CEFLEX’s vision is for all flexible packaging to be collected and made available for sorting and recycling - with at least 80% entering a recycling process and these materials returned to the economy. Over 140 companies, associations and organisations are collaborating to make this happen. Ensuring all flexible packaging is designed so after use it can be collected, sorted and recycled - with sustainable markets for the recycled materials - is a key part of achieving this vision. A first edition of 'Designing for a Circular Economy Guidelines' will be launched in early 2020 to help achieve this. Follow our Mission Circular at www.ceflex.eu, LinkedIn and twitter @MissionCircular.

1. Collaborating as the whole flexible packaging value
chain, we aim to make all flexible packaging in Europe
circular by 2025

2. CEFLEX
Collaborative initiative of a European consortium of companies,
organisations and associations
Representing entire value chain of flexible packaging
Designing and advancing better system solutions
Further enhancing performance of flexible packaging in the circular
economy

3. CEFLEX in numbers
> 80% of the flexible
packaging film producers
and converters in Europe
Consortium of over 140
companies,
organisations and
associations
Polyolefin
producers - 4 of top
6 globally
Global Consumer Goods
companies - 4 of top 5
Combined global
turnover of over €1.2
Trillion
Many of the world’s leading
• packaging waste management companies
• technology providers and equipment manufacturers
• additive and printing ink manufacturers

4. Our Mission Circular
All flexible packaging designed so after use can be collected,
sorted and recycled*
* i.e. compatible with collection, sorting and recycling infrastructure
**The end markets include both packaging and non-packaging applications.
Sustainable end markets** for the recycled materials from
flexible packaging
Collection of all flexible packaging with over 80% of materials
returned to the economy and used to replace virgin or recycled
materials

5. Mission Circular
Collaboration in action

6. Quantities of plastic packaging
in the EU (2015 data)
* Source: AMI EuropeanPolymer Demand
report 2016 – 2015 data.
** Packaging in CEFLEX’s scope
FLEXIBLE
CONSUMER
FLEXIBLE INDUSTRIAL
RIGID
CONSUMER
RIGID
INDUSTRIAL
7.6
MTPA
(32%)
10.3
MTPA
(44%)
3.2
MTPA
(13%)
2.7
MTPA
(11%)
FLEXIBLE CONSUMER
NON-HOUSEHOLD
(eg back of store)
FLEXIBLE
CONSUMER
HOUSEHOLD** OTHER
MULTI-MATERIAL
3.7
MTPA
3.9
MTPA
1600
KTPA
860
KTPA
500
KTPA
750
KTPA
LDPE + LLDPE
HDPE
PP
OTHER MATERIALS
PAPER LAMINATES
PE/PP
PET/PE or PET/PP ALUFOIL
LAMINATES
PA
LAMINATES
~24 MTPA*
ALUMINIUM FOIL
PAPER
Mono materials (primarily)

7. 5 Steps to Build a Circular Economy for
Flexible Packaging
End Markets for all recycled
flexible packaging materials
Redesign multi-material flexible
packaging to mono-materials
with existing recycling streams
Sort the suitable mono-material
fractions so that they are available to
be recycled
Drive collection of ALL flexible
packaging for sorting & recycling
Identify solutions and develop
capabilities to sort/recycle the remaining
fractions
These 5 Steps have been endorsed by the
CEFLEX Stakeholders together with a set of
actions needed by each part of the flexible
packaging value chain

8. October 2019
Feedback from the Value Chain Meeting
Updated Summary

9. • Consensus on the need to support the principle of ‘Collect ALL
Packaging’;
• In all EU countries and
• Including “on the go” packaging
• EPR systems need to fund “Collection of ALL Packaging” in countries
where this isn’t yet done
Drive collection of ALL flexible packaging for
sorting/recycling
STEP 1

10. * See following page for definition of mono-materials
Note: Shrink labels are in scope as PETCORE has new instructions to remove these labels for recycling
Sort the suitable mono-material* fractions so that they are
available to be recycled
• Redesign to “Mono” with D4ACE has already started. Brand Owners/Retailers committed to doing
this for their whole flexible packaging portfolio
• Brand Owners/Retailers (and Converters) to innovate and “choice edit” to promote/develop/use more mono-material
solutions
• Recognising “once materials are collected post consumer, there is no such thing
as a “mono-stream”
• Better understand impacts, implications (and solutions) on packaging/
converting machinery of mono-materials.
STEP 2

11. * Note: The above definitions are for individual packs and do not relate to the sorted bale specifications
** PE; PP: This denotes the target material of the recycling process and can include PE or PP co-polymers, as long as they are compatible
with the respective recycling stream and are neutral or contributing positively to the quality of the recyclate
Draft CEFLEX Definitions for Mono-
Material flexible packaging*
• Mono-PE or Mono-PP materials**
• Containing 90% or more of one polymer type: either PE or PP
• Meeting all other requirements according to the D4ACE guidelines (relating e.g. to
materials of outer layer, coatings, barrier materials, sortability etc.)
• Mono-Polyolefin materials** (feedback from CGM to revisit 80%)
• Containing 80% or more of the combination of PE and PP polymers (can be a mix of PE
and PP)
• Meeting all other requirements according to the D4ACE guidelines (relating e.g. to
materials of outer layer, coatings, barrier materials, etc.)
• Mono-aluminium + Mono-paper materials:
• To be defined in Phase 2 of D4ACE guidelines

12. STEP
Redesign multi-material flexible packaging to mono-materials
for which recycling streams exist
• Redesign multi-material flexible packaging to mono-materials (with recycling streams) where possible, offering
the needed functionality
• More understanding needed on impact of remaining “multi-material flexible packaging” on the quality of the
recycled “mono-material” streams, including where they should be sorted out and how to design for this
• Raw material producers, converters, brand owners and retailers to take more ownership for the removal of
problematic materials from the supply chain (disruptors and those impacting quality)
3

13. STEP
Identify solutions and develop capabilities to sort/recycle
the remaining fractions
• More understanding needed on impact of remaining multi-material flexible packaging and other
materials on the quality of the “mono-material” recycling streams, including where they should be
sorted out and how to design for this
• Focus first on resolving the potential “disruptors” to the mono-material streams
• Working with the full value chain to explore options for scalable recycling streams for currently not
recyclable packaging materials that cannot (yet) be converted to mono-materials due to functional
requirements
4

14. STEP
Short-term: End Markets for all recycled flexible packaging materials
To be progressed in parallel with Steps 1, 2, 3 and 4
• Start now! - Developing new end markets is difficult and takes time
• Focus on detailed potential end market mapping including size and quality, including packaging and non-packaging
applications for recycled materials
• Recyclers ready to invest/develop capabilities when end market opportunity is “proven”
• Where recycled materials are used in packaging, need to understand regulatory implications (including food contact) and
consequences for existing packaging/converting machinery platform
• Economics (likely through EPR) are key to making end markets sustainable. Necessary eco-modulation should
transparently reflect the net additional cost of recycling multi-material flexible packaging
5

15. * E.g. Digital bar coding
STEP
Medium/long-term: End Markets for all recycled flexible packaging materials
To be progressed in parallel with Steps 1, 2, 3 and 4
• Focus is on identifying end markets for all recycled materials from Mechanical Recycling (MR) sources
• More understanding is needed on Chemical Recycling (CR) as an additional route to provide recycled flexible packaging
materials for:
• Those end market applications MR can’t currently satisfy
• The relevant residual material fractions that cannot be mechanically recycled
• Raw material producers to take more ownership for developing the required processing capability/capacity for post-consumer
PE and PP materials suitable for food contact applications
• “Marker*” technology can be an important opportunity to significantly improve sorting and
recyclate quality
5

16. STEP
Medium/long-term: End Markets
To be progressed in parallel with Steps 1, 2, 3 and 4
Mechanical Recycling Conclusions:
• Due to the more favorable economic and environmental impacts, MR should be preferred over alternative forms
of material recycling
• Significant additional capacity is required to make flexible packaging circular
• This new capacity must be able to deliver the relevant qualities and quantities for the target end markets
Chemical Recycling conclusions:
• Currently CR is the only potential pathway back to food contact and “new virgin” material quality for recycled PE
and PP. However, CR is unlikely to be commercial at scale by 2025. This means:
• Need to better understand the opportunity, costs and impacts relative to MR
• Together with other plastic sectors, need to identify and remove “hurdles” to commercialising CR
5

17. Next Steps
1. Finalise summary of VCM feedback and share with all CEFELX Stakeholders
2. Stakeholders are asked to present VCM feedback internally and gain commitment to
implement actions needed…or why this is not possible
3. All Stakeholders and CEFLEX need to implement the actions required to deliver the
CE4FP
4. Track progress and adapt “journey” as required
5. All VCM’s indicated that meeting periodically is very useful: 1to 2 x p.a.

18. Additional facilitating requirements needed
for a CE4FP
• The development of the “Single Market” for (plastic) packaging waste
• Consistent definitions for mono-material, multi-material, recyclable, separate collection, etc. for
all packaging materials
• Harmonisation of what plastic packaging is collected for recycling in all EU countries
• Harmonisation of the sorted bale specifications to build scale (especially the small multi-
material fractions)
• All parts of the value chain need to drive the development of end market applications for
recycled materials from flexible packaging

19. Thank you for listening and please join our “Mission Circular”
Info@ceflex.eu