• Recent measures such as the First Circular Economy Action Plan of Spain 2021-23 or the Draft Law on Waste and Contaminated Soils, define the new context of action for the packaging sector
• The Packaging Cluster accompanies its member companies on the path to managing the new green taxes, in projects and conferences such as the one on July 15

Jordi Oliver, executive director and Co-founder of the consulting firm Inèdit, explained on July 15, in the informative session organized by the Packaging Cluster, the first Circular Economy Action Plan 2021-2023 established within the framework of the Spanish Strategy for Circular Economy 2030, a roadmap to guide with specific actions in the protection of the environment, sustainable consumption and efficient production, among other strategic orientations.

The main objective of the national strategy ten years ahead is that, in terms of packaging, its reuse, reduction and recycling be promoted in a transversal and intersectoral way, as stated by Jordi Oliver. How? Through the Circular Economy Action Plan, which has 116 measures established by 11 ministries to act on: production, consumption, waste management, secondary raw materials and the reuse and purification of water.

Emphasis is placed on the expanded responsibility of the producer for commercial and industrial packaging, the regulation of habitual practices and the revision of the legislation in force so far, so as to achieve the awareness of the population and its industrial ecosystem.

Dr. J. Jose Pernas, Associate Professor of Administrative Law at the University of Coruña, added to what was presented by Jordi Oliver, the explanation of the new features of the Balearic Waste and Contaminated Soil Law, aligned with the sustainable objectives established by the European Union, and more specifically the Draft Law on waste and contaminated soils (PLRSC) that is being prepared by the Ministry of Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge, since its approval in May 2021.

This Draft Law transposes the General Waste Directive 2018/851 and the Single-use Plastics Directive 2019/94 and has as its scope the single-use plastics frequently found on European beaches, so that the waste that we generate and the excessive production of packaging with a single use is reduced, to promote reusable packaging.

The measures are designed so that both consumers, manufacturers and the market take responsibility for their consumption and production and reconvert the flow for global efficiency and protection against climate change.

To close the session on legislation, attendees were encouraged to participate in a debate on compliance with the new regulations, explaining their specific cases and answering any doubts that existed in this regard.

TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE REGULATORY IMPACT ON THE PACKAGING SECTOR...

The Packaging Cluster has listened to the demands of the industry in terms of sustainability and has created two specific training courses to provide its associate members with added value knowledge and new tools. In September we will start the Packaging Circular course. Rethinking packaging, where we will delve into current circular economy policies; in the strategies of recycling, reuse and reduction of packaging; as well as in the establishment of a roadmap for the achievement of a circular packaging. Check here the technical sheet and here the 4-hour pill in the framework of the training, on the regulatory impact on the industry.

For November we have also prepared a training in Sustainable Business Management, perfect for managers or managers who want to know the keys to a sustainable, social, transparent and leadership governance (see the technical sheet here).