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European Green Deal impacts design and use of floriculture packaging

February 20, 2023

Europese Green Deal

On 30 November 2022, the European Commission published, in the form of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), an integral part of the Green Deal, new proposals to encourage the reuse and recycling of packaging. And, in addition, to put an end to wasteful packaging. This also applies to the floriculture sector. What does this mean for you?

A healthy planet is essential for Europe's future. EU countries have committed to be climate neutral by 2050, in line with commitments in the Paris Climate Agreement. The Green Deal is the strategy by which the EU intends to achieve the goal, step by step.

The PPWR is a decree. If adopted, it would become a European law that would then be immediately effective in all EU countries. This means a level playing field for all member states. For floriculture, this means, in particular, that we need to start looking critically at the current design and use of product packaging (such as pots and sleeves). In the case of transport packaging, most of it is already used multiple times and even has a dominant role in flowers.

Changes from 2030 onwards

Below is a brief summary of the main changes which are expected to have the biggest impact on the current packaging in the floriculture sector:

1. New targets for waste prevention
The main target of the PPWR is to reduce total packaging waste by 15% per member state per capita by 2040 compared to 2018. This means targets must be met every five years until 2040: -5% in 2030, -10% in 2035, -15% in 2040.
> impact on floriculture sector: use less packaging (omit or lighten packaging where possible) or replace single-use packaging with reusable packaging (think plant trays).

2. Minimising packaging
Each package should be reduced to the minimum size.
> impact on floriculture sector: mainly related to transport packaging (such as flower boxes)

3. Minimum amount of recycled material (recyclate)
New plastic packaging contains a minimum amount of recycled material. This helps make recycled plastic a valuable raw material. For non-food plastic packaging, the applicable proportion is > 35% by 2030 and > 65% by 2040.
> impact on floriculture sector: mainly on sleeves, films, labels, transparent packaging. Other packaging such as plant pots and trays often already contain around 80% recycled material.

4. Design for recycling
This means: design packaging in such a way that it can be recycled.
> impact on floriculture sector: mainly in product packaging, which ends up as waste with consumers (such as plant pots and sleeves).

Less confusion for consumers

The decree also removes consumer confusion over which packaging belongs in which recycling bin. The producer shall affix a label to each packaging component, indicating what the packaging is made of and in which waste stream it should end up. The same labels will also be placed on waste containers. All EU countries will use the same symbols.

Royal FloraHolland helps make product packaging more sustainable

Choosing the right sustainable packaging is not easy; a lot of factors come into play. To make this decision easier, the Sustainable Packaging Decision Tree was developed. Royal FloraHolland actively contributed to this. In addition, we are currently helping several FPCs use the Decision Tree in the form of workshops. We go through the Decision Tree step by step and then determine together how to proceed. By doing this with the FPCs, we are working towards a circular packaging standard for floriculture.

The changes from 2030 regarding the reuse and recycling of packaging seem a long way off, but it is important to think about this early and make the right choices. Hence our tip: talk to your packaging suppliers and customers in time.