Article: Taking responsibility

Tuesday October 6, 2009

A look at what manufacturers and households in other countries are doing to cut down on packaging.

THEY made it. So they should take care of it. That's the approach that guides packaging laws the world over.

They draw upon the principle of "extended producer responsibility" (EPR) which makes manufacturers deal with proper disposal of their packaging and product at their end of useful live.

The first such legislation is the 1991 German Ordinance on the Avoidance of Packaging Waste.

For the first time, the law shifts the responsibility and cost of collecting, sorting and recycling packaging waste, from municipal governments to industry.

The impact was immediate. German companies, wanting to save on recycling costs, quickly re-examined their packaging processes.

They lightened their packages, eliminated unnecessary packaging (like boxes within boxes) and made products (such as detergent) in more concentrated forms.

Hard-to-recycle packaging materials, such as plastics, were used less while the usage of traditional materials, such as paper and glass, which have a well-tested recycling chain, grew.

Households did their part, too. They dutifully threw packaging waste into a second bin. During its first four years, the programme cut packaging consumption in Germany by one million tonne.

The German approach soon spread to the rest of Europe and the world. In general, manufacturers do not themselves collect the waste from municipalities. They pay a fee to a government-appointed organisation to do the job.

Here are the practices of some countries:

> In Europe, 25 countries have such "takeback" rules or tax manufacturers to ensure recovery of used packaging. The European Union's Packaging Directive requires manufacturers to recover at least 60% of their packaging and to recycle at least 55% of that. It also spells out specific recycling targets: glass (60%), paper and board (60%), metals (50%), plastics (22.5%), and wood.

> In Britain, packaging regulations have these requirements: minimal volume and weight; minimal noxious or hazardous substances in emissions, ash or leachate from incineration or landfill; and can be reused and recovered.

> Singapore uses a voluntary and self-regulatory approach to eliminate unnecessary packaging and encourage use of recyclable packaging material. Under the 2007 Packaging Agreement, the industry adheres to a code of practice to ensure environment-friendly packaging. The agreement now covers only the food and beverage sector but might be extended to include products such as toiletries and detergents in future. The industry can tap into the Innovation for Environmental Sustainability Fund to develop new eco-friendly packaging.

> South Korea's "excessive packaging" law dates back to 1999. It rules that processed foods can have not more than 15% of empty space in their package, beverages 10%, cosmetics 10% and over-the-counter drugs, 20%. It also limits the layers of packaging for certain consumer goods – two for most goods, one for shirts and underwear. Companies must also recycle a certain percentage of their plastic packaging. PVC shrink wraps and laminated PVC for packaging have been banned since 2001, and electronics manufacturers must reduce use of plastic packaging.

> In Japan, the Containers and Packaging Recycling Act 1995 places the recycling of packaging on manufacturers, retailers and importers. A government-designated organisation, the Japan Containers and Packaging Recycling Association, operates the recycling scheme for the business entities, which pay "recycling fees".

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This article was taken from: The Star Online: Lifestyle: Focus 6 October 2009