Emballageavfall

Emballageavfall, or packaging waste, refers to waste generated from materials used to protect, contain, present, or transport goods. It includes packaging made of paper and cardboard, plastics, glass, metal, wood, and composite materials, as well as multi-material packaging that can be difficult to separate for recycling.

The majority of emballageavfall originates from households, retail, and industry, with packaging intended to protect products during shipping and storage. Common components are corrugated cardboard and paper, PET and other plastics, glass bottles and jars, metal cans, and wooden pallets. Multi-material packaging such as laminates and beverage cartons poses recycling challenges because the constituent materials are difficult to separate.

Collection and sorting are essential steps in managing emballageavfall. Waste is typically sorted at or near the source by material type, then transported to material recovery facilities where further sorting and processing occur. Recyclability depends on material properties, contamination levels, and local recycling capabilities. Recovered paper, plastics, metals, and glass can be turned into new products, while residual fractions may go to energy recovery or landfilling where permitted.

Regulatory frameworks in many regions promote packaging waste management through producer responsibility and recycling targets. The EU’s packaging and packaging waste directive sets common goals and requires producers to finance collection, sorting, and recycling schemes. National implementations vary; in Nordic countries, producers generally fund packaging systems while municipalities handle collection.

Environmental considerations emphasize reducing resource use, lowering greenhouse gas emissions, and minimizing litter by designing packaging for recyclability, encouraging reuse where feasible, and improving consumer sorting practices. Public awareness and robust collection infrastructure are key to improving recycling rates for emballageavfall.