ITPLAST Giugno/Luglio 2026 | Page 27

ECONOMY AND MARKET with EU goals. As researcher Erik Ciravegna points out, smart packaging acts as a „ broadcaster“ of information along the value chain, accompanying the transition with sustainable and competitive models for Made in Italy products.
THE INDUSTRY‘ S DEMANDS: REGULATORY PRAG- MATISM AND APPLICABLE TOOLS From the stage in Rome, Giflex— which represents 47 converters and 63 supporting members, approximately 80 % of the entire national sector in terms of volumes and turnover— emphasised two priorities: 1. Facilitate market practices that reduce consumption, supporting targeted investments that make regulatory objectives achievable. 2. Improve collection and recycling, evolving current schemes with the evolution of packaging and without excluding enabling solutions such as chemical recycling. At the core are the request for „ stable and applicable tools“ and the proposal for a working group with the Italian Government and Parliament on slashing emissions. On the political level, Senator Cantalamessa calls for an industry-wide approach: regulatory flexibility, credible compliance times, and an end to ex-
Six steps for an „ enabling“ PPWR regulation
From the speeches and data presented at the conference, six operational priorities can be identified for a viable sustainable transition: 1. Permanent dialogue with the Government and Parliament to coordinate targets, timelines, and tools through measurable indicators( reduction in consumption, actual recycling rates, quality of flows). 2. Investment support plans( tax credits, de-risking, access to credit) for technology revamping, packaging redesigning, and digitalisation( traceability, data layer, marking). 3. Recycling ecosystem updated for new packaging types: advanced collection / sorting methods, enhanced mechanical recycling, and chemical recycling as a complement for „ challenging“ waste flows. 4. Packaging data standards and interoperability( material passport, data-driven EPR) to reduce ambiguity and accelerate PPWR compliance. 5. Comparable LCA approach for decisions on reusable / disposable, single-material / multi-layer packaging avoiding ideological decisions and focusing on objective environmental results. 6. Clear and verifiable consumer communication( disposal instructions, shelf-life and waste prevention benefits) to increase collection quality and align actual behaviours with targets.
Alberto Palaveri, President of Giflex
cess red tape that penalises those who innovate and compete.
A FLEXIBLE FOCUS: MATERIAL AND PERFORMANCE EFFICIENCY Among the key levers for combining growth and waste reduction, flexible packaging remains an efficient option: packaging plus product weighing 2 – 3 % less on average, lower raw material consumption, and reduced CO 2 emissions, with barrier performance and food safety that extend shelf life and reduce waste. In Europe, flexible packaging is worth € 18.8 billion( 2024), and global consumption is expected to increase by 8.8 % by 2029( Europe + 6.4 %). In Italy this means: approx. 12,000 employees, approx. 400 – 450,000 tons produced, and a turnover of over € 4.3 billion.
MACHINERY AND TECHNOLOGY: ITALY‘ S „ COMPETI- TIVE EDGE“ Technology is crucial for translating sustainability into industrial practice. Italy is the world leader— competing with Germany— in automatic packaging machinery, with Ucima representing approximately 200 companies, a turnover of over € 10 billion, and 80 % of exports in 2024. Over half of the machines sold worldwide are Italian or German: a legacy that enables efficiency, quality, and production continuity, including through targeted revamping, the integration of new materials, and waste reduction. In the printing and converting sectors, Acimga emphasises the dual role of packaging: protection( lamination / coating) and communication( printing).
The green and digital transition is achieved with an vision encompassing the entire supply chain, avoiding patchy initiatives at the level of individual links.
WHAT‘ S AT STAKE The Italian packaging sector does not demand concessions, but implementable rules to achieve environmental targets without affecting competitiveness, employment rates, and innovation. The supply chain— from the machine to the material, from processing to the brand— has already demonstrated its ability to combine quality, efficiency, and circularity. With an enabling PPWR, data-driven standards, and targeted investments, Italy can lead the way in Europe: less waste, better performance, and increased value along the entire supply chain.
Italian technology plast / June-July 2026
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