Environmental contributions reformulated for paper, wood and glass

After consultation with the Comieco, Rilegno and Coreve consortia, and having evaluated the current scenario of the packaging recycling supply chain, CONAI has reformulated the Environmental Contribution (so-called “CAC”) for paper, wood and glass.

Increase for paper and cardboard

An increase for paper and cardboard packaging which, from 1 October 2023, will see the contribution moving from 5 to 35 euro/tonne. This is a trend reversal compared to that seen between July 2020 and July 2022, when the contribution for paper had gradually fallen from 55 to 5 euros/tonne thanks to the increase in the value of recycled paper on the market and the status of COMIECO’s economic funds.

The reasons behind the adjustment are to be found, on the one hand, in the reduction of revenues expected from the sale of the material for 2023; on the other hand, in the fall of volumes of packaging released for consumption and subject to CAC, a decrease due to the contraction in industrial production in the major global economies. This is all occurring in the context of an increase in the amount of material collected under the agreement. COMIECO’s funds have significantly fallen under the threshold necessary to ensure continuity with respect to collection and recycling commitments.

The values of extra CAC to be applied to paper-based poly-laminated packaging suitable for containing liquids, those of type C (with cellulose component greater than or equal to 60% and less than 80%) and those of type D (with cellulose component less than 60% or not stated) remain, instead, unchanged.

Decrease for wood

Looking at wood-based packaging, from 1 January 2024, the contribution passes from 8 euros/tonne to 7 euros/tonne. The decrease is related to the amount released for consumption in 2021 and 2022, leading to a positive economic situation.

Glass falls

With respect to glass-based packaging, finally, from 1 October 2023, the contribution passes from 23 to 15 euros/tonne, with a downward variation that has a double consequence: the continued growth of prices of the material sold at auction which in the first part of 2023 remained higher than those already high in 2022; the reduction of management costs, linked to the smaller quantities transferred to the consortium system.