What is the future of waste management shaping up to be? Are we drowning in a waste tsunami?
What is certain is that the future of waste management will be shaped by a number of factors, including technological change, changes in consumer culture, regulatory rules and increased environmental awareness.
The zero-waste economy is not only a vision of the future, but above all an environmental concept based on innovative ecological and economic solutions. This philosophy is closely linked to the idea of a closed loop economy. Its implementation requires the transformation of the entire production process and the development of a waste management system based on comprehensive education. Action is needed in many areas, such as reducing the amount of waste generated, promoting conscious consumption and increasing the recovery and recycling of raw materials.
Required recycling levels are already increasing. Selected single-use plastic products are disappearing from the European market. According to the plan, recyclate will be mandatory for certain packaging. All due to European regulations. This new circular economy architecture is still missing one important component, which is Extended Producer Responsibility.
How not to drown in the tangle of new legislation prepared by Polish and EU specialists was discussed at the panel "The waste tsunami, how not to drown in packaging".which took place on 12 October during the European Forum for New Ideas (EFNI). Panellists included:
– Anna Grom, CEO, Interzero Polska and Interzero Circular Solutions Europe
– Dr Katarzyna Baranska, head of the decarbonisation team, partner at law firm Osborne Clarke
– Joanna Leoniewska-Gogola, MBA, deputy director for sustainability and economics, Deloitte
– Piotr Romańczuk, Director of Environmental Affairs, Maspex Group
– Robert Szyman, Director General, Polish Plastics Converters Association
European Forum for New Ideas is one of the largest conferences dedicated to global trends, new ideas and the future of Europe. As Interzero, we strive to continually discuss the challenges in a changing world with business representatives and together shape a future that depends on us.
Thank you to the organisers for the invitation and to the panellists for the inspiring discussion. See you at EFNI 2023!