Unlocking the full potential of a circular economy requires close collaboration and willingness across multiple sectors. When we look at our industry, we see that consumers are demanding it, food producers and retailers are supporting it, and collectors, sorters, recyclers, and packaging suppliers are doing it. However, the transition towards a circular economy can be further accelerated by legislation that supports it.

Today, an entire infrastructure has been organised around maintaining PET bottles as a valuable resource that is 100% recyclable. Recycling drives value by replacing a portion of virgin raw materials. We need the same systems for rigid food packaging. Too many products today are difficult to recycle or contaminate existing recycling streams. Sorting infrastructure across Europe is improving, but certain shortcomings still needs to be mitigated. At Faerch, we collaborate with the entire plastic value chain to set ambitious targets and we support initiatives to transform the plastic industry.

Designing for circularity in food packaging

One of the key factors for circularity is to design with circular capabilities from the beginning. This creates the foundation for a product being recycled into new food grade products after use.

We recognise that requirements may differ widely across various packaging categories. As a rigid food-packaging supplier, we cannot limit our efforts solely to establishing true circularity. We need to bring packaging in balance with our overriding goal of food safety and reducing food waste. That said, packaging suppliers in other segments may face different challenges, for instance with multi-material flexible packaging.