The European initiative CEFLEX aims to improve the contribution of flexible packaging to the circular economy. The aim is to find better system design solutions by 2025 through cooperation between the many players along the entire value chain. In May this year, German machine builder Windmöller & Hölscher joined CEFLEX.
CEFLEX is a collaboration project carried out by European companies that represent the entire flexible packaging value chain. The initiative looks at the entire life cycle of flexible packaging from production, consumption and collection to waste management and secondary raw materials. An important goal is to develop guidelines for flexible packaging that are recognised throughout Europe by 2020. Other working groups deal with new technologies, infrastructure and business models as well as end markets for recycled material.
Transforming flexible packaging into a closed material system will represent a major challenge for the flexible packaging industry in the future, explains W&H CEO Dr Jürgen Vutz. “CEFLEX is an important step towards combining expertise in this area and working together to find circular economy solutions for flexible packaging. As the world market leader for machines for manufacturing flexible packaging, we can make an important contribution to the technological advancement, in particular,” states Vutz when explaining the involvement of W&H in the collaborative initiative.
In addition to Windmöller & Hölscher, more than 70 other companies and organisations are involved in the CEFLEX project – these range from raw material suppliers to packaging processers and brand owners. These stakeholders all hold important positions in the flexible packaging value chain.
