The ban on the circulation of plastic packaging can only affect PET bottles of “non-standard” colors so far

The list of types of plastic packaging, the ban of which is currently being discussed by the Russian authorities, has been drastically reduced. Instead of the 28 types of packaging proposed by the Russian Ecological Operator, four positions have so far been agreed with the government, and the business insists on narrowing the list only to plastic bottles of non-standard colors. The date of the ban has not yet been determined – the business proposes to postpone it until 2030. Otherwise, plastic processing companies are confident that the sector will face a crisis.

The ban on the circulation of plastic packaging so far can only affect one type of product – PET bottles of “non-standard” colors, sources familiar with the discussion told Kommersant. It is proposed not to prohibit containers of white, blue, green and brown colors, since such coloring has a functional purpose: it preserves the consumer properties of the product and increases its shelf life. Bottles of other – “non-traditional” – colors are used only for advertising and marketing purposes, they are many times smaller, which makes it unprofitable to collect and process separately.

Initially, the Russian Ecological Operator (REO), which should deal with waste processing, proposed to ban 28 types of plastic packaging and replace them with environmentally friendly counterparts (mainly paper and aluminum). But business strongly objected, and in the process of discussion the list was reduced to four positions. In addition to PET bottles, it was a thin PVC shrink film, packaging with a PVC label, as well as packaging produced using insoluble adhesives. The REO proposed at the first stage to abandon mesh bags for vegetables and fruits, doy-packs (soft packaging for sauces, etc.) and plastic capsules for coffee. To introduce a ban, according to the federal project “Circular Economy”, was planned as early as 2024. Kommersant’s interlocutors assure that there are no specific dates yet.

Business proposes to at least postpone the ban until 2030, according to the resolution following the meeting of the CCI committees with the participation of industry unions on June 9. It states that in 2022 the food packaging market amounted to 1.2 trillion rubles, and food polymer packaging accounts for 25% of almost 3 million tons of all packaging materials used in the Russian Federation. At the meeting, packaging manufacturers noted that replacing polymer products with paper, cardboard, glass, etc. is often technologically unfeasible. The transition to the types of packaging that existed before the advent of polymers can increase the total amount of waste, including food, due to a decrease in shelf life. And transportation costs when replacing flexible polymer packaging with glass will increase 20 times.

The president of the Soyuznapitki association, Maxim Novikov, told Kommersant that the ban should be postponed. He notes that the initiators of this idea have not publicly presented the results of studies that would confirm the non-recyclability of such packaging. According to Mr. Novikov, the possible ban on “containers with PVC labels or insoluble adhesives” raises the most questions, as a very general wording has been chosen and several types of packaging are under threat.

Konstantin Romanov, the CEO of Araneo, the largest producer of vegetable nets in the Russian Federation, is sure that chain retailers and agricultural producers simply have no alternative to such packaging and the proposed transition will lead to higher prices for products, primarily such socially important products as potatoes. In addition, enterprises producing vegetable nets in the event of its ban are threatened with closure, since “Russia is isolated from the largest sales markets, and we will not be able to sell the produced volumes on the domestic market and in the CIS countries.”

AKORT told Kommersant that “any restrictive initiatives must go through a full cycle of discussions with businesses, primarily with manufacturers of goods, so as not to cause interruptions in supplies or an increase in the cost of production, which will affect the final consumer.” The organization believes that the transition to new types of packaging should be gradual. “In addition, we consider it promising to further improve technologies and infrastructure for recycling, which would increase the number of fractions and types of packaging suitable for collection and processing,” explained ACORT.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade told Kommersant that they are assessing the need for possible restrictions on the circulation of certain types of non-recyclable plastic products and are discussing this issue, taking into account the opinions of all market participants. The ministry explained that the main focus is on a gradual transition to fully recyclable polymer structures. The REO did not respond to Kommersant’s request.

If we exclude the main types of coloring of PET bottles, the ban on “non-standard colors” will affect a very small part of the market and is feasible, says Mikhail Burmistrov, head of Infoline-Analytics. The Russian economy is not ready for more large-scale measures against the backdrop of sanctions and other difficulties, the expert is sure, believing that the environmental agenda has faded into the background at least until the completion of the NWO.

Olga Mordyushenko