“Corrugated cardboard is a sustainable packaging solution”
No product goes far without packaging. Packaging is the universal need for all products in all commercial categories, and that is partly why the sector is thriving: talking about the corrugated board packaging in particular, it is valued at a whooping USD 298.52 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach over USD 459.18 billion by 2033, poised to grow at a CAGR of 4.4% from 2024 to 2033.*
Recently, the FEFCO Summit, the biannual conference of the sector, open exclusively to members and selected industry professionals, was held in Athens for the first time, with the support of HPPA (the Hellenic Paper Packaging Association), Greece. Ambrosia Magazine had the pleasure and privilege to attend, and the opportunity to talk to Ms. Eleni Despotou, FEFCO’s Director General, about the Summit, the Federation, the sector in general and the sustainability challenge, triggered by the climate crisis for almost all commercial sectors.
Interview: Charitomeni Vonta
Please tell us a few words about FEFCO, and its role in the packaging industry.
FEFCO (European Federation of Corrugated Board Manufacturers) represents the voice of the European Corrugated Board Manufacturers. Headquartered in Brussels, FEFCO has 17 Association members including Greece, all European national corrugated packaging organisations comprising 373 companies, 646 plants and accounting for around 100,000 jobs. Corrugated cardboard packaging is circular by nature: it is based on a renewable resource; it is recyclable and recycled in reality. The role of the Federation is to investigate economic, financial, technical and policy issues relevant to the corrugated packaging Industry. Furthermore, FEFCO promotes corrugated cardboard as a sustainable packaging solution.
Where do Greek packaging companies stand in terms of volumes and business growth within the industry?
Greece is represented at FEFCO by HPPA the Hellenic Paper packaging Association. In a total yearly production of 55 billion m² of corrugated packaging in Europe, Greece has a capacity of 1.7 billion m² with 24 corrugators, employing 3.000 employees and generate 1 bn € of turnover.
What is the part of the packaging business that refers to f&b companies, and what are the particularities of this sector, concerning packaging?
FEFCO members companies are manly active in sales, grouped and transport packaging including e-commerce. The recent Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) recognizes the sustainable and renewable nature of corrugated cardboard packing and dispenses from mandatory reuse targets. Furthermore, the corrugated cardboard industry has made a lot of advancement on environmental areas as reduction of paper weight, enhancing recycling rates etc. The recycling rates achieved are higher than 90% making it the pioneer amongst all materials.
Also, used corrugated cardboard is not a waste but a valuable secondary raw material.
The latest FEFCO Summit 2024 was held in Athens for the first time last May, and was generally considered a big success. In your opinion, what were the basic conclusions drawn from the Summit?
We could sum up the Summit’s conclusions as follows:
– Corrugated cardboard packaging industry showed its resilience during the consecutive crisis.
– The industry stands ready to cooperate with all stakeholders and society to reduce packaging while enhancing sustainability.
– Despite the positive outcome of PPWR legislative process, there will be challenges that will impact the competitiveness of the industry. Ensuring a level playing field via harmonized legislation around Europe is important to ensure fairness in the markets.
– Companies are pursuing their journey towards decarbonization, energy efficiency enhancement, improving circularity via design and investments to improve manufacturing process.
ESG and Sustainability were an important point of discussion during the Summit. Could you please share some of the Federation’s future initiatives towards this path, concerning the sensitive f&b sector?
FEFCO elaborated together with its members a decarbonization Roadmap with potential scenarios to decarbonize production by 2050 for emissions scope 1,2 and 3, along with a Guide for companies to submit SBTis (Science Based Targets) of the United Nations. In addition, FEFCO provided its members with tools to implement the Roadmap notably a CO2 calculation tool allowing companies to assess the carbon intensity of their plants and products.
Along with the above mentioned, the Technical and Innovation committee produced an energy efficiency handbook aiming to advice the companies on the steps to implement Energy efficiency measures in their factories. Also, a bi-annual Technical Seminar updates members on the latest developments and stimulate them to move further by adopting and investing on new technologies. Last, but not least, most of the FEFCO companies’ members are producing their Sustainability reports (HPPA presented its own at the summit).
*Source: Precedence Research
Photographs: courtesy of FEFCO
