Cementing A Circular Future

One environmental policy tool impacting the cement industry is 'extended producer responsibility,' or EPR. It requires producers of cement and building materials to take responsibility for the environmental impact of their products throughout their entire lifecycle, from production and usage to disposal. Among other things, manufacturers will have to ensure that their packaging is recyclable and to finance the collection, sorting, and recycling through EPR fees. EPR obligations for packaging derive from broader EU legislation. With the new EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) in effect since February 11, 2025, the requirements are becoming even stricter. By 2040, packaging waste should be significantly reduced, and from 2030 onward, stricter recyclability standards will apply. A crucial aspect for manufacturers: starting in 2028, EPR fees will be adjusted based on how recyclable their packaging is. This so-called recyclability performance will be defined by delegated acts.

Future-proofing cement packaging

With these evolving regulations, how can the cement and building materials industry ensure its packaging remains compliant? And more importantly, how does this effort translate into business advantages? The answer lies in innovation. Now is the time for the cement and building materials industry to rethink its packaging to avoid costly adjustments tomorrow and turn compliance into a competitive advantage. Compliance not only safeguards businesses from regulatory risks but also strengthens brand reputation, cost efficiency, and environmental impact.

Paper cement sacks: perfectly recyclable

Industrial paper sacks are widely used for cement and other building materials. In 2024, more than 3 billion sacks were placed on the European market. While Germany and Spain already have established providers for paper sack collection and recycling, there is no unified, Europe-wide system in place. As a result, paper sacks are often collected within a mixed stream of paper packaging for recycling. Therefore, ensuring their compatibility with standard mill recycling processes is essential. A recent lab study, commissioned by EUROSAC and CEPI Eurokraft, found that both used and unused cement paper sacks – with or without plastic film layers – are fully recyclable under the conditions of standard high-volume recycling mills, as per industry standard. Furthermore, the study revealed that the inclusion of sack kraft fibres in the recovered paper fibre mix enhances the quality and strength of the recycled material. It may also bring processing benefits as it improves yield and lowers drying energy requirements when used in paper manufacturing.

Improving design for recyclability

Ensuring recyclability plays a very crucial role with the new legislation. All packaging with a recyclability performance that scores lower than 70% will be banned from the market by 2030. By 2038, the recyclability performance score must be at least 80%. Adding to that, the recyclability performance score will influence EPR fees. They will be adjusted according to the environmental performance of materials and the recyclability grade. To equip paper sack fillers, sack kraft paper producers, and paper sack converters with insights into how material and design choices impact recyclability, EUROSAC and CEPI Eurokraft have published design for recyclability guidelines. These guidelines enable producers to maximise the recyclability of the paper sacks they place on the market. Beyond achieving a strong recyclability performance score, by 2035, all packaging must be recycled at scale. This means that collection, sorting, and recycling systems must be fully established and operational across all relevant regions in Europe. Fortunately, there are already different solutions from the sack kraft paper and paper sack industry in place that can function as a role model for future expansion. They all show that collaboration along the value chain is key when it comes to establishing an efficient circular system.

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Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/special-reports/27062025/cementing-a-circular-future/