Packaging and Circular Economy
In an era of rapidly changing sustainability requirements and with the adoption of the National Circular Economy Strategy, Romanian companies are reinventing their business models to keep pace with the latest legislative changes at the European level. In an effort to provide useful material to companies undergoing or wishing to initiate this transition, Stratos and Eco Synergy, together with ARAM, as a knowledge partner, through the market research company MEDNET Marketing Research Center, conducted a study focused on identifying the current status of Romanian companies' application of circularity principles in their own activities and the challenges encountered. The analysis aimed to assess the readiness of Romanian companies to transition to a circular economy, focusing on aspects such as legislation, consumer behavior, corporate actions, and eco-design principles. The market research revealed interesting insights into the current state of the circular economy in Romania (54.2% of Romanian companies have a strategy for applying circular economy principles to the packaging they place on the market; over a third of the surveyed companies (35.3%) acknowledge engaging in circular practices in response to legal requirements, aiming to avoid potential penalties and additional costs, and a significant percentage (27.7%) still do not prioritize the transition to a circular economy model within the company), uncovering both challenges and exceptional opportunities for market players. The methodology involved a quantitative online survey and a qualitative telephone survey, conducted 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, their perceived impact, challenges, and strategies used for sustainable packaging and waste reduction. The questionnaire was administered to companies in sectors 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 terms of design and in terms of separate collection of packaging waste, recycling, and the use of secondary raw materials in new products. At the same time, there are challenges that need to be understood and systematically addressed at all levels: economic, legislative, educational. Everyone has their role to play, as shown in this analysis, where 64% of respondents mentioned that the responsibility for informing and educating consumers to adopt behavior that reduces, reuses, separately collects, and recycles waste belongs to: authorities, the private sector, and academia. It is interesting to note in this analysis, however, that most interviewed companies see more short and medium-term benefits associated with using 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 packaging waste management – have gained momentum across the European Union, with increasing emphasis on the circularity of materials used and reducing environmental impact. We are pleased to have had the opportunity to join our partners in conducting this study to better understand the level of knowledge and compliance of manufacturers regarding these obligations," said Alin Vișan, President of the Romanian Association for Packaging and Environment (ARAM). "Over time, we have conducted numerous innovative studies, a recent example being the study on the preparedness of Romanian companies for the circular economy in the field of packaging, conducted in collaboration with Stratos, Eco Synergy, and ARAM. Approaching this new domain was like an adventure into unexplored territory, but also a challenge that we embraced with enthusiasm and commitment. The insights discovered helped us deepen our understanding of the Romanian business landscape and identify the strategies, initiatives, and innovations that guide companies toward a sustainable future. The results were both inspirational and informative. This project was not just a task, but an opportunity to contribute to an essential movement in the economy. We hope that the research results provided our client with valuable information and that we helped create a solid foundation for guiding companies in the transition process to a circular economy, promoting a culture of sustainability and responsibility. We are proud of the work done alongside Stratos, Eco Synergy, and ARAM and are eager to see the positive changes in the Romanian business environment," said Lăcrămioara Laura Pascal, General Manager of Mednet. Stratos is an environmental consulting and services company with over 10 years of experience in the Romanian market. Stratos supports numerous industries in Romania to actively and responsibly contribute to environmental protection and accelerate the transition to a circular economy and sustainability, with over 700 clients in its portfolio. ECO SYNERGY is an organization that implements extended producer responsibility in the field of packaging and packaging waste, with national coverage. Assuming environmental responsibilities represents for ECO SYNERGY not only compliance with specific legislation but also an important step in educating society and protecting the environment, and a significant component in the context of the circular economy model we aim for. The Romanian Association for Packaging and Environment (ARAM) is an independent, non-profit association of packaging and packaged product manufacturers and importers, founded in 2001. The association aims to identify, evaluate, analyze, promote, and support the implementation in Romania of correct 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 research. Our areas of expertise include retail, medical services, insurance, the pharmaceutical sector, and FMCG. The results obtained from the study can be downloaded here.
