The concept of sustainable development was introduced at the 1972 Stockholm Conference, when a first alarm signal was drawn as to natural resources.
"Earth's natural resources must be protected for the present and future generations, by careful planning and proper management"
The first European regulations on packaging waste management were introduced in 1985, with the adoption of the Directive on containers for liquids intended for human consumption.
Directive 94/62/EC on packages and packaging waste, as amended by Directive 2004/12/EC, had an immediate positive impact on packaging waste management, and triggered a change in the European citizens' behaviour as regards environmental protection.
The United Nations Summit held in the autumn of 2002 established the period 2005-2014 as the decade of Education for Sustainable Development, during which the change in ecological, economic and social perceptions becomes a primordial concern.
Environmental protection by reducing the quantity of used natural resources and the amount of generated waste, along with the introduction of the notion of producer liability, have become an integral part of the EU environmental policy.
The implementation of this policy was possible due to the support of the industry, which laid the foundations of the packaging waste collection, recovery and recycling system - the Green Dot system, which is the integrated European packaging waste management system.
"Earth's natural resources must be protected for the present and future generations, by careful planning and proper management"
The first European regulations on packaging waste management were introduced in 1985, with the adoption of the Directive on containers for liquids intended for human consumption.
Directive 94/62/EC on packages and packaging waste, as amended by Directive 2004/12/EC, had an immediate positive impact on packaging waste management, and triggered a change in the European citizens' behaviour as regards environmental protection.
The United Nations Summit held in the autumn of 2002 established the period 2005-2014 as the decade of Education for Sustainable Development, during which the change in ecological, economic and social perceptions becomes a primordial concern.
Environmental protection by reducing the quantity of used natural resources and the amount of generated waste, along with the introduction of the notion of producer liability, have become an integral part of the EU environmental policy.
The implementation of this policy was possible due to the support of the industry, which laid the foundations of the packaging waste collection, recovery and recycling system - the Green Dot system, which is the integrated European packaging waste management system.
The Green Dot system plays a major role on the international environmental arena, becoming an unprecedented financial model for achieving the objectives laid down in the EU Directives on environmental protection.
There is no single ideal approach on the collection, recovery and recycling of packaging waste at the European level, but there is uniformity in diversity of the various systems established and managed by the industry.
The uniformity of the system is derived from its core principles:
There is no single ideal approach on the collection, recovery and recycling of packaging waste at the European level, but there is uniformity in diversity of the various systems established and managed by the industry.
The uniformity of the system is derived from its core principles:
- The organisations do not aim at making a profit, as the operating profit is fully reinvested in environmental protection actions;
- The producer's liability principle is observed;
- National organisations under the Green Dot umbrella cooperate with each other.
Population with access to selective collection containers
Quantities of packaging waste collected selectively (kg)
Companies affiliated to the Green Dot System
Packaging waste recycled through the
