Deadline: 22-Feb-23
The Rethink Plastic alliance (RPa), Fern and the Environmental Paper Network (EPN) wish to carry out new research on the overall socio-economic, health and environmental impacts of paper and cardboard used for packaging purposes, with focus to reduce it.
The organisations want the research to give a comprehensive understanding of the socio-economic, health and environmental impacts of the use of paper and cardboard packaging in Europe. The research would aim to provide a holistic approach of the impacts of paper and cardboard used for packaging in Europe, including an analysis on:
- the production and consumption trends of how much of pulp and paper is going into packaging in Europe, including how much of raw/virgin fibres is used (e.g.: how many trees/forests that would represent); (essential)
- the impacts of forestry management, including on land use, soil degradation, water resources, biodiversity losses, and habitat protection. It should also include recent data on the carbon emissions; (essential)
- the social and economic impacts for the communities and third countries (exporters/suppliers); (desirable)
- the hazardous chemicals that are present in paper food packaging and what are the impacts of such chemicals for human health and for the environment (desirable)
The research should account for the whole value chain from the pulp extraction until its disposal, including:
- the potential recyclability of paper-based packaging, especially when in contact with food/beverages (e.g: such as plastic-coated paper container of multi material bricks/tetrapacks commonly used for prep meals and takeaway). It should look into the challenges in recycling of such materials and at the real value of the secondary material that is obtained (e.g: if it is mostly downcycled); (essential)
- its waste generation, management and disposal, including how much of that is downcycled/land-filled and/or incinerated. (essential)
Objectives of the study
- The objectives of this project are to identify the socio-economic, health and environmental impacts of the use of paper and cardboard for packaging in Europe in order to address/mitigate such impacts and support a transition from single-use packaging towards more reusable packaging systems.
- The organisations want the research to give a comprehensive understanding of the socio-economic, health and environmental impacts of the use of paper and cardboard packaging in Europe. The research would aim to provide a holistic approach of the impacts of paper and cardboard used for packaging in Europe.
- The research should also bring a perspective on the growing shift from single-use plastic packaging to paper based over the past years and what would be the related impacts of such a trend, taking into account the environmental and socio-economic challenges mentioned above.
- Also, the research should investigate the hazardous chemicals that are present in paper food packaging and what are the impacts of such chemicals for human health and for the environment. In this context, it should also look into the (synthetic) barrier coatings that are applied to paper packaging to make it waterproof, grease resistant, etc.
Funding Information
Amount: 20,000 euros (VAT included if applicable)
Deliverables
The consultants will have two deliverables:
- A written public report of 20-40 pages (excluding annexes), targeted at EU and national policy makers. The report should include:
- a short overview of the challenge and policy context (1 page max)
- analysis of environmental, health and socio-economic impacts of paper packaging;
- policy recommendations for scaling up circular, sustainable and safe food packaging;
- specific recommendations regarding revision of the packaging and packaging waste regulation
- The final report will also include a short executive summary. The language of this report will be English and it should be non-technical, focused on (innovative) recommendations, clear and understandable by both policy makers and interested stakeholders.
- The report should be accompanied with a more technical document which will compile all the background research and evidence gone into compiling the shorter public report. This will contain the solid scientific data and justifications to back-up the new public research and claims.
For more information, visit Rethink Plastic alliance.
