13 Apr Imperative changes in packaging industry. A post by Mykonos Cerámica

Posted at 10:53h in 2023, sustainability by

 

The packaging sector is immersed in an urgent transformation to adapt to the regulation that came into effect on January 1st and aims to incentivize the circular economy, packaging recycling, and plastic substitution.

*Image from El Periódico del Azulejo.

One of the measures that is impacting all industries that require packaging is the special tax on non-reusable plastic packaging. In figures, the tax is 45 euro cents per kilogram of non-recycled plastic that the product carries, which the manufacturer must pay when the taxable event occurs during the manufacture of the goods; the importer, if it is an import or intra-community acquisition; or those who own, market, transport or use the product, if it refers to a case of irregular possession.

In the ceramic tile sector, the Ceramic Technology Institute (ITC-AICE) in collaboration with the Plastic Technology Institute (AIMPLAS), with the financing of the Valencian Institute of Business Competitiveness (IVACE) through the European FEDER Funds for Regional Development, is trying to solve the environmental impact generated by inkjet plastic packaging used for digital decoration of ceramic tiles.

In Spain, more than 2 million Inkjet ceramic ink containers weighing 5 kilograms are consumed in the ceramic decoration stage.

This technology center is working on the development of a semi-industrial mold with a leading Valencia-based packaging company to carry out short runs with different proportions of recycled content, in addition to managing the tests that must be carried out to ensure the reuse, transport, and storage of these newly eco-designed containers. AIMPLAS is also working on mechanical recycling processes to improve the quality of the secondary material and minimize the technical difficulties of this process, while ITC-AICE is working to recover inks, different elements, and wastewater generated in the cleaning of containers for reuse and during the recycling process.

Mykonos Cerámica, committed to the environment, joins the ceramic sector in researching and evaluating new sustainable substitutes.

 

*The basis of the article comes from El Periódico del Azulejo.