Recyclability and Biodegradability - the most important standards at a glance
16.04.2019 - Sustainability
The cartonboard and paper industry has always been a pioneer for an
ecologically circular economy. With the European Packaging Directive, the
EN 13430 and EN 13432, the EU Parliament has already aligned the various
measures taken by the member states in the area of packaging and packaging
waste management back in 1994, intending to reduce the impact of packaging
on the environment and to keep the domestic market functioning.
Recyclability – EN 13430
The EN 13430 defines the possibilities of materials recycling. A package must be designed in such a way that the raw materials used can be recycled by means of commonly used sorting systems or standard materials recovery systems. Packages that consist of several materials must be constructed so the consumer can separate them. Cartonboard is simply collected as recovered paper and turned back into cartonboard in a recycling plant.
Biodegradability – EN 13432
The EN 13432 describes requirements and processes regarding biodegradability. In addition to general biological degradability in laboratory tests, the aerobic degradability of the individual packaging materials must be proven in practice. The packaging components must not have any negative impact on the quality of the compost. We had two independent external and state-approved institutes test our MMK cartonboard qualities for biodegradability. Both the Institut für Verpackungswesen (Austrian Packaging Institute) in Vienna and the Institut für Agrarbiotechnologie (Department of Agrobiotechnology) in Tulln confirm that our products are biodegradable in laboratory tests and in practical experiments at the industrial composting plant in Oberpullendorf.
All MMK cartonboard qualities – including our special qualities with barriers – consist of renewable raw materials and comply with the two standards of recyclability and biodegradability.
