Eco-Rom Ambalaje Magazine Issue No.12 May - July 2014 | Page 4

RECENT

EUROPEAN STUDY
SUPPORTS
CIRCULAR ECONOMY
D

ue to the importance of data quality with regard to packaging and
packaging waste, 15 Responsible
Organizations, holders of the Green Point licence, among which ECO-ROM AMBALAJE
initiated in 2013/2014 an independent
study of the way EU member states collect
and consolidate the data they send to EUROSTAT. ﬔe results of this study will help
develop new approaches in packaging
waste management, in order to create a
sustainable circular economy.
EU member states must provide an annual
report on the quantities of packaging introduced on the market and the quantities
which are collected and recycled. Reporting
standards are included in EC Decision
2005-270. ﬔe data is used by the Commission to monitor the implementation of
EU Directive 94/62/CE regarding packaging and packaging waste. Consequently, it
is essential that the data should be accurate and trustworthy, as it will be used as information source to revise the Directive.

SCOPE OF APPLICATION
Nine European countries were analyzed
during this study: Belgium, France, Germany, ﬔe Netherlands, Poland, Portugal,
Romania, Spain and the UK. ﬔese countries were selected because together they
cover about 70% of the European Union
population and GDP and use various methods for REP.
ﬔe study relied on the 2010 data on recycled quantities each pf the member states registered with the European
authorities. Meanwhile, some of the European and national definitions have been
changed or updated. In implementing EC
Decision 2005/270, countries report on
the total quantity of packaging introduced
on the market and the total amount of
packaging waste which is recycled or sold.
ﬔe organizations part of the study do not
necessarily cover all aspects pf packaging
at the national level - some deal with household as well as industrial and commercial waste, others only with household
waste etc.

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

MAIN CONCLUSIONS

identifying potential differences in
the implementation of Decision
2005/270, as well as their impact
on the quantities of packaging and
packaging waste. Gatehring data
on the recovery and recycling of
the quantities reported to the EU;
>> checking if the data sent by member states to EUROSTAT have
been complete, accurate and
trustworthy;
>> signalling potential weaknesses
and strengths of the various
methodologies used.

>>

>>

Caution is recommended when
analyzing current EUROSTAT data on
packaging recycling as a reference
indicator for Europe. ﬔere is no
comprehensive image of packaging
recycling, even if some countries have
really good procedures in place. Lack
of cohesion in used methodologies,
the use of estimates for some of the
indicators, a difficulty in assessing the
import/export balance for packaged
goods, different approaches on the
technical details of what “recycling”
means, accuracy of the data on mixed
waste flows, are among the reasons
why difficulties arise.

4
Page by Eng. Dr. Mihai Florin ȘOLEA, Technical Director

ﬔe States use data from the REP
systems, as well as data from other
sources to evaluate their national
situation on recycling quotas. Surely,
data provided by the REP systems is
more reliable, as a result of data
control procedures and implemented
controls.
>> Various countries use various
methodologies and sources, and
impose various responsibilities on
companies, which means that various
control criteria should be applied in
order to promote convergence in the
accuracy and comprehensiveness of
data.
>>

MAIN RECOMMMENDATIONS
DG-Environment should prepare
detailed reporting guidelines based on
best practices identified as part of the
study;
>> Consolidation of reporting
requirements with regard to the quality
of data sent by member states - they
should send the data accompanied by
narrative reports about procedures
used;
>> Implementation of the checks and
balances and mandatory data
verification strategies;
>> Development of a method to make
accurate estimates of the crossborder
circulation of packaged goods (in terms
of packaging weight), both for
companies and households;
>> Better harmonization of packaging
definitions;
>> A critical assessment of the figures
regarding recycling and sales,
especially if there are significant
differences from one year to another or
if recycling rates top 100%.
>>