Packaging industry defends its environmental credentials

A letter from Gordon Brown and Nicolas Sarkozy called upon the Commission to examine areas where 'economic instruments' could play a role in increasing the use of green products by businesses and consumers. The letter, sent to the president of the Commission Jose Manuel Barroso, highlighted packaging in particular as an area that should be investigated. Brown and Sarkozy sent the letter in response to the need to deliver on the climate change objectives decided by the European Council a year ago. "One year on, we all now need to look at how we deliver these objectives"​ they wrote. Fiona Durie, from EUROPEN (the European Organisation for Packaging and the Environment) told CosmeticsDesign.com that the body is concerned that packaging has been unfairly singled out when other industries could have been mentioned in the letter. According to the trade body, the packaging industry is taking significant action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and work towards the EU's reduction target, and therefore should not be penalised further . In fact EUROPEN go as far as to say that packaging may help to reduce resource use and waste by preventing product spoilage. According to Julian Carroll, managing director of the body, already many member states impose charges on packaging for 'ostensibly environmental purposes'. Carroll describes this 'economic burden' as out of proportion to any adverse environmental impact that packaging might have. In addition, EUROPEN is concerned that economic instruments that would favour some types of packaging over others would be 'disproportionate to any real environmental differences and would distort competition'. As yet EUROPEN has had no response from the commission to its letter, Durie said. Reducing resource use and waste products in the packaging industry is becoming more of a priority as consumers are demanding greener products. This has lead to a number of the leading players to release bio-based plastic alternatives although these are not without controversy as some argue those made from food sources may interfere with food prices. In addition although bio-based plastics may cut down on fossil fuel use, debate still rages over whether their production or disposal is any more environmentally friendly than their more traditional cousins.