Italy defends the significance of fruit and vegetable packaging in Brussels

In response to the proposed Regulation on Packaging and Packaging Waste (PPWR), Professional Meals felt it was time to make sure that all politicians within the European Parliament and the Fee understood that packaging shouldn’t be criticized, however quite the opposite, appreciated, because it prevents meals waste. Packaging may also be an increasing number of recyclable.

About 10 days in the past, the assembly “The worth of packaging: sustainability and meals waste in F&V”, hosted by Ortofrutta Italia, an interprofessional fruit and vegetable group, passed off on the European Parliament in Brussels. The occasion was attended by Mauro Salini, president of Professional Meals, the Unionplast product group that unites 14 meals packaging producers (together with for the AGF sector). The group represents a turnover of €1.5 billion, 4,500 staff and 70% of the manufacturing of packaging for the AGF sector in Italy.

Mauro Salini, president of Professional Meals, Roberto Zanichelli, member of Professional Meals’s communications committee, and Marco Omboni, guide at Professional Meals

“Italian MEPs have understood and agreed to the standpoint taken collectively by Ortofrutta Italia and Professional Meals. Now it’s needed to lift consciousness among the many political representatives of different rising international locations, particularly Mediterranean international locations. As already talked about on different events, we assist all of the core objectives of the PPWR, however we wish to specific our concern concerning the penalties of the unique textual content which doesn’t go in the proper course for reaching the proposed objectives,” says Salini.

“The unique textual content features a ban on packaging, whereas one other a part of the regulation considers it virtuous due to its excessive recycled content material and recyclability. It’s due to this fact important to alter course and adapt this proposed regulation, specializing in scientific proof and well-grounded motives.”

All agree that the applying of the PPWR would result in a pointy improve in prices, with even worsening environmental impacts. “However the primary harm would primarily have an effect on the whole provide chain of fruit and greens. For one factor, growers must transform their harvesting and preservation strategies and may see a rise in harm claims because of the inevitable deterioration of bulk produce,” says Salini. And this is applicable not solely to Italy, however to all robust horticultural international locations, akin to France and particularly Spain.

“Transporters in addition to logistics at massive can be pressured to work with merchandise with a shorter shelf life, given the dearth of safety supplied by packaging, whereas retailers must swap from reasoned administration with a mixture of bulk and packaged product to all the things bulk, leading to a rise in waste resulting from some uncontrollable variables.”

The resultant rearrangement of in-store fruit and vegetable cabinets may cut back the vary of merchandise supplied, not solely decreasing the buyer’s selection but in addition penalizing small and medium-sized retailers and discounters, that are at the moment most well-liked by shoppers.

“And at last, shoppers would discover within the grocery store a product that’s not solely inferior and dearer, but in addition unprotected from a sanitary viewpoint. Subsequently, it’s important that these with decision-making powers correctly perceive all these elements and draw the required conclusions when adopting the textual content,” concluded the president.