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On July 1st of this year, changes to the Natural Resources Tax Law will come into effect, establishing a natural resources tax (NRT) for the portion of plastic packaging that is not recycled or regenerated. According to a study conducted by the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies (LBTU), approximately 35% of available packaging in Latvian stores faces challenges or is not recyclable. Anticipating changes in plastic packaging management and exploring opportunities to promote recyclability, industry experts elucidated during the seminar "Sustainable Packaging: From Design to Recycling 2024," organized by "Latvijas Zaļais punkts" in collaboration with LBTU on Wednesday, April 24th.

Rudīte Vesere, Director of the Environmental Protection Department at the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development, noted during the seminar that plastic packaging pollution has increased 20 times since the 1950s, which is much more than the rise in energy consumption over the past decades. She emphasized, "The European Union's goal is to encourage countries to reconsider the type of plastic packaging we use. Therefore, Latvia has introduced a tax aimed at promoting the use of recyclable packaging, increasing recycling volumes, while reducing the amount of packaging buried in landfills." Changes in the NRT law impose a fee on Latvian producers and retailers of €0.80 per kilogram of plastic packaging that is recyclable but not recycled, and €1.25 per kilogram of plastic packaging that cannot be recycled due to its material properties and has not been regenerated. Therefore, producers and retailers will need to evaluate more rigorously how to achieve the use of more sustainable packaging, while we all need to initiate new and effective solutions to achieve these goals together."

According to the latest data compiled by the State Environmental Service for the year 2021, more than 47 thousand tons of plastic packaging are introduced into the Latvian market annually. Out of this volume, nearly 24 thousand tons are collected and directed towards recycling or regeneration, in accordance with the requirements set by the state. Meanwhile, data from a study conducted by LBTU in collaboration with "Latvijas Zaļais punkts" under the European Union's LIFE20 IPE/LV/000014 – LIFE Waste To Resources IP project reveal that 13% of available packaging in Latvian store shelves faces challenges or is not recyclable, while the material type of 22% of the packaging is not indicated at all, reducing the opportunities for plastic packaging to be recycled.

Sandra Brasava-Muižniece, Head of the Technology and Knowledge Transfer Department at LBTU and Chair of the Board of the Latvian Packaging Association, expresses after the conducted study: "Assessing more than 3000 plastic packaging units on store shelves, we have concluded that the problem is not only the type of material but also other factors that make packaging inefficient and may hinder recycling. For example, 11% of the packaging available in stores has an excessively large and underfilled volume, and 11% of products have redundant double packaging, which does not affect the shelf life – essentially unnecessary and only serves as a marketing tool. Of course, there are aspects that can significantly affect the ability of manufacturers and retailers to transition to recyclable packaging, such as the packaging's ability to maintain quality, existing production equipment, which ultimately results in packaging costs. However, there are a number of packaging solutions that could be addressed with minor and easily implementable changes, such as optimizing packaging volume. The study also shows that education and collaboration among ecosystem stakeholders are the most significant factors in ensuring the successful and sustainable circulation of packaging."

Ilze Laukalēja-Broka, Representative of EIT Food in Latvia and a scientist at LBTU, emphasizes: "The EIT Food community, which is the world's largest and most dynamic community for food innovation, can also make a significant contribution to addressing sustainable packaging issues. Its representation in Latvia is formed by LBTU in partnership with the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia and the Latvian Rural Consultation and Education Center, thus encompassing a wide range of interested parties."

Kaspars Zakulis, Director of "Latvijas Zaļais punkts," explains: "The plastic packaging management system in Latvia has been operating for over 20 years, during which the main emphasis has been on placing sorting containers and educating the public. Being part of this system from its inception, we have had the opportunity to closely examine the management of these products, including the main obstacles that have hindered a faster transition to recyclable packaging. We see that it is crucial to strengthen synergy between packaging manufacturers and recyclers. Unfortunately, we currently observe a problem where many retailers cannot ascertain the type of packaging used when purchasing a product. This means that there must be assurances at the manufacturer level regarding the material used and where it can be recycled."

"Latvijas Zaļais punkts," in collaboration with the plastic packaging recycler Ltd. "Nordic Plast," is working on establishing a packaging testing laboratory in Latvia as part of the EU project LIFE20 IPE/LV/000014 – LIFE Waste To Resources IP, which is planned to be launched this year. Its aim is to create synergy between packaging manufacturers and recyclers. The new laboratory will allow testing to determine whether the packaging material chosen for production is recyclable in Latvia or in other countries. Additionally, the laboratory will provide certification for the tested material type, thus promoting recycling opportunities both within and outside Latvia.

* The study conducted within the framework of the LBTU European Union project LIFE20 IPE/LV/000014 – LIFE Waste To Resources IP analyzed more than 3000 packaging units available on the shelves of Latvian stores.

About Ltd. "Latvijas Zaļais punkts":

Ltd. "Latvijas Zaļais punkts" was founded on January 11, 2000, and is currently the most experienced producer responsibility organization in Latvia. Since its inception, "Latvijas Zaļais punkts" has been responsible for managing used packaging. Since 2006, "Latvijas Zaļais punkts" has also been responsible for the management of waste electrical and electronic equipment and environmentally harmful goods. From January 1, 2024, the company will also be responsible for managing tobacco products with filters and filters used with tobacco products, and from July 1, 2024, for textile product management as well.