Our New Projects Manager Éléonore BLONDEAU was present during the third webinar “From recycling to reuse” organized by FitNESS 2.0 Project. The opportunity to present the operation ofETERNITY Systems and above all to show that the reuse of packaging has existed for +30 years, is ecologically, economically and healthily viable on a global scale.
Regulations as well as changing consumer expectations are gradually pushing towards the path of reusing packaging, questioning the current system of single-use containers and adopting more sustainable models. This is why many countries have already adopted regulations meeting this ambition. This is particularly the case of the French AGEC law which sets targets for reuse of 10% of packaging by 2027 or of VerpackG 2019, a German law which stipulates that restaurants, bistros and cafes offering dishes and drinks at takeaway must use reusable packaging.
The “From Recycling to Reuse” webinar brought together four partners to discuss regulatory aspects and practices.
What is the FitNESS 2.0 project?
Presented by Gemma CORNUAU (European Project Manager at ACTIA), the FitNESS 2.0 project consists of the creation of an e-learning platform to help packaging professionals deal with environmental and health risks for consumers . The purpose of creating this platform is to offer general and in-depth training on the design of responsible food packaging. The platform is among the largest e-learning platform dedicated to food packaging.
The development of the project takes place over 6 years and is broken down into 2 phases. The 1st phase (2017-2020) was based on 3 fundamental pillars:
- Validated content (quality, completeness and openness) covering all essential aspects of food packaging at three levels (novice, basic and advanced).
- An open-source distribution format, which can be read for teaching in classrooms.
- A search engine adapted to mixed teaching.
The second phase (2021-2024) aims to reach a wider audience in the value chain linked to food packaging. Gemma CORNUAU particularly insisted on the contribution to accelerating the digital transformation of education and training systems. To achieve this, the second phase is based on 3 pillars:
- Academic and professional certifications that universities are encouraged to integrate into their curricula.
- Supports the development of scientific content in an attractive and innovative format.
- The development and diffusion of FitNESS 2.0 beyond conventional universities and industries and the provision of online support via a forum or AI.
A gradual installation of reuse in Europe
In the second part of the webinar, Justin Boucher (Director of Operations at the Food Packaging Forum Foundation) takes stock of the state of play of reusable packaging, that is to say on the regulations linked to their uses (as well as the elimination of single-use packaging) and the different practices/systems put in place within European countries.
As mentioned in the intro, consumers also have expectations regarding product packaging. J. Boucher states that 2/3 of consumers attach importance to this. For them, the packaging of these products must be made of so-called "eco-friendly" materials, respectful of the environment, and must be consistent with the brand image conveyed by the manufacturers.
To meet these expectations, discussions on alternatives to single-use plastic are gradually being put in place. Thus, it was considered replacing PUU with other single-use materials (single-use paper, metal or glass). However, these types of packaging are not without risks. Indeed, Justin Boucher warns about the chemical components contained in this packaging, presenting potential health risks. It also reminds us that these packaging remain primarily single-use materials. The short lifespan of this packaging means that it is more likely to be recycled than reused.
A second proposed alternative to the problems caused by single-use is to develop recycling. However, J. Boucher mentions the difficulty in implementing recycling for several decades. Only 10% of plastics produced are recycled, despite the fact that many plastic packaging are labeled "recyclable." J. Boucher explains that the difficulty in recycling is explained by the lack of available infrastructure or the fact that certain infrastructures are overloaded.
J. Boucher also talks about the discussions around mechanical recycling and chemical recycling. For the first type, recycling metal or glass represents a serious energy intensity while for the second type, it has not yet been proven to be a guarantee of viability and flexibility, especially given the large quantity of plastic packaging still produced today.
Finally, the third alternative proposed is the collection of plastic packaging along the beaches. However, Justin Boucher notes that the efforts made by this initiative do not prevent the pollution caused by the production of plastic.
Today, the development of reuse is largely due to the various regulations, industries and systems put in place throughout the Old Continent. At the industrial level, Germany is at the top of the list of contributing countries. The country is known for its system of reuse of plastic and glass bottles. We are also seeing a growing number of companies acting for reuse. This is the case ofETERNITY Systems which works every day to wash various plastic, glass and stainless steel packaging.
In addition, large companies have developed packaging traceability systems, with a view to ensuring proper circulation of packaging. This is the case of Coca-Cola which is making efforts to achieve 25% overall effort to achieve 25% reusable packaging across the entire brand portfolio by 2030.
In addition to Germany, other European countries have implemented laws aimed at promoting reuse. This is the case in Spain, which notably requires hotels and restaurants to make tap water free and requires merchants to fill reusable containers if a customer requests it. France has implemented the anti-waste law for a circular economy (AGEC) which stipulates in particular the installation of reusable tableware in fast food stores since January 1, 2023 or the ban on pediatric medical centers from reheating dishes. baby food in plastic containers by January 2025.
R3PACK, a player in the fight against the use of plastic in food packaging
Represented by Antoine Covillers, Director at (RE)set, the R3Pack project is a project funded by the European Union. As explicitly indicated in its name, this project takes place over 3 years (from June 2022 to June 2025) and its main aim is to eliminate plastic packaging from food. Concerning the food products concerned, there are a large number of them: juice, cheese, milk, prepared salad, etc. although the requirements vary from one product to another.
To eradicate plastic from food packaging, the project is based on two pillars:
- Replacing plastic with an alternative material
- Reuse
A. Covillers focuses on this 2nd point. He reminds us that reuse is not just a question of packaging, it is actually a real global transformation.
He also emphasizes that in the reuse market, it is important to collaborate with your partners, but also… your competitors. This allows reuse to be implemented on an economic and environmental scale. To do this, A. Covillers details 3 areas of work on which the R3Pack project is based:
- The packaging itself: with manufacturers, the challenge consists of defining a standardization of reusable packaging. So, it is a question of shape, materials, volume… The real challenge is to align manufacturers with a common packaging while taking into account their constraints. It also highlights the notions of feasibility and food security.
- The operating model: A. Covillers discusses the notions of traceability, optimization of logistics flows and interoperability
- The offer to consumers: Here, the issues focus on product selection, the in-store customer experience and customer behavior.
ETERNITY SYSTEMS, a key player in reuse in Europe
The intervention ofÉléonore BLONDEAU, New Projects Manager at ETERNITY Systems, focused on the aspect of washing reusable food packaging, taking into account the assessment of risks linked to materials in contact with food. The opportunity was ideal to share the expertise and know-how of ETERNITTY Systems.
Washing of packaging follows a precise circular pattern, extending the life of the packaging.
Indeed, for 30 years, players called “poolers” have held a stock of reusable packaging and ensured that the right packaging is in the right place at the right time in order to avoid supply disruptions.
For example, IFCO, the world leader in agri-food pooling, will enter into a contract with a producer of fruit & vegetables, meat, fish or bakery, who will use IFCO crates to transport their production to the logistics platforms of the Distributors who will then dispatch these crates to their various stores which will receive them. will put directly on the shelves. Once empty, these boxes will be returned by the stores to the logistics platforms then ETERNITY Systems will come and collect them to take them to the reuse centers ETERNITY Systems where they will be sorted by reference and according to their integrity, repaired if necessary, washed, reconditioned, stored if necessary, then returned to the producers for a new loop of use. This is what we call the “Washer-Pooler".
Further on, it focuses on the water reuse process used to wash all reusable packaging. In fact, the process of automation and standardization of site washing makes it possible to reuse 1L of water more than 300 times. This makes it possible to achieve up to + 70 % water needs of reuse sites.
Hygiene and quality constitute an important point in the process of washing reusable packaging. Thus, E. BLONDEAU recalls that ETERNITY Systems works to strictly comply with hygiene standards as evidenced by the certifications obtained (HACCP, ISO 9001 and ISO 45001). In addition, to preserve food quality and safety, ETERNITY Systems splits its production team into 3. Each of them takes turns during the day. ATP and MIBI microbiological tests are carried out daily in-house and additional tests are carried out with external laboratories in order to analyze potential allergens and pathogens that may be present in the packaging and representing risks to the health of others.
The issue of traceability is at the heart of the proper functioning of the company and respect for the value chain and the circular economy. E. BLONDEAU mentions the ERP used by our teams to allow each of the stakeholders to follow the packaging process in real time. So the Pooler knows in real time where its packaging is: unloading, repair, washing, reloading.
To find out more, we invite you to visit the sections “Quality, Health and Safety"And"Transportation and Storage"
To watch the full webinar (available in English only), we invite you to click below:
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