Dennis Jönsson made the comments during his opening remarks at the 20th anniversary celebration of the Alliance for Beverage Cartons (ACE).
He said renewable resources, responsibly managed, are the only viable long-term option for securing sustainable supplies.
“There is a balance between economic and environmental pillars. Higher rates being met is essential for recycling of all packaging types and the new packaging materials that will enter the market in the coming years.
“As we look back and forward to the next decade it is not just recycling rates but new approaches to tackle sustainability with collaborative efforts and industry initiatives.”
Jönsson said business can accelerate what policy can’t (citing the wood fibre pledge referenced later) but sustainability can’t always be met without a policy framework.
“For the future, material specific recycling targets and separate collection for the different materials.
“The circular economy aspiration is not just recycling but also the sustainability of primary materials when they first enter the economy.”
Roundtable debate
The session took place 20 years after first adoption of the EU's Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive (PPWD) and as the European Commission's Circular Economy package, including revision of the PPWD is debated.
Rolf Stangl CEO of SIG Combibloc took part in a panel debate and Elopak's CEO Niels Petter Wright, provided closing remarks.
Stangl said there must always be a focus on renewable materials.
“The circler economy when developing products is from the beginning to the end of the life-cycle. Renewing, regrowing and replanting are equally important.
“You need to look at the big picture. LCA’s to look at carbon footprint constantly and have all companies measured against the same criteria.”
Petter Wright said: “The EU Circular Economy policy should not focus on recycling exclusively, but also help improve the sustainability of primary materials when they first enter the economy."
Other participants were Kitty Van Der Heijden, European director of the World Resource Institute, Tony Long, director of WWF European Policy Office, Kevin Bradley, ACE’s advocacy director and Sirpa Pietikainen MEP, president of GLOBE EU.
ACE's Chain of Custody Commitment on responsible sourcing of paperboard, made seven years ago, committed Elopak, SIG Combibloc and Tetra Pak by 2015 to use only wood fibres taken from legal and acceptable sources in cartons, all verified by 3rd parties. It is 93% fulfilled.
Recycling for beverage cartons from the early 1990s has reached 42% and a 71% recovery rate Europe-wide.
Via video message, Commissioner Karmenu Vella, said: “You understood long ago that environmental protection makes business sense and for the past 20 years have been doing a great job at improving sourcing, resource efficiency and the quality of your products…”