Experts expect a further increase in freight traffic and freight volumes in the future. At the same time, this means that more transport packaging will be needed to adequately protect a wide variety of goods in global trade.
Similar to packaging that reaches the end consumer, the issue of sustainability is also playing an increasingly important role in packaging solutions for logistics due to the growing volume of goods shipments. This raises the question: how sustainable can these solutions be?
SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING IN LOGISTICS: THE PRESSURE IS RISING
The latest amendments to the German Packaging Act have brought one type of packaging into sharper focus that has only been given limited consideration to date: transport packaging. Yet this accounts for a significant proportion of the total volume of packaging waste:
- According to Nabu, total packaging consumption in Germany in 2021 was over 19 million tons.
- Transport packaging accounted for 29% of this figure, which corresponds to around 5.5 million tons.
- At 68%, packaging made of paper, cardboard and paperboard accounts for the largest share. Wood (mainly in the form of pallets) only accounts for 22%, and plastic for just 9%.
As forecasts predict an increase in (global) freight traffic and therefore ultimately an increase in the volume of transport packaging, the logistics industry is faced with the question of how to deal with this. Especially as the pressure is also increasing due to new legislative initiatives for more sustainability in logistics.
The planned EU packaging regulation, for example, provides for far-reaching changes. They concern:
- the collection of packaging waste,
- Requirements for a circular economy and
- greater standardization of the European single market.
The bar for the recyclability of many packaging products is also to be raised.
Although the regulation is still a long way from being adopted, the political and economic developments mean that sustainable solutions should become the standard in logistics as quickly as possible.
THE CRADLE-TO-CRADLE PRINCIPLE
Cradle-to-cradle (C2C) is a design concept that was introduced at the end of the 1990s as a further development of the cradle-to-grave concept. Both approaches have a holistic view of products in common.
In contrast to cradle-to-grave, however, cradle-to-cradle is based on the idea of ensuring that a product, or at least its materials, can be transferred to a continuous circular economy beyond the end of its life.
The goal is a sustainable, environmentally friendly economy. The C2C principle therefore aims to reduce harmful substances, improve recyclability and close material cycles right from the product design stage. With regard to packaging, for example, this means focusing more on monoplastics, which can be recycled with less effort, save more primary raw materials and at the same time provide high-quality recyclates.
TRANSPORT PACKAGING AND THE PACKAGING LAW
The introduction of the German Packaging Act (VerpackG) was intended to pave the way for less packaging waste and higher recycling rates. It was revised in June 2021 to transpose the EU Single-Use Plastics Directive into national law. The latest amendments came into force on July 1, 2022 and affect transport packaging, among other things.
Amendment to the Packaging Act from July 1, 2022
The amendments to the Packaging Act have meant that not only packaging subject to system participation (i.e. packaging that ends up with the end consumer) is now subject to registration. This means that packaging that is not subject to system participation must also be registered in the LUCID packaging register.
This includes Section 15 (1) VerpackG since July 2022:
- Sales and secondary packaging that does not typically end up with the private end consumer after use;
- sales and secondary packaging that is incompatible with the system (in accordance with Section 7 (5) VerpackG);
- Sales packaging for products containing harmful substances;
- Reusable packaging;
- Non-returnable drinks packaging that is subject to a deposit in accordance with Section 31 VerpackG and
By extending the registration obligation, distributors of transport packaging must also comply with the obligation to provide evidence. They must be able to prove that they have fulfilled the prescribed take-back and recycling requirements.
MANDATORY REGISTRATION IN THE LUCID PACKAGING REGISTER
As a result of the amendments to the Packaging Act, all initial distributors of packaging have been obliged to register in the LUCID Packaging Register of the Central Agency Packaging Register (ZSVR) since July 1, 2022. This is because the obligation no longer only includes packaging subject to system participation, but also applies to all packaging filled with goods – including transport and reusable packaging, for example.
The information required for registration has also changed (Section 9 (2) RegE-VerpackG). While information on the type of material or quantities has been omitted following the amendment to the law, the “types of packaging” must now be specified in the form of a brand name.
There are two exceptions to the registration requirement (Section 12 RegE-VerpackG). They apply if
- the packaging is only placed on the market abroad;
- the packaging is not yet filled with goods.
What is transport packaging?
Unlike sales packaging, transport packaging does not usually end up as waste with the end consumer. For this reason, it is also not subject to system participation.
Transport packaging is intended for larger shipments of large quantities between retailers. According to the Packaging Act, they fall into this category:
- Folding cartons used to bundle several sales units into one transport unit;
- Shelf cartons intended exclusively for the transportation and presentation of goods;
- open half cartons with or without cover film or interlayer;
- Display packaging for the transportation and presentation of individual goods (such as promotional goods);
- Interlayers in folding cartons, half cartons or on pallets;
- Compartments in folding cartons or half cartons as well as shrink films, which are used to combine sales units into one transport unit;
- Shrink hoods on pallets;
- Stretch film for securing loads on pallets;
- Strapping bands and
- Disposable pallets.
Transport packaging actually covers a broad spectrum, which is why it can also include plastic or wooden transport boxes, sacks and foamed trays or filling materials such as bubble wrap, foam film or packaging chips.
Packaging with special properties is used for this purpose, for example anti-condensation bags, which offer protection against condensation, or special packaging to protect against electrostatic discharge.
Customized packaging is often used in the area of special transports, such as for machinery and equipment. However, compared to the order volume of standard commercial goods, they play a subordinate role in terms of quantity.
Regulations also affect reusable packaging for logistics
Reusable packaging has been included in the German Packaging Act since July 3, 2021 (Section 15 (1) sentence 1 VerpackG), with the corresponding obligations for distributors. “Reusable packaging” also includes many packaging solutions that belong to the B2B sector, i.e. are used for industrial and/or commercial purposes.
The Packaging Act specifies several features that can be used to distinguish reusable packaging from transport packaging, for example. According to this, reusable packaging can be recognized by the fact that
- they can be reused several times for the same purpose after use,
- sufficient logistics are created for the actual return and reuse, and
- there are suitable incentive systems to support this return and reuse.
Classification as reusable packaging is only possible if all three of these requirements are met and the necessary precautions have already been taken in advance to ensure multiple use. This applies, for example, to reconditionable packaging such as pallets, steel drums, plastic drums or combi-IBCs.
MORE SUSTAINABILITY FOR PACKAGING IN LOGISTICS – BUT HOW?
Stricter legal regulations for environmental, climate and resource protection, a growing volume of goods traffic and, last but not least, market pressure that expects more sustainable solutions – against this background, what can packaging solutions for logistics look like that meet such a catalog of requirements?
Common standards for efficient, sustainable solutions
The prerequisites for sustainable packaging solutions are already in place in many cases, such as the multiple use of Euro pallets. Pallets in the 800 x 1,200 mm format are used throughout Europe and are exchanged between players from industry, trade and logistics.
Although this exchange is common practice, it often gives rise to enough disagreements about quality or cost distribution. Uniform standards and sufficient legal requirements could ensure greater transparency and better cooperation in this respect.
One conceivable solution is GS1 standards. In a collaboration between GS1 Germany and representatives from industry, trade and the service sector, cross-industry solutions for the problems described were developed several years ago. Clearly defined quality criteria for four-way flat pallets made of wood as well as criteria for manufacturing processes and internal and external monitoring form the basis for various pallet processing systems (such as buying and selling or exchanging in an open pallet pool).
These measures in turn help to keep reusable Euro pallets in circulation for longer – and thus improve the sustainability of this packaging solution.
Control loop for sustainable packaging design
Section 21 of the Packaging Act provides the basis for the practical implementation of a “design for recycling” control loop. The regulation (Section 21 (1) VerpackG) provides for this,
- to promote the use of materials and material combinations that can be recycled to the highest possible percentage, and
- Furthermore, the use of recyclates and renewable raw materials should be promoted.
The basic idea of Section 21 VerpackG is to establish a control loop in which there are sufficient (financial) incentives for manufacturers to make the design of their packaging more sustainable. This control loop is made up of the following elements:
- The ZVSR and the Federal Environment Agency (UBA) set minimum standards each year that can be used to measure recycling-friendly design. They form the basis for further developments.
- In order to provide the necessary impetus, the minimum standards are linked to a financial incentive system that promotes the recycling-friendly design of packaging.
- This, in turn, will allow manufacturers and retailers to invest in adapting both design and production to higher standards – or ideally beyond.
- This will provide packaging manufacturers and the waste management industry with new specifications and guidance for the further development of sorting and recycling technologies.
The innovations realized in the areas of technology and infrastructure for recycling offer the ZVSR and the UBA the opportunity to develop new minimum standards at the end of the control loop – and thus initiate a new control loop.
PROCESSING CYCLE FOR MINIMUM STANDARDS ACCORDING TO PACKAGING LAW
The Packaging Act stipulates that new minimum standards are to be published annually by the Central Agency Packaging Register. This is not just about creating a uniform framework for the recycling systems.
The time frame is primarily due to the objectives of the Packaging Act with its clearly defined recycling quotas. These were raised once again as of January 1, 2022 – the pressure to develop recyclable and environmentally friendly packaging is correspondingly high.
The processing cycle for the minimum standards always begins on September 1 with the publication of the new standards. This is followed by processing, consultations and reports from the systems on implementation before a group of experts draws up new proposals. A new concept is then drawn up on this basis, from which the next minimum standards are developed.
CONCLUSION: SUSTAINABLE LOGISTICS PACKAGING NEEDS THE RIGHT FRAMEWORK CONDITIONS
Implementing sustainable packaging solutions for logistics requires more than minimum legal standards and specifications. Without uniform regulations and financial incentives, it will not be possible to create the necessary technological and infrastructural conditions for achieving sustainability goals.
The ongoing discussions surrounding the EU’s plans for a new regulation on packaging and packaging waste, which was presented back in November 2023, show just how difficult this can be. The criticisms include: A lack of flexibility with regard to member states’ national recycling targets and challenges in ensuring proper waste collection. This is because the regulation provides for a stronger focus on the reuse of packaging.
Regardless of the discussions surrounding the planned reform, a higher level of sustainability for packaging in logistics remains the major goal – at both national and international level.
Image sources:
Image 1: Adobe Stock © Siwakorn1933
Image 2: Adobe Stock © Siwakorn1933
Image 3: Adobe Stock © AlexGo
