A Survey Of Nordic Packaging Data Collection Methods

A Survey of Nordic Packaging Data Collection Methods

Effectiveness of Packaging Waste Management Systems in Selected Countries

Packaging waste is an important and growing waste stream. The amended Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive has recently been adopted, and work is underway to develop EU thematic strategies on waste prevention and recycling and on the sustainable use and management of natural resources. The Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive (hereafter: packaging directive) is one of the few environmentally-related directives to contain directly measurable, quantitative targets. It has now been in place for ten years and this is an opportune time to take stock of this important policy area. The EEA has conducted a pilot study of the effectiveness of packaging waste management systems in five EU Member States with the aim of gaining practical and concrete experience of ex-post policy effectiveness evaluation, and to track progress in this policy area.

The Nordic Region leading in green growth

In November 2011, the Nordic Prime Ministers commissioned the Nordic Council of Ministers to launch a new cross sectoral initiative for green growth. The Prime Ministers’ commission was based on the report, The Nordic Region – leading in green growth, prepared by a Nordic working group for green growth. The Nordic countries should together utilise their position in terms of energy efficiency, development of sustainable energy, environmental awareness, innovation and research initiatives, and high international goals in the environmental and climate area. The aim is to work in areas in which the Nordic countries can build on and develop existing positions of strength, improve co-ordination between the Nordic countries, and take the lead in relation to the development in the European Union (EU). The Councils of Ministers are making tangible the working group’s eight recommendations for project activities, which have been granted a total of DKK 45 million in the period 2012–2014. This status report presents the most important advances in each project. More information on the initiative is also available on the home page of the Council of Ministers, www.norden.org/greengrowth.