Closing the Loop: Challenges Facing Circular and Sustainable Packaging
The packaging industry faces major challenges in moving from a linear to a circular economy. EU figures show packaging waste rising from 163 kg to 170 kg per capita between 2010 and 2020, while only 14% of plastic packaging is recycled to equivalent quality. Key obstacles include limited PCR availability, complex multilayer designs, and infrastructure gaps. Regulatory measures such as the EU PPWR require all packaging to be reusable or recyclable by 2030, but compliance is costly. Emerging responses include mono-material designs, digital watermarks for recycling, and extended producer responsibility schemes.
