Category: Disposal / Recycling
-
Inno-Talk: Data-driven Design for Recycling in Flexible Packaging
This InnoTalk episode—an initiative by Innoform Coaching—featured Haulwen Nicholas (CEFLEX) and was moderated by Guido Aufdemkamp (Flexible Packaging Europe, FPE). (CEFLEX) Flexible packaging delivers strong resource efficiency and product protection, but it remains challenging to sort and recycle at scale—especially when structures include multiple layers, inks, coatings, adhesives, and functional barriers. CEFLEX addresses this gap…
-
Inno-PrintPack 2025
Two days, five trends, one goal: to make packaging printing efficient and recyclable. The 10th Packaging Printing Expert Meeting impressively demonstrated how modern technologies, from 7C fixed palettes and AI-supported real-time data analysis to robotics, inline inspection, anti-counterfeiting measures and recycling-friendly materials, are transforming production processes in a sustainable way. Dieter Finna The “Expert Meeting…
-
When is packaging considered reusable?
Reuse in the focus of the PPWR The EU Packaging Regulation (PPWR) asks a key question for the industry: When will packaging actually be considered reusable in future – and what requirements are necessary for this?Inno-Talk highlighted the most important points relating to the term “reuse”. This blog post summarises the key messages in an…
-
Flexible packaging in environmental testing: plastic or fibre (paper)?
A key question for all those responsible for packaging is currently: How can the overall environmental damage caused by packaging be minimised? Flexible packaging is already considered a resource-saving solution, as it requires less material than rigid formats. However, the specific choice of materials has given rise to new discussions: plastic versus fibre, mono versus…
-
The future of recycling: How new technologies are making flexible packaging sustainable
Flexible packaging – such as crisp packets, films and stand-up pouches – have become an integral part of our everyday lives. However, recycling it poses a major challenge. The European initiative CEFLEX has set itself the goal of overcoming this challenge and establishing a functioning circular economy for flexible packaging. Why new technologies are necessary…
-
Mondi & traceless: Together on the road to plastic-free packaging
How can the transition from fossil-based packaging to natural, recyclable solutions be achieved? The partnership between the international packaging group Mondi and the Hamburg-based start-up traceless materials provides an answer to this question. What began as a future-oriented innovation dialogue has developed into a concrete collaboration – with the aim of bringing bio-based paper coatings…
-
How Romania is becoming a test area for the recycling of flexible packaging
1 | What is “RoFlex”? The industry initiative CEFLEX (Circular Economy for Flexible Packaging) launched the pilot project “RoFlex” (Romania Flexible Packaging Recycling Pilot) in Romania in mid-July. Together with local collection, sorting and recycling companies as well as brand owners, a complete value chain for flexible plastic packaging is to be established there for…
-
The plastic revolution – turning waste into bioplastics
Listened to & summarised from the SWR podcast ‘Das Wissen – Die Plastikwende: How can plastic become sustainable?’ with chemist Dr Manuel Häußler (Max Planck Institute/CTC, founder of EvoLoop). 1 | Why we need to rethink plastic Plastic is light, robust and extremely cheap – which is precisely why it is conquering every market segment.…
-
PET bottle, beverage carton or pouch – which is the ultimate recycling champion in the EU?
An attempt to compare costs and recyclability Packaging for water and other beverages is increasingly at the centre of the sustainability debate. This not only raises the question of production costs, but also recyclability and practical implementation in various EU countries. In this specialist article, we compare PET bottles, beverage cartons and pouches in terms…
-
New study highlights challenges and potential in recycling flexible plastics
In a recent study, CEFLEX and Ghent University investigated the challenges and potential of new recycling technologies for flexible plastics. These technologies include delamination, deinking, dissolution and contaminant extraction and aim to meet the requirements of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive by 2030. Technology selection and capacity assessment The study analysed twelve technology providers…