The PPWR workshop organised on 5th of March 2025 by the SPIRIT programme led by Borealis, brought together key players from the food packaging value chain. At the core of the workshop was to address the upcoming EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) and its implications for the industries in Finland. Special focus was set on recycling of plastics packaging in food contact back to the same application.
Understanding PPWR and its significance
The PPWR is a regulation by the European Union. The main objective of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) within the EU is to reduce the environmental impact of packaging. This is achieved through several key measures:
- Preventing packaging waste: Reducing the amount of packaging waste generated by promoting reusable and refillable packaging solutions
- Boosting recycling: Ensuring all packaging is recyclable in an economically viable way by 2030
- Harmonising rules: Establishing EU-wide rules on packaging to facilitate the free movement of goods and create a level playing field across the EU.
In photo: Sanna Martin (Borealis) and Markku Heino (Spinverse).
Borealis: pioneering solutions
Project Manager Sanna Martin from Borealis emphasised the company’s proactive approach to tackling challenges related to plastic packaging. Borealis is continuously developing products that allow packaging producers and designers to replace multi-material packaging with mono-materials, thus embodying the ”design for recycling” principle. While the company is expanding its capacity in mechanical and chemical recycling, it has also brought to market virgin materials to enhance recyclability and incorporate recycled content, supporting recycling efforts. In the workshop, several practical examples were showcased by the Marketing Manager Rigid Packaging Philip Knapen from Borealis.
Bringing experts together: a collective effort
The workshop gathered a diverse group of approx. 35 experts across the packaging value chain. Participants included representatives from retail, food companies, packaging manufacturers, material producers such as Borealis, recyclers, waste management professionals, food industry regulators and research institutions. It was great to see the engagement of all stakeholders to the joint discussion, and that there is a clear need to tackle this issue together. The aim of the event was to create common understanding on the pain points to be able to develop new solutions.
Key challenges in food contact plastics
One of the critical topics identified was the challenge posed by the requirements of PPWR concerning contact-sensitive materials such as food packaging. For fulfilling the target of recycled content, both mechanically and chemically recycled polymers will be required. Chemical recycling is already available via mass balance. Mechanically recycled food contact PE and PP materials from consumer packaging waste back to use in food packaging is not yet commercially available in Europe. With product safety as key criterion, the need for safe recycling of food packaging plastics demands collaboration across the entire value chain to achieve precise control over the origin, sorting and recycling processes. This involves the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) approval required for verification of novel technology.
Elina Pahkala, Chief Specialist in Food Safety Unit in Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry brought the authority view to the event. She comments: “The techniques used in the production of recycled plastic intended to be in contact with food must meet strict safety requirements. This will ensure that recycled plastic does not pose risks to consumers. It is great to see that the whole value chain is committed to developing recycled plastic technologies. Cooperation plays a key role in the transformation in which both sustainability and safety must be considered.”
Exploring solutions: mass balance approach and mechanical recycling
The discussions at the workshop also touched upon the mass balance approach, a certification system tracking raw materials used in plastic packaging. Borealis and the industry widely utilise mass balance to guarantee full traceability of the renewable and chemically recycled feedstock. Additionally, the workshop explored Design for Recycling principles, the potential of advanced mechanical recycling for food packaging, identifying technological advancements in the field and the possibility for closed-loop systems to enhance recycling processes. Packaging Development Manager Katja Heinonen fromSaarioinen says: ”The presentations and discussions between value chain representatives provided useful additional information about the use of recycled PE and PP in food packaging. The challenges related to the use of recycled plastic are common to all of us.”
Feedback and next steps: moving towards tangible outcomes
The workshop provided valuable insights and fostered dialogue among participants. The SPIRIT ecosystem aims to facilitate future projects by leveraging public funding channels for collaboration. Immediate links were found between workshop discussions and ongoing ecosystem projects, with plans already underway for further research. Borealis seeks to unite stakeholders within the SPIRIT programme to drive collaborative efforts and advance sustainable packaging solutions through concrete development actions. In conclusion, the PPWR workshop was an important step in addressing the challenges and opportunities in sustainable packaging. Fostering collaboration and sharing expertise play an important role in achieving a more sustainable future for the packaging industry.