All eyes are on the packaging industry these days - we are quite happy about that at DECA. The occasion is the provisional agreement of the European Parliament and EU member states on reducing packaging waste. A development that fits seamlessly with our corporate vision, as we have been committed to sustainable packaging solutions for a long time.
We are not always shouting it from the rooftops, but today we are. Ready to tell the whole world about how long DECA has been in a sustainable transition, and how far we’ve come in our aim of making packaging safer and more eco-friendly, boost the circular economy and reduce waste. For you, for us and for future generations. Let's go...
Sustainable agreement
A quick overview: on 5 March, European Parliament negotiators reached an agreement on reducing packaging waste. Only logical, if you know that packaging as a source of waste has increased quite a lot in recent years, with an EU total of 84 million tonnes in 2021. So: DECA is quite happy with the agreement, which includes talks about*:
- Reduced packaging and restrictions on certain packaging sizes, with targets for reduction by 2030, 2035 and 2040, as well as a ban on certain single-use plastic packaging from 2030.
- A ban on the use of 'perpetual chemicals' (PFAS) in food contact packaging to reduce health risks.
- Encouraging the reuse and refill options for consumers, with specific targets for reusable packaging by 2030.
- All packaging should be recyclable, with minimum targets for recycled content and recycling rates for different materials.
- Improved collection and recycling, with a commitment to collect 90% of single-use plastic and metal beverage containers separately by 2029.
Sustainable DECA
We let out a cry of joy, as the agreement confirms that the DECA approach is the right one. Plastics do not have a green image, and they are sometimes unfairly criticised. We are convinced of the opposite and we can prove it. The result of years of studies to translate our green mission into concrete actions, such as the production of sustainable products.
Our plastic packaging already covers the full load today. It is 100% functional and 100% recyclable - no compromises. That's because we produce packaging from mono-material: polypropylene and PET. This makes it easier to recycle, resulting in a pure, high-quality raw material.
But our engagement does not end there. We reduce, reuse and recycle to the maximum. What are some of the actions we take? We continuously monitor our energy consumption during the production process, thanks to our innovative designs all our packaging is reusable and due to the introduction of the PMD+ bag even more plastic goes to the right waste stream. We are further exploring alternatives to classic 'virgin' PP, such as ReOil recycled PP and bio-based 2nd generation raw materials.
Everyone sustainable
For DECA, the future clearly lies in a closed material cycle. In principle, plastics, and in our case polypropylene, already have a good ecological balance compared to other materials. If we can improve the circular economy and recycle more, our raw material footprint will become even smaller.
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Consumers certainly bear some of the responsibility too. We understand that functionality of packaging is very important. Packaging should be protective, resealable and suitable for both the microwave and freezer. But the ecological balance surrounding packaging solutions calls for extra help. We hereby extend a warm invitation to choose packaging that is 100% recyclable, and that can be sorted to the maximum.
Team DECA is grateful to you, and the world even more so.
Choose sustainable DECA. Contact us.
*Source: European Parliament
