European regulation update
The Timber Packaging and Pallet Confederation (Timcon) has led a successful lobbying campaign alongside timber related federations from across the world regarding the EU’s proposed Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulations (PPWR).
The lobbying followed significant concern about the definition of ‘high-quality recycling’ and ‘recyclability’ in the original draft of the proposals, definitions that the timber industry believes would have significantly disrupted the wood packaging and paper-based packaging recycling industry.
The original definition of ‘high-quality recycling’ would have enforced a closed loop recycling approach, mandating that packaging be recycled to recreate the same product when at present wood waste from pallets and packaging is mainly recycled into panel boards, making a significant contribution to the principles of the circular economy.
Following the successful lobbying campaign, the EU’s ENVI Committee, which has been charged with looking at PPWR, has agreed that until the EU conducts a further assessment, wood packaging need not comply with recyclability criteria. This will provide exemption to light weight wooden packaging complying with recyclability requirements.
The parliament is providing a longer deadline until 2030 to comply with packaging minimisation requirements. The shape of the product has been added as a criteria to consider while obliging to packaging minimisation requirements, meaning an irregular shaped product would be given more freedom to have empty space and the maximum limit for empty space – 40% – has been removed.
Products will be exempted from having empty space if it would lead to an increased amount of packing material due to the specific shape of the product. Operators using reusable packaging will also be exempted from complying with empty space ratio requirements.
Operators will also be exempted from reuse targets if reuse is not the option that delivers the best overall environmental outcome.
UK regulation update
Under the Government’s proposed Extended Producer Responsibility Regulations, more businesses are set to have to pay for the cost of recycling their packaging.
However, following extensive consultation with the packaging industry, the new rules have now been deferred until October 2025 before they are fully implemented.
At present the timber pallet and packaging industry continues to lobby the Government regarding the inclusion of timber pallets and packaging within the scheme, arguing that there is no such thing as a ‘single trip’ pallet as they are repairable, reusable and ultimately recyclable.
Helping our customers lower their exposure to packaging waste
With the advent of new packaging regulations, both at home and abroad, Nicklin continues to work with its customers to provide them with most efficient packaging solutions possible.
As well as ensuring that the timber we use is fully certified and sustainable, we also use the latest cutting-edge technology to ensure that all our packaging solutions are fully optimised in terms of the materials that are used without compromising key factors such as flexibility and protection.
We are also continuing to explore recycling opportunities within our own business as well as talking to customers about providing a waste collection service in conjunction with our new biomass plant, a key recent investment that sits at the heart of our low carbon commitment and adherence to the principles of the circular economy.
