Il packaging recycling in Italy it is among the best in Europe. In the ecological transition, the recovery of tons of materials that accompany goods in all forms of transport has become a beneficial goal for the whole supply chain. In just one year, more than 70% of the packaging in circulation was recycled. There International paper, one of the largest manufacturers of packaging materials in the world with headquarters in Memphis (USA) with 38.000 employees, of which 4.300 in Europe, present in Italy since 1960, has announced 20 million euros of investments in its three Italian offices. The establishments of Bellusco, Catania and Pomezia, they will be upgraded with new equipment to achieve higher quality packaging. New die-cutters, corrugated board production lines, energy saving in view of the company's Vision 2030, they will absorb the majority of the investment. The works will start in the coming weeks and will end in the first half of 2023.
Packaging recycling: a success for Italy
The company uses fiber products and absorbent pulp-based materials suitable for the best processes The circular economy. After all, throughout Europe, companies are adapting to EU regulations to gain market positions. With the new investments, Italy becomes a strategic country for the American multinational. In the Catania plant boxes will be printed for the industrial sector, but a modern treatment plant will also be installed wastewater. There will also be a reduction in electricity consumption. Processing will require less water in a Region – says the company – where water is still a precious commodity. But “these investments in Italy – he explains John Berry, the General Manager for Europe – will strengthen our overall position and our portfolio of sustainable packaging solutions”. From South to North, passing through the Pomezia site. Here there will be a new corrugator for cardboard which will allow the enhancement of local production capacity. Lastly, a new die-cutter for the production of cardboard baskets for the fruit and vegetable sector will be installed in the Bellusco plant.
The alternatives to disposable products
The final products will all be recyclable at 100%. And they are actually a good alternative to disposable packaging plastic, basically prohibited. In this way, the Company also enters other market segments in Italy, he adds John Colocci, General Manager for Italy. The Italian innovations that limit energy and water consumption will evidently benefit the company's already substantial turnover which in 2021 was 19,4 billion dollars. But for the packaging sector in Italy, the news does not end there. The National Packaging Consortium - CONAI - which brings together hundreds of companies has announced the birth of theIdentiPack, the first National Observatory on the environmental labeling of packaging, together with GS1 Italy, one of the non-profit organizations active in 116 countries around the world. Another step forward towards already high goals.
