazardous waste

Proposal One logo per pack (if different materials, several logos) One logo per pack (if different materials, several logos) One or more logos per bin / bag One or more logos per bin / bag

Conditions for success Wide voluntary take-up on-pack by manufacturers Wide voluntary take-up on-pack by manufacturers Wide take-up on bin bags by municipalities Wide take-up on bin bags by municipalities Cost of change is (virtually) free Cost of change is (virtually) free Benefits with change Benefits with change

Potential Benefits Manufacturers other logos elimination (e.g. France) other scheme elimination CSR, political win Recyclers purer, higher value stre am Municipalities/countries reduced landfill volumes Consumers Know what to do Know what to do Policy making Stop plethora of unusable/unnecessary information Stop plethora of unusable/unnecessary information

Next steps Industry-wide consultation being prepared by EUROPEN Industry-wide consultation being prepared by EUROPENPackers/fillersRetailers Material sectors Pro-Europe members Municipalities Waste management companies etc. Consultation document being finalised Consultation document being finalised

Consultation document Questions to the industry – –Is there a consumer need for such a harmonised sorting label? – –Are current packaging waste management systems in Europe underperforming and in which countries? – –If yes, is this due to insufficient consumer understanding of how to sort? – –If yes, is pan-European on-pack marking the best way to communicate with consumers, as opposed to current local systems, based on various forms of consumer communication, e.g. leaflets, posters, TV and radio spots? – –With waste policies changing towards material stream collection does it make sense to have a marking system for packaging waste, as opposed to material waste streams? – –Does the threat of national marking proposals, such as in France, necessitate a European system or can such initiatives be countered on internal market grounds anyway?