Tracy’s Packaging Bulletin: PPWR Nears the Line, Plastic-free Coffee Capsules, Recyclable Seaweed
Tracy’s Perspective
I am currently at the Sustainable Packaging Coalition (SPC) #SPCImpact 2024 in New Orleans, speaking about how vital Packaging Strategy is to futureproof your brand. If you’re in New Orleans and would like a free, in-person Advisory session with me DM me on LinkedIn and we can chat!
March was all about progress: PPWR passed through ENVI (see below), we launched our new website, and Sophie Brooks , Hannah Worthington , and I attended another great Future Planet community event.
We are adding the final touches to our upcoming 4th Industry Report: Getting to the Root of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation. If you want to be the first to read the report to know how to prepare or bag yourself a spot at our webinar join the waitlist here.
As part of our Root Cause program, I’ve been volunteering with Kent Wildlife Trust to support with surveying. Read more about the incredible wildlife we are so fortunate to have in the UK in my posts here.
Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation nearing the finish line
After the agreement reached on 4th March, the EU Parliament’s ENVI committee has voted to approve the agreed text. Now we await a plenary vote week of 22nd April, with the hope of a rapid and straightforward transposition into law to follow.
If you want to keep up to date on the developments, and don’t want to miss our industry report and webinar series, sign up for our waitlist here.
Has Keurig Dr Pepper solved the coffee capsule conundrum?
Keurig Dr Pepper Inc. recently announced their plastic-free alginate coated K-Rounds. They are implementing new machines to facilitate wide-scale use of these low-packaging pucks alongside their K-Cups.
Over our years of working with coffee sector clients, we have reviewed many single-serve unit specs with a whole range of innovative materials, from the traditional aluminium and plastic capsules, to home compostable and refillable options. This innovation is exciting to us as it represents another step towards packaging-free coffee SSU’s and embraces the philosophy of doing more with less. What did you think of their innovation? Read more about it here.
OPRL approve recycling label for seaweed-based packaging
Welsh business PlantSea ’s paper and card replacement has been tested via the CEPI V2 protocol and has shown compatibility with standard UK paper mills. Their "seaweed infused paper" is a blend of seaweed-derived fibre by-product from the aquaculture sector, mixed with traditional paper from both recycled and virgin sources.
Could this first step open the door for other innovative materials struggling to place themselves in a complex regulatory environment with no defined end of life and clear traditional material categorisation? Get in touch here to learn more about how Root has supported innovative material producers in the past.
Other Key Updates
Less than a month to go before the final PPWR vote, are you prepared for upcoming regulatory changes?
Do you operate in the USA? If so, how are you managing new and developing obligations for extended producer responsibility and strict chemical requirements?
Book a free no-obligation demo call here to discover how we can help your business get on top of the regulation.