Italy’s pioneering producer responsibility scheme for compostable packaging, Biorepack, is drawing international attention as European Union member states prepare for the upcoming Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR). Managed by Carmine Pagnozzi, the consortium represents Europe’s only dedicated Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system designed specifically for certified biodegradable and compostable plastics, offering a potential blueprint for wider European adoption.
The scheme is funded by an environmental contribution levied on producers and importers of compostable packaging. These funds are used to support municipalities in separate organic waste collection and to subsidise industrial composting facilities. A key challenge addressed by Biorepack is the persistent industry claim that compostable plastics contaminate traditional organic waste streams. Pagnozzi disputes this, arguing that certified compostables are "not a pollutant but an ally" of organic waste collection, provided that clear labelling and robust processing infrastructures are in place.
For UK waste management firms and Turkish packaging converters exporting to the European market, the evolution of compostable EPR schemes is highly significant. As the PPWR harmonises packaging rules across the EU, the distinction between mechanical recycling and organic recycling streams will become stricter. Turkish converters supplying the EU food-service sector must ensure their compostable products comply with specific national collection systems to avoid punitive EPR fees. Meanwhile, UK waste operators can look to the Italian model to understand how dedicated organic recycling streams might eventually be structured domestically to reduce landfill tax liabilities and improve carbon reporting.
The practical takeaway for packaging designers and recyclers is to prepare for a more segmented waste landscape. Businesses should audit their current polymer portfolios against the incoming PPWR criteria, ensuring that any compostable formats are certified to EN 13432 standards and aligned with the collection capabilities of their target export markets.
