The results of the new analysis regarding the application within Romanian companies of the principles of the circular economy in the area of ​​packaging

In the era of rapid changes in sustainability requirements and with the adoption of the National Strategy on the Circular Economy, Romanian companies are about to reinvent their business model to keep up with the latest legislative changes at the European level.

In order to provide useful material to companies that are going through the transition process or that want to start this transition, Stratos and Eco Synergy, together with ARAM, as a knowledge partner, through the market research company MEDNET Marketing Research Center have carried out a study focused on finding out the current status regarding the application by Romanian companies, in their own activity, of the principles of circularity and the challenges encountered.

The analysis followed the degree of preparation of Romanian companies in the transition to an economy circular, focusing on issues such as legislation, consumer behaviour, company actions and eco-design principles. The market research revealed interesting perspectives on the current state of the circular economy in Romania:

• 54.2% of Romanian companies have a strategy for applying the principles of the circular economy for their own packaging put on the market;
• over a third of the surveyed firms (35.3%) admit to engaging in circular practices in response to legal requirements in order to avoid potential penalties and additional costs, and
• a significant percentage (27.7%) still do not major concern, within the company, the transition to a circular economy model), revealing both challenges and exceptional opportunities for actors from the market.

The methodology involved a quantitative online survey and a qualitative one, by telephone, carried out from November to December 2023, on a sample of 120 companies, which led to conclusions regarding the level of awareness and implementation of circular economy practices among companies, the perceived impact therefore, the challenges and strategies used for sustainable packaging and waste reduction.

The questionnaire was conducted on companies in fields such as: retail, food, beverages, cosmetics and detergents, packaging production and others.

“There is great potential in Romania in the field of packaging, both in the area of ​​design and in the separate collection area for packaging waste, recycling and the use of secondary raw material in new products. At the same time, there are challenges that must be known and systematically addressed on all levels: economic, legislative, educational. Everyone has their role and must play it, as it also emerges from this analysis, in which 64% of respondents mentioned that the responsibility to inform and educate the consumer in the sense of adopting a behavior of reduction, reuse, separate collection, recycling of waste it belongs to: the authorities, the private but also the academic environment. It is interesting to see in this analysis, however, that most companies interviewed see more short- and medium-term benefits associated with the use of recycled/secondary raw material in packaging production than challenges. This is encouraging,” said Luminița Roșca, General Manager of Stratos and Eco Synergy.

“Packaging regulations – from their design to waste management of packaging – have gained momentum throughout the European Union, with an increasingly pronounced emphasis on the circularity of the materials used and the reduction of the impact on the environment. We are glad that we had the opportunity to be with our partners in carrying out this study in order to better understand the level of knowledge and compliance of producers with regard to these obligations”, said Alin Vișan, president of the Romanian Association for Packaging and the Environment (BRASS).

“Over time, we have carried out numerous innovative studies, a recent example being the study regarding the preparation of Romanian companies for the circular economy in the field of packaging, made in collaboration with Stratos, Eco Synergy and ARAM. Approaching this new field was like an adventure into uncharted territory, but also a challenge that I embraced with enthusiasm and commitment. The information discovered helped us to deepen our understanding of the business landscape in Romania and to identify the strategies, initiatives and innovations that guide companies towards a sustainable future. The results were both inspirational and informative. This project was not a simple task, but the opportunity to contribute to an essential movement in economy. We hope that the research results provided our client with valuable information and that we helped create a solid foundation for guiding companies through the transition process to circular economy, promoting a culture of sustainability and responsibility. We are proud of the work done together with Stratos, Eco Synergy and ARAM and we are eager to see the positive changes in the Romanian business environment”, said Lăcrămioara Laura Pascal, General Manager of Mednet Stratos, an environmental consulting and services company with over 10 years of experience on the Romanian market.

Stratos supports numerous industries in Romania to actively contribute and responsible for environmental protection and to accelerate the transition to a circular economy and sustainability, having more than 700 clients in the portfolio. ECO SYNERGY is an organization that implements extended producer responsibility in the field of packaging and packaging waste, with national coverage. For ECO SYNERGY, assuming environmental responsibilities is not just compliance with legislation specific, but also an important step in educating society and protecting the environment and an important component in the context of the circular economy model we want to move towards.

The Romanian Association for Packaging and the Environment (ARAM) is an independent, non-profit association of producers and importers of packaging and packaged products, established in 2001. The association aims to identify, evaluate, analyze, promote and support implementation in Romania has fair and balanced environmental policies and strategies regarding the impact on the economy and the environment of packaging waste management systems. MEDNET MARKETING Research Center is a Romanian company with 22 years of experience in conducting qualitative and quantitative market studies. Our area of ​​expertise includes areas such as retail, medical services, insurance, pharmaceuticals and FMCG.

The results of the study can be downloaded here.