The term “packaging” refers to materials and products used to contain, protect, handle, deliver, and present goods, from raw materials to finished products, throughout the supply chain, from producer to final consumer. The term “packaging,” often used synonymously in EU legislation, carries a nuance related to marketing, design, technology, and innovation aspects. The management of packaging and packaging waste is regulated by strict EU and national laws aimed at reducing environmental impact, promoting recycling, and ensuring sustainability. The main regulatory references include:
- la Directive 94/62/EC focusing on reducing environmental impact, requiring companies to design packaging to minimize its environmental consequences throughout its lifecycle, including production, use and disposal. It sets recycling and recovery targets for packaging materials, mandates Member States to implement effective collection and recycling systems, and requires proper labeling of packaging to facilitate recycling and reuse, clearly indicating the materials used.
- la Directive (EU) 2018/852 which amends the former by introducing stricter and more ambitious recycling targets with specific deadlines. It promotes eco-friendly packaging design to facilitate recycling, reduce the use of hazardous substances, and strengthens the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) by requiring producers to finance or organize the collection and treatment of used packaging.
The stakeholders affected by these regulations include not only Packaging Manufacturers (companies manufacturing packaging or packaging materials) but also Packaging Users, such as companies using packaging for their products (e.g. food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries).
Flashpoint provides a comprehensive range of consultancy services to help companies navigate the complex regulatory framework and manage packaging responsibly, starting from an assessment to identify specific obligations; material analysis; identification of any Substances of Very High Concern and related SCIP notifications; advice on alternative materials to reduce health and safety risks and environmental impact; development of compliant business strategies; preparation of Environmental Labeling and informational documentation for commercial partners and consumers.
An essential aspect is the claims used by Manufacturers in their communication strategies regarding their products, which are also rigorously scrutinized by legislators. These claims must be evaluated by regulatory experts like Flashpoint, which includes Environmental Labeling analyses for primary, secondary, and tertiary packaging, as well as marketing claims, ensuring compliance not only with Italian regulations but also with those of all EU countries for companies operating internationally.