EUROPEN

EUROPEN Packaging Guiding Principles (7/13/99)

EUROPEN is established and supported by industry to promote the benefits of packaging and the adoption of ecologically and economically sensible national and European environmental legislation, policies and best practices concerning the environmental impact of packaging.

EUROPEN Packaging Guiding Principles (7/13/99)

• Good packaging benefits society provided sound policies are adopted and used packaging is valorised using a flexible choice of methods with the responsibility being shared.
• Appropriate packaging helps prevent or reduce product waste and facilitates centralised processing and distribution of products. Proper packaging assures the availability, in appropriate quantity, of safe, hygienic and undamaged goods for all sectors of society in order to maintain accepted living standards. Correct design and use of packaging also contributes to the reduction of pollution arising from the transportation of goods.
• Packaging choices and policies need to be guided by results from systematic scientific studies like life cycle analysis. Such methods however must be treated as a tool to be carefully used and with results responsibly interpreted. It must also be made clear that consumers ultimately pay the cost of environmental change.
• Used packaging is a valuable resources which should not be mis-managed.

Valorisation

• EUROPEN strives to promote adoption of the best available policies and practices in order to achieve the valorization of used packaging.
• Differences in local conditions will require various combinations of valorisation methods to achieve best results. The choice of methods and the establishment of valorisation targets must be based on practical experience and scientific knowledge.
• Responsibility for the valorization of used packaging falls on consumers, local and national government and all members of the packaging chain. Valid solutions therefore need to include all these parties working in unison to develop interlocking systems for the collection and valorization of used packaging. Such systems will in turn be integrated with other waste stream management systems as they develop.