June 2024 – On 22nd May 2024, the European Parliament adopted new measures to make packaging more sustainable and reduce packaging waste in the EU1. The regulation by Parliament seeks to address the ongoing rise in waste, synchronise internal market regulations, and promote the circular economy.
The new rules established targets for reducing packaging by 5% by 2030, 10% by 2035 and 15% by 2040. EU countries are required to decrease plastic packaging waste. Additionally, to cut down on excessive packaging, a maximum empty space ratio of 50% is mandated for grouped, transport, and e-commerce packaging. Manufacturers and importers are also required to minimise the weight and volume of packaging.
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Consequently, e-commerce companies within the European Union will be required to ensure that only up to half of their packaging is empty, reducing the amount of packaging used and waste generated. Several e-commerce companies have implemented measures to ship products without extra packaging and to eliminate the use of plastic. For example, Amazon’s delivery packaging in Europe is now 100% recyclable2.
Adopting these sustainable packaging measures early is crucial, as overpackaging will incur taxes. Understanding these regulations and their implications, as well as the importance of ‘doing the right thing’, is essential for compliance from the company and its employees. Supply chains must navigate the change cycle, facing initial resistance with questions on necessity and execution, meaning effective change management is vital here.
Unipart Consultancy can aid in this transition, helping companies understand their supply chains comprehensively which involves not just meeting demand but making simple yet impactful sustainable changes. Anticipate further, possibly stricter, legislation. Preparing now ensures smoother adaptation to future legislation and long-term sustainability in operations.
At Unipart, we collaborated with a major media and telecommunications company to remodel their packaging approach by measuring box volumetrics to minimise shipping air. Our expertise led to resizing boxes, eliminating overboxing, and ensuring 100% recyclable materials. These small, incremental changes not only cut costs by £0.5 million but also boosted sustainability. We have significantly influenced the company’s manufacturing processes, prompting them to make crucial changes that eliminate overboxing from their packaging.
This shift not only enhances cost-saving and efficiency but also contributes to their overall sustainability efforts. Our goal is to introduce 30% reusable packaging to the customer, enhancing e-commerce returns. With our sustainable supply chain capabilities, we’ve seamlessly aligned with the new EU legislation on sustainable packaging.
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