Eco-score recycling - en
Intro
This document describes how the eco-score packaging malus can be extended to other countries.
Explanation
The basis for the packaging part of the eco-score is described in the base document. This document distinguishes two parts of packaging: where is comes from (upstream) and where is goes to (downstream).
Materials
The eco-score document identifies 18 different materials and the lifecycle for each material. This is a rather large number. It is unclear whether this can be repeated for other countries.
Upstream
The upstream part describes the origin of the materials used in packaging. Is the material used recyclable? Has the material been re-used? Is the material part of a sustainable cycle?
The upstream formula is defined as:
score = A * 1 + B * 0.75 + C * 0.5 + D * 0
Le score amont correspond à la somme des points accordés. Il s'exprime sur 100. La somme des 4 origines possibles (A, B, C, D) doit toujours être égale à 100%.
A le % d'incorporation de matières premières recyclées B le % de matière première renouvelable et durable C le % de matière première renouvelable non durable D le % de matière première non renouvelable
The A, B, C and D depend on the material. The actual values might be dependent on the country.
Downstream
Individual countries
For each country we need to find the relevant up- and downstream data. For countries of the EU, the Eurostat database is a good start for downstream statistics.
Belgium
For Belgium some data can be found with Statbel (dutch). The industry is represented by Fostplus. Recyclability test. The most recent numbers can be found on 2019. or here, here.
Fostplus recognises several material categories. Unfortunately recycling numbers are not available for all categories. The separate recycling of all plastics is fairly recent (2018 and later), so no numbers are available yet.
| Material | Recycling | Container | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| carton | 100% | paper/carton | recycling up to 5x |
| glass | 100% | glazen bol | split in transparent and non-transparent |
| HDPE | ? | pmd | |
| metal - steel | 100% | pmd | |
| metal - alu | 92% | pmd | |
| paper | 100% | paper/carton | recycling possible up to 5x |
| PE foil | - | pmd | |
| PET - transparant | 60% | pmd | |
| PET - tr. blue | - | pmd | |
| PET - tr. colored | - | pmd | |
| PET - trays | - | pmd | |
| r-PET | - | pmd | |
| plastic | 46% | pmd | all plastics combined |
| PO | - | pmd | |
| PP | - | pmd | |
| PS | - | pmd |
Labels
Packaging might display one or more logo's, which relate to the recyclability of packaging.
Green dot
Producers that display this logo on their packaging declare that they contribute to recycling industry depending on the packaging. It does not say anything of the packaging itself. In Belgium the producer pays a tarif based on the recyclability of the packaging (link).