On February 26th, Circular Berlin together with RawParadise and Project Together hosted our first event in 2020, where we shared our knowledge on the topic of plastic packaging.

2. The programme
18.40
18.50
19.30
19.45
20.00
Plastic packaging - intro
Knowledge input from our guests
Any questions left?
Time for solutions – Pitches!
Networking

3. 'Packaging’ mean all products made of any materials of any
nature to be used for the containment, protection, handling,
delivery and presentation of goods, from raw materials to
processed goods, from the producer to the user or the
consumer.

4. Packaging is a product with the special functuanality
Dispose product
Take a raw
materials
Make product Use product
Take a raw
materials
Make packaging
Dispose
packaging

5. 1. 2. 3.
Packaging type and functunality
Sales (primary) packaging Grouped (secondary)
packaging
Transport packaging or
tertiary packaging

6. Plastic packaging waste is the 3rd waste type by volumen in Germany
Source: Umweltbundestamt, 2019
2.891,80
3.184,90
8.348,60
984
3.288,70
25,2
Glass
Plastic
Paper
Metal
Wood
Other
Packaging waste in Germany in 2017 (kt)
18.723,2
49,7%
Material recycling

7. In 1950 the world
produced only 2 million
tonnes per year. By 2015,
annual production had
increased nearly 200-fold,
reaching 381 million
tonnes. For context, this is
roughly equivalent to the
mass of two-thirds of the
world population
Source: https://ourworldindata.org/faq-on-plastics

8. Plastic demand by
segments 2018
Source: PlasticsEurope Market Research Group (PEMRG) and Conversio Market & Strategy GmbH
Distribution of
European (EU28+NO/CH)
plastics converters
demand by segment
in 2018. Packaging and
Building & Construction
by far represent the
largest end-use markets.
The third biggest end-use
market is the Automotive
Industry.

9. Source: PlasticsEurope Market Research Group (PEMRG) and Conversio Market & Strategy GmbH
Plastic demand by
segments and
polymer type in 2018
(EU28+NO/CH)
Polyethylene terephthalate
Polypropylene
Polyvinyl chloride
Polystyrene
Low-density polyethylene
High-density polyethylene
Low and high-density
polyethylene (LDPE,
HDPE), polypropylene
(PP) and polyethylene
terephthalate (PET) are
the most usable materials
for packaging production

10. And why does plastic packaging waste remain to be a challenge?
Photo by Magda Ehlers from Pexels
VERY POLLUTING DUE TO A LOT OF
LEACKAGES INTO ENVIRONMENT:
Mixed waste with big volumes
Single use
Diverse packaging applications
Diverse materials with low value
Sorting complexity

11. The role of information
flow in the plastic
packaging value chain
CONTEXT
Plastic packaging waste prevention
remains a challenge for the plastic
industry as it mainly focuses only on
recycling
PROJECT
Research project realised by CB
members but lead by TU Berlin
focuses on the topic if the blockchain
can provide a solution for plastic
packaging waste prevention
PROJECT PARTNERS
TU Berlin, TU Delft, Wuppertal
Institute, Cyclic Design, Circularise
DURATION
April 2019 - Dec.2019

12. Stakeholder’s value chain
Materials’
producer
Packaging /
packaged product
producer *
User
Secondary
materials’
producer
Distributor,
traders
Waste collector
and recycler
Brand owners
-* Including packaging converters, fillers

13. Regulation’s frameworks
European level
- European Directive 94/62/EC,
è Directive 2018/852 (part of Circular Economy Package)
- Waste Framework Directive (WFD), 2008/98/EC
è Including the framework for Extended Producer
Responsibility (ERP)
German level
- Packaging ordinance (Verpackungsverordnung) 1991,
1998
è The packaging act, 2019. elaborates further on ERP
systems
- The Circular Economy Act (“Kreislaufwirtschaftsgesetz
– KrWG”), 2012 (last amendment 2017)

14. Stakeholder’s value chain
-* Including packaging converters, fillers
Materials’
producer
Packaging /
packaged product
producer *
User
Secondary
materials’
producer
Distributor,
traders
Waste collector
and recycler
Brand owners
European Directive
The packaging act
Waste Framework Directive
The Circular Economy Act

15. We identified following legislative gaps
Barriers
- There is no holistic view through legislation on the full
plastic packaging value chain, starting from materials
until end of life
- Chemical and hygiene regulations might be a barrier
for implementation of the particular prevention
measures
- EPR schemes provide less incentives for other
prevention measures, such as re-use / refill, prevent
producing the package in the first place
Enablers
- EPR schemes contribute to recycling targets
- National recycling targets stimulate increase of
recycling
- Available deposit schemes on the national level
support re-use measures

16. Identified enablers and barriers for circular business models in the plastic
packaging industry

17. Stakeholder’s value
chain with the
circular thinking
Waste collection and
recycling
Material producer
Packaging /
packaged product
producer
User (B2B
and B2C)
Primary Materials
Renewable materials
Recycled
content
User (B2B
and B2C)
User (B2B
and B2C)
Distributor and retailer
waste

18. 1. 2. 3.
Strategies for the plastic packaging waste prevention
Decrease the packaging amount in
the product
a) Reduction of overpacking
b) Reduction of overproduction
Material substitution
c) Substitution with non-plastic
material
d) Substitution with recycling
content
Redesign of the packaging
e) Design a product for reuse
f) Design a product for recycling

19. The circular approaches for the industry
Increase of the material
value by increase in
price per unit upfront
1.
Product / material multiple
use through redesign and
provision of use-oriented
services (take-back)
2.
Material traceability through
digital technology
3.
Extended ownership
for product / material
leading to reuse
4.
Image source:
https://www.craftbrewingbusiness.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/KeyKeg-Slimline-001.jpg
https://www.ifco.com/wp-content/uploads/ifco-rpc-green-plus-400x240.png

20. Thank you.
Vielen Dank.
circular.berlin
Dina Padalkina
Circular City - Zirkuläre Stadt e.V.
Circular Berlin
Rheinsberger str. 34, 10435 Berlin
dina@circular.berlin
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