“Absurd!” “Wrong way.” The domestic paper industry is revolting because the European Union wants to introduce a mandatory reusable quota for packaging. Manfred Hackl, head of the plastic recycling plant manufacturer Erema from Ansfelden, is looking forward to this debate calmly.
When the EU does something new, it’s not always practical. This can be seen in the plastic disposable packaging with a capacity of up to three litres, the closures of which must be firmly attached to the bottle, pack, etc. from July 2024. Now the planned packaging regulation is causing a stir – the paper industry in particular is revolting because the EU wants a mandatory reusable quota.
However, packaging made of cardboard, corrugated cardboard and paper is at a disadvantage because these end up with the old paper, are recycled and new products are made from them. “Questioning a functioning circulatory system and prioritizing reuse is the wrong approach,” says Propak chairman Georg Dieter Fischer angrily.
“The best thing is if I don’t need any packaging at all”
And how does Manfred Hackl, head of the plastic recycling plant manufacturer Erema from Ansfelden, see it? “The best thing is if I don’t need any packaging at all. We cannot pollute the world.” The manager looks relaxed at the debate, does not want to give preference to raw materials, but also says: “Where plastic is not needed, it must be reduced, otherwise it must be reused or recycled.” Erema supplied 380 plastic recycling plants in the previous year alone and is the world market leader.
Source: Krone
I’m Ben Stock, a journalist and author at Today Times Live. I specialize in economic news and have been working in the news industry for over five years. My experience spans from local journalism to international business reporting. In my career I’ve had the opportunity to interview some of the world’s leading economists and financial experts, giving me an insight into global trends that is unique among journalists.
