In parts one and two of our Trashtalk miniseries, we already talked about the big players, recycling and the rules of thumb of ecodesign. But important questions remain - what about consumers? How can they still see the wood for the trees ? Are compostable plastics greenwashing? We'll help sort it all out in Part Three.

Are there any other myths related to packaging and recycling that can be dispelled?

That's the perception of compostable packaging. We see a lot of litter. The industry's response is often to use compostable plastics. If consumers throw them away in nature, they'll disappear. Of course, packaging isn't designed to be thrown away in nature. It's a matter of mentality. So the answer, "it's to combat litter," is nonsense. We need to stop creating litter. Hence the intention to charge a deposit so that packaging can be collected. People say you can throw compostable packaging in the organic waste bin, but I can tell you that those packages will be banned from the organic waste bin. Compostable plastics will be banned from the organic waste bin.

Why? Two reasons. First, the tests to determine whether the plastic is compostable are done on a laboratory scale. It has been established in real life that the decomposition process doesn't proceed as desired. After those weeks in the composting facility, you still find pieces of compostable plastic. Then, when the organic waste bin arrives at the composting facility, it's ground and aerated, and those products hinder this final process. And finally, some consumers aren't always so smart and throw regular plastics in the organic waste bin as well. This results in contamination from non-compostable plastics. That's why VLAKO has declared them banned. Of course, they don't belong in the PMD (PMD) bag. Because that bag goes to the sorting facility for recycling. In other words, packaging made from compostable plastics doesn't belong anywhere and is incinerated. Pure greenwashing.

"We need to stop creating additional litter."

I had also heard some things about compostable packaging and also understood that because very specific criteria are needed to compost that they are not actually achieved in practice. That there are always leftovers.

One area where it's interesting is the stickers on fruits and vegetables. I'm seeing a transition there now; there are paper stickers now, but until recently, they were PVC stickers. I visited a composting facility, and at the end of the process, we throw PVC stickers onto fields along with the compost. That creates microplastics not only in the ocean, but also in our ecosystems. So, for applications where compostable materials serve a function, such as protecting trees, it's certainly interesting.

It's also important to distinguish between compostable plastics and bioplastics. Bioplastics means the raw material is biobased. So, biological. Think of bio-polyethylene made from sugar residues and PLA made from corn residues. But then there are two types. Bio-polyethylene is not compostable, but it is recyclable. So, bio-based, not compostable. Then there's PLA, which is bio-based, but compostable. It's important to understand this difference. People often lump them together.

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If I understand correctly, these are materials produced from natural sources, but not so much disappear into a natural origin. There are a lot of calls in the industry, from corporations to non-profit to us. How do you best address that as a consumer?

I get so many questions about this because consumers often don't know what to do anymore. It's the same strategy I'm giving you, the industry. First, try to avoid packaging. Go packaging-free, zero-waste. Then opt for reuse, reuse yourself, or reusable packaging with collection. And then go for packaging that belongs in the PMD (PMD). It's a fact that not all plastic packaging that ends up there is recycled, but that's really too much for consumers to consider. For example, the black trays aren't recycled because they cause problems with sorting or pre-packaging ham or cheese; those are multi-layered, which we as consumers can't see, which means the plastic isn't recyclable either.

Don't be guided by perception. For example, there are paper packages like those for the deli meats at Colruyt. Naturally, paper is coated with plastic, with a plastic layer welded on top. Then the consumer is asked to tear off the paper layer and throw the rest in the PMD (plastic recycling) container. These are solutions that, in my opinion, don't make any difference. They create that perception, because the question is, of course, who's doing it?

Basically a matter of shifting responsibility to the consumer?

True. And my thing above all is, take care of that consumer. Make it easy. The responsibility is not on the consumer and you have to encourage them. You can do that by nudging. Just look at Hollebolle Gijs in the efteling or a financial incentive like deposit money.

To conclude what the essentials are. Always reduce, reuse, recycle. In that order. But, of course, it's still a forest of lots of terms and definitions.

"The responsibility is not on the consumer. You have to encourage him."

Are there other technologies or concepts that you believe very strongly in? That are going to make a big difference?

What I see happening is that we're truly in a transition. Besides the circular economy narrative, we're seeing a focus on chemical recycling in the recycling narrative. I believe this is because plastics producers who have been making virgin plastics for years are investing heavily in chemical recycling. That's a revolution that's coming our way.

Then there's the digitalization of the world. There's currently a project underway called The Holy Grail. The concept is as follows: watermarks are applied to the packaging, and we throw them all back into one big bin. Then the packaging is screened and sorted properly. This, in turn, unburdens the consumer. This digitalization will create many opportunities for reuse, tracing, and recycling.

Also, raising awareness among everyone. All stakeholders, from consumer to government. What I also see happening is chain collaboration. Essential. In a linear world, companies bring packaging to market and couldn't care less whether it's recyclable or not. But now we're seeing raw material shortages and it's becoming more expensive, so companies now have a vested interest in applying the design for recycling rules of thumb. Because now the European Commission is also forcing companies to add recycled content to their packaging. So, companies now have every interest in this.

I think it's clear which direction to go, now it's just getting all the noses in the same direction!