EU wants to put an end to wasteful packaging

Good Morning,

Last week the Commission proposed new EU-wide rules on packaging to tackle constantly growing source of waste. The proposal aims to extend reusable packaging options in the market, limit unnecessary packaging and provide more clarity to recycling labels. The initiative also wants to bring clarity to consumers and industry on the differences and environmental benefits of biobased, compostable and biodegradable plastics.

Why is the EU taking action on packaging waste? Here are some numbers behind the initiative:

• 180 kg – the average amount each European generates packaging waste per year

• 40 % of all plastic used in the EU are destined for packaging

• 50 % of paper is used for packaging materials

• 46 % – the expected increase of plastic packaging waste by 2030 if no action is made

The proposal consists of three main objectives:

1. Prevent further generation of packaging waste: reduce the quantity, restrict unnecessary packaging and promote reusable and refillable packaging solutions.

2. Closed loop: boosting high quality recycling: make all packaging materials recyclable in the EU by 2030 in an economically viable way.

3. Increase the use of recycled plastics in packaging – mandatory targets steer in reducing the need for primary natural resources and creating a well-functioning market for secondary raw materials with mandatory targets

What are the expected results? By 2030, the proposed measures bring greenhouse gas emissions from packaging down to 43 million tonnes compared to 66 million if the legislation is not changed. Water use would be reduced by 1.1 million m3, and the costs of environmental damage would also be reduced by €6.4 billion relative to the baseline 2030.

The overall economic and job creation impact in the EU is positive, although single-use packaging industries must naturally invest into a transition. According to the Commission press release, boosting reuse alone is expected to lead to more than 600,000 jobs in the reuse sector by 2030.

Let's jump into this week's major headlines.

EU's Carbon Allowance (ETS) price development

UK's Carbon Allowance (ETS) price development

Reuters | U.N. COP15 nature summit aims for global pact to protect nature. Delegates from nearly 200 countries will spend two weeks hashing out a new global deal to protect the world's struggling species and fast-vanishing wild places.

Reuters | EU agrees law preventing import of goods linked to deforestation. The new law prevents companies from selling into the EU market beef, coffee soy or other commodities that are linked to deforestation around the world.

Reuters | World Bank launches tracking system to clean up carbon markets. The World Bank and partners including Singapore on Wednesday launched a global tracking system to clean up the opaque market for carbon credits and help developing countries raise much-needed climate finance quickly and more cheaply.

Aljazeera | 2,500 dead seals found on Russia’s Caspian coast. Authorities in the Russian province of Dagestan said it was unclear why the mass die-off happened but it was likely because of natural causes.

Aljazeera | Devastating drought in Peru. The area is experiencing its driest period in almost a half-century, affecting more than 3,000 communities.

HS | The Centre party excludes endangered habitats from the Nature Conservation Law.

Tekniikka&Talous | New €330 mil wind farm in Northern Ostrobothnia. Suomen Hyötytuuli is building its biggest wind farm consisting of 38 wind turbines. The total output of the wind farm will be 243 megawatts.

STT | The first carbon offset statistic published in Finland. The statistic by PTT and Hiilensidonta ry aims to add transparency and information on the markets and will be updated biannually.

HS | Heka pilots reusing Tesla car batteries to store solar power in a residential building

Reuters | IEA:Global renewable capacity growth will double over next five years. In an annual report on the outlook for renewables, the IEA said capacity worldwide is expected to grow by 2,400 gigawatts (GW) - equal to the entire power capacity of China today - to 5,640 GW by 2027.

Reuters | Norway to make first offshore wind tender awards by autumn 2023. Norway plans to commission up to 30 GW of offshore wind capacity by 2040.

Reuters | Germany to set up climate protection contracts with industry in 2023. The climate protection contracts with industrial companies aim to support a transition towards cleaner production and a a switch to hydrogen.

HS | Helen publishes a list of actions for 2025 to replace fossil energy after the shutdown of Salmisaari and Hanasaari power plants.

Health benefits of using wind energy instead of fossil fuels. A new MIT study finds that the health benefits associated with wind power could more than quadruple if operators turned down output from the most polluting fossil-fuel-based power plants when energy from wind is available. However, compared to wealthier communities, disadvantaged communities would reap a smaller share of these benefits. The study was published in the Nature journal. (Science Daily)

Reliable planning tool for the emissions path to achieving the Paris temperature goal. Researchers at the University of Bern have developed a new method for the successive calculation of the emission reductions which are necessary for achieving temperature targets, such as the 2°C goal. The calculation method is based solely on observation rather than models and scenarios. According to the study, international climate policy has to become even more ambitious. The research by University of Bern was published in Nature Climate Change. (Science Daily)

Tiny fish could unlock big gains in tackling global malnutrition. Small species such as herring, sardines and anchovies are the cheapest source of nutritious fish found in many low and middle-income countries, and are often caught in large volumes in the waters of nations where people are experiencing malnutrition, researchers have found. The Lancaster University study was published in the Nature Food Journal. (Science Daily)

Open sustainability positions

Picture of the week: COP15 biodiversity summit launched on Wednesday – Decline in animal populations since 1970