From disposable to recyclable

For the first time, the EU is grounding its ambition to halve food waste by 2030 in tangible legislation. We are evolving from a disposable model to a recycling model. MEP Mark Demesmaeker was one of those who had a seat at the negotiating table and he looks back with satisfaction: “It’s a great thing for the environment and our economy too.”

Based on a Flemish model

Flanders serves as the model for the new waste legislation, which is moving ever closer to the Flemish standards for selective collection. By 2035, we must recycle 65% of household waste in Europe. A mere 10% will still be allowed to end up in landfills. No less than 70% of packaging waste must be recycled.

Economic growth

The legislation encourages manufacturers to work towards a better product design that facilitates reuse, recovery and recycling. “If you manage it in a smart manner, you create more jobs, more economic growth and fewer CO2 emissions,” MEP Demesmaeker believes. “Switching to a recycling economy is not just about preserving the environment, it is important for the Competitiveness The extent to which companies in one country can compete with similar companies in another country. A law came into force in Belgium in 1996 to monitor competitiveness. This stipulates that Belgian salaries may not evolve faster than the average of those in the three neighbouring countries. The Central Economic Council (CEC) performs an annual measurement to see if the objectives have been obtained. competitiveness of our companies,” he concludes.