From:Packaging News

Pack2Go Europe is launching a new circular economy initiative for food and beverage service and convenience packaging.

While most of this packaging is recyclable, not enough is recycled in practice, owing to inadequate collection after use. Pack2Go Europe,
The European association, together with key partners, is reviewing how food and beverage service and convenience packaging can be more effectively collected, recovered and recycled.

Mike Turner, managing director of International Paper Foodservice Europe, and current president of Pack2Go Europe, said more and better out-of-home collection is the key to recycling packaging once the consumer has finished the drink, snack or meal.

“Whether that is in a restaurant setting or on-the-go – but we can’t make that happen alone. So Pack2Go Europe is announcing today its commitment to bring together key stakeholders in Europe next year. We’ll be calling on them to join us in a sustained initiative to tackle this challenge head on and take these packs into the circular model.”

With the out-of-home segment, the focus is in restaurants, canteens and premises where vending machines operate; and, secondly, in public spaces in towns and countryside.

“We want more used service packs collected and recycled, we have always wanted that, we are ready to adapt to a circular future,” added Luca Nobili of the Seda Group, who is leading Pack2Go Europe’s task force on the circular economy. “The UK Paper Cup Recovery & Recycling Group was launched in 2013. Now we are initiating a similar programme at EU level, focused on producing practical action. There will be no one-size-fits-all solution. In the end it will be national, even local, but based on a shared approach.”
Eamonn Bates, Pack2Go Europe Secretary General, appealed to lawmakers in Europe for more support.

“Pack2Go Europe is calling on the European Parliament and EU member states – to amend EU waste legislation so that out-of-home collection of packaging will become a reality in the future. Ensuring everyone works together to separately collect and recycle is the circular approach; measures that will disrupt Europe’s single market are not the solution.”