Scanpack Summit: Key industry leaders discuss the future of sustainable packaging

Text: Bo Wallteg, AGI Media.

A part of the Scanpack fair, the Scanpack Summit organised a lunch at the top level, both in terms of location at Heaven restaurant on the 29th floor of Gothia Towers and the specially invited guests. The intent is to create a meeting place for discussions on burning issues for the packaging industry. On this occasion there was a discussion of the role that the industry may play in helping to achieve climate-neutral targets. Close to forty decision-makers, professionals and researchers attended.
 
“The packaging industry faces significant challenges and opportunities for reducing the use of materials and increasing reuse and recycling, while maintaining the safety of packaged products. Successfully navigating these challenges requires collaboration across the value chain and beyond borders. That’s why we organised the Scanpack Summit lunch,” says Monika Ölund, Business Manager for Scanpack, adding that she hopes it can become a recurring initiative.
 
One special guest was Daniel Westlén, State Secretary to Romina Pourmokhtari, Minister for Climate and the Environment. He proved to be well-informed of issues impacting the packaging industry. The meeting was moderated by Johannes Bergmair, Secretary General of the World Packaging Organisation.
 
In his opening speech, Mr Westlén highlighted the importance of establishing a circular economy in Europe.
 
“A circular economy is an important tool for tackling the climate crisis and biodiversity loss. It is a vital part of ensuring that the EU achieves climate neutrality by 2050, and it is also important for the EU to remain a leading actor for meeting the 1.5 degree target of the Paris Agreement.”
 
He noted that meetings such as the Scanpack Summit are an important part of this work. Getting together and trying to find creative solutions is the way forward on this path. Mr Westlén thought it was an excellent initiative and commended the industry for its work, both through its participation at the meeting and for the work currently being performed on the exhibition floor.
 
A circular economy will enable the green transition, he said, adding that in theory we can achieve these goals without a circular economy, but it will be much more difficult if we do not have circular material flows.
 
“Society would never function without packaging. We know that there are problems with packaging, as it can create greenhouse gases when burnt. It is also a major source of litter. Sweden is taking an active role in fixing these problems at both the EU level and in global agreements.”
 
“During our EU Presidency, we took measures to help the EU economy become more circular, measures to ensure non-toxic material flows, as well as increased recycling. Sweden had a key role in shaping the PPWR, which has great potential to reduce the environmental impact of packaging. The new rules will provide opportunities for predictability and a sound environment for companies looking to invest in Europe.”
 
“Sweden is also part of the global efforts to reach an agreement on plastic litter. We are part of the coalition working to stop plastic littering.
 
Changes are also underway at national level with respect to waste management. And work is in progress to find better ways to detect illegal waste management, against the backdrop of the ongoing Think Pink prosecution.”
 
“We recognise the importance of a circular economy and effective legislation such as the PPWR, and we are pleased with how much we have achieved in the EU. Actually, more than I thought possible, especially with respect to PPWR. I believe we have now charted a path that will be good for the environment and favour sustainable growth for the economy,” concluded Mr Westlén.
 
Three questions
 
During the lunch, participants had three questions to discuss at their respective tables. The first involved what role consumer action and awareness play in terms of the packaging industry’s sustainability efforts and whether the industry can have an effective impact on this.  Lunch participants called for great clarity to make this possible. The legislation is too difficult to understand, which in turn makes it difficult for consumers to act and make the right choices. It has to be easy to do the right thing. Some also commented that it was too easy to toss packaging into combustible waste.
 
“Give consumers what they need, establish the right infrastructure and the right system for waste collection,” was one comment. Waste collection near the property, would probably be a step in the right direction, and this will soon be in place.
 
Policy changes
 
The second question was about what policy changes and incentives are required in order to promote innovation and sustainability in the industry. The overall response was to “sit and wait”, meaning that we can take action once PPWR comes into force and see how it works. At the moment, both the industry and legislators must show patience. There is a lot to be implemented and some changes will have to be made, e.g. in transport packaging where the requirements for reuse of stretch wrap are impossible.
 
It was apparent that the participants generally thought PPWR was fine, but that the time frame was a bit tight. One opinion was that we are focusing on the wrong things. We keep talking about recycling and reuse, but these are just parts of the whole that we tend not to see. “Everyone knows how you win a football match, but when it comes to sustainability issues, no one knows how to win the game”. We have to take a broader view and really try to understand the winning principles. With PPWR, we’re focusing too much on the details.
 
What’s important for making the right decisions in the future is to collect the data that provides the basis for them. Then the decision will be correct.
 
Challenges
 
The final question discussed involved the greatest challenges for the packaging industry in terms of climate neutrality. Can we reach them through collaboration, innovation and digitisation?
 
Everyone seemed to agree that investments are necessary to get everything in place but that collaboration between companies had to improve. Predictability is needed for companies to dare to make these investments. In addition, the industry is so segmented that it becomes negative for the packaging industry. Each type of material is worked in its own silo, and each silo has a certain solution and material they claim to be best. Instead, the industry should be speaking with one voice.
 
Daniel Westlén sat at one of the tables and told us there had been little talk about these questions. Participants at the neighbouring tables were mostly excited about the opportunity for a more general discussion with him. He agreed that those who visit him usually like to talk about their own problems in the industry and not about the industry as a whole.
 
–  Of course we want to hear about people’s opinions and problems, but we prefer to hear about problems that really cause concern. Because then we have the opportunity to do something about them.

Scanpack Summit will return as an important arena for the packaging industry, where leading actors gather to address the industry’s most important challenges with sustainability. Exactly which issues will be up for debate next time have yet to be determined, but the goal of a more circular and climate-neutral future will remain.