The new packaging regulations of the Rep Act or the Extended Producer Responsibility and Recycling Promotion Act have already started to govern. But what does this mean or imply, what are the challenges, what are the benefits of, what should companies commit to? The goal is that we, as an industry, take responsibility for our products, by preventing and controlling waste generation and its recovery and recycling.
In other words, this law urges manufacturers and importers of six priority products to recover a percentage of them once they end their useful life. That is, when they are transformed into waste. The interesting and challenging thing about this is that not only companies become more aware, but also the new generations that want to contribute to the care of the environment and are looking forward to the commitment of companies in this issue. And that’s what the Rep Act does: put this issue on the mat.
In the case of industrial packaging, during the first four years of the targets, producers could meet up to 100% of each subcategory (metal, paper and cardboard and plastic). But giving a more general view, we must all develop with a view to the future, to the new times. Deep down, it’s improving what we do well today, and occupying technology and mind to innovate in better solutions. In addition, we believe that we must always incorporate the sustainable theme into what we do. In this sense, it is important that the new legislations of the subject are always in line with the sustainable issue. Ideal that it is law to recycle, as a concept of our lives.
For example, a shrink-resistant sleeve, although it has many non-environmental components, such as the same PETG material, has very important advantages in making frozen inventories decrease in customers. Or be able to recycle effectively, having the option to remove the label from the aluminum container or a can, and throw it away as garbage, while the container is 100% recycled.
Many jars, sprays, cans of drinks and beers, are directly printed, making recycling impossible. In Japan, which is a very orderly and disciplined country, it is where shrinking thermo labels are consumed in the world. They have the discipline of once they consume the drink or product, they take out the TMC label themselves, and throw it away. That’s pure economics, and there are the challenges of the future. Adapt to the speed of change and always be thinking about improving the concept of sustainable economy over time for all.
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