There is no circular economy of the food system without the development of the circular economy of paper and paperboard food packaging. Carlo Montalbetti is a man capable of challenging the future. General Manager of Comieco, the National Consortium for Recycling and Recovery of Cellulose-Based Packaging, he is one of the leading experts in business management with particular specialization on the management of industrial cycles related to paper and cardboard recycling and environmental sustainability. He is the author of several publications on the recycling industry and waste management and valorization. Member of Symbola Foundation Committee; University of Gastronomic Sciences Pollenzo Strategic Committee; Institute for Enterprise Values (Bocconi University); Milanese Civic Schools Board of Directors, Amerigo Association (International Cultural Exchanges Programs Alumni).
“But never before have we lived in the knowledge that our future is so at risk. The crises we are experiencing and the environmental damage are driving the entire planet to collapse and are so tangible that we fear the future, despite the fact that recent breakthroughs in biogenetics promise to be able to raise our life expectancy to 100 years. As research is engaged on all fronts, from the study of environmentally friendly materials to energy efficiency, from sustainable mobility to the circular economy, awareness is growing to profoundly redefine the link between environment and quality of life.” And growing at the same time are the principle of sharing goods and alternative ways of accessing consumption, introducing revolutionary processes such as food delivery. Based on Comieco’s experience in separate collection and recycling of paper and cardboard for more than 30 years, in the face of phenomena of this magnitude, it becomes essential to push for the development and adoption of environmentally friendly containers, whether made of cardboard or cardboard laminated with virtuous materials, capable of ensuring their recyclability and biodegradability. As food packaging becomes increasingly relevant in the environmental footprint of the food system, it is critical that the containers of food that reach our homes are designed and conceived to be sustainable. Paper plays a leading role: paper and cardboard packaging, in fact, thanks to their practical, safe and functional characteristics, are among the best “allies” in the fight against food and resource waste. In addition, because paper is a natural, biodegradable and recyclable material, it provides significant energy and resource savings compared to packaging derived from fossil-based raw material. For Montalbetti, the starting point is the fight against all forms of waste: “With a food system responsible for one-third of carbon dioxide emissions, it is obvious that we need to find a sustainable style of food consumption to positively impact climate change, the effects of which we are beginning to feel on our skin. To do this, we, consumers and companies, must learn to limit food waste and choose efficient packaging, which is already designed by providing for its end-of-life management and using recyclable and natural materials such as paper or cardboard, which belong to a virtuous supply chain. Paper, thanks to its ability to metamorphose, can be part of a circular production cycle and be recycled up to seven times. At the same time, through innovative hybridization processes with other materials, paper-dominant composite packaging is able to meet a consumer demand that, particularly in the food system, is increasingly sophisticated.”
The paper supply chain represents one of the leading sectors of the circular economy in Italy. Each Italian in 2021 differentiated more than 60 kg. More than 3.6 million tons of cellulosic materials were collected by municipalities throughout Italy. And, in particular, Southern Italy saw positive growth of 4.3 percent. These numbers confirm Italy among the European leaders in the recycling industry, surpassing the EU target of 85 percent set for 2030 10 years ahead of schedule.
