The Verdigris blog by Laurel Brunner
Never forget that people are the difference between success or failure, whatever the endeavour. And the line between the two can be very dodgy. The way people respond to legislation, for instance, determines if it can work or not. This is especially true with the European Union’s (EU) slew of sustainability legislation.
A test might be the DS Smith, Re-Zip, and Raja Group’s launch of the Reuse Fast Track programme for reusable e-commerce packaging. The programme is being rolled out initially in France, thanks to EU funding. The EU is effectively sponsoring up to 250,000 reusable packages for participating brands as part of a programme that will run for one year.
DS Smith is part of International Paper and provides fibre-based and sustainable packaging to a global market. According to the DS Smith press release, it is developing reusable fibre-based packaging for twenty brands as part of the programme. The idea is to “demonstrate that packaging can be reused with tangible benefits for sustainability targets, commercial profit, and operational efficiency when provided to e-commerce customers at scale.” Through the Reuse Fast Track scheme the EU can test responses to the reuse requirements in its Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR). The three partners together will work with twenty brands to get 250,000 reusable packages into a reuse loop.
Danish company Re-Zip provides the support technology as well as the durable, foldable and reusable bags and boxes. Customers return empty, collapsed packaging to drop points for rewards. The packaging is cleaned and recirculated. Every package has a QR code and users work with the Re-Zip app to both find drop off points for the packaging and monitor the rewards they get for each package they put into the system. Raja, a French multichannel supplies and packaging distributor, distributes the packaging to brand owners whose products are sold online.
This is a pilot scheme with the potential to get expanded across Europe, if consumers respond as the partners and the EU hope. Making it easy and convenient to recycle packaging is key if the EU’s PPWR goals are to be achieved. According to the legislation at least 65% by weight of all packaging is to be recycled with specific targets, such as 75% of paper and cardboard by December 2025. By 31 December 2030 85% of paper and cardboard will have to be recycled. The Reuse Fast Track collaboration is more than just a pilot project.
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This article was produced by the Verdigris Project, an industry initiative intended to raise awareness of print’s positive environmental impact. This weekly commentary helps printing companies keep up to date with environmental standards, and how environmentally friendly business management can help improve their bottom lines. Verdigris is supported by the following companies: Agfa Graphics, EFI, Fespa, Fujifilm, HP, Kodak, Miraclon, Ricoh, Unity Publishing and Xeikon.
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