ASAP: as soon as possibile…as sustainable as possible
Lately, at Packstyle, we have chosen to dedicate even deeper and more structured attention to sustainability, recognizing that it is no longer an optional choice, but an essential need for the future of our industry and our planet.
Aware of the responsibility we carry as manufacturers, we have established solid partnerships with leading European certification bodies, university research centers, and internationally specialized institutions for material compliance testing. This commitment has led us to undergo numerous tests, trials, and experiments with the aim of thoroughly analyzing the stability, durability, and recyclability of our materials—thus ensuring products that meet the highest quality and environmental standards.
Investing in sustainability is now a non-negotiable priority. Yet, there are many paths one can take. At Packstyle, we’ve chosen to face this challenge with a concrete, transparent, and authentic approach—firmly believing that only through real and verifiable commitment can we build a better future, for our clients and for the environment.
EU Regulation 2025/40 on Packaging and Packaging Waste
Entered into force in February 2025, Regulation (EU) 2025/40 marks a significant turning point in packaging management, introducing a far-reaching reform that affects the entire life cycle of materials—from design to end-of-life. The goal is clear: to make packaging more recyclable and to foster a truly circular economy.
Among the key points of the new legislation is, first and foremost, the reduction of packaging waste. Compared to 2018 levels, the aim is to reduce waste production by 5% by 2030, 10% by 2035, and 15% by 2040.
All packaging must be designed to be recyclable, and therefore, reducing its complexity is to be encouraged.
Another crucial element is the requirement to introduce minimum recycled content in plastic packaging starting January 1, 2030. The required percentages will vary depending on the intended use and type of plastic used.
The Regulation also promotes reuse: by 2030, at least 40% of transport packaging must be reusable—a figure set to rise to 70% by 2040.
Finally, to ensure greater transparency, all environmental claims must be supported by verifiable technical evidence, and packaging labeling will be harmonized across the EU, making information clearer and more reliable for consumers.
Packstyle’s Approach
In line with the European Regulation mentioned above, at Packstyle we chose to rise to the challenge, seeking solutions that meet both environmental needs and those of our clients. Always guided by science, we firmly invest in research, development, and rigorous control and verification processes. Even when it comes to sustainability, we wanted to maintain this approach: grounding our decisions in concrete, measurable, and comparable data, based on objective and shared criteria.
It is precisely from this conviction that our decision to adopt LCA – Life Cycle Assessment – was born. This internationally recognized scientific tool allows us to evaluate the environmental impact of our products in a transparent and comprehensive way, across their entire life cycle, from raw material production to final disposal.
We chose this methodology for several reasons, first and foremost for its universality: it is based on shared standards (such as ISO 14040 and 14044), which makes the results comparable across different products, sectors, and countries. Thanks to its scientific rigor and data comparability, LCA is now considered one of the most reliable tools for measuring and improving environmental performance.
Moreover, the results of the analysis have helped us make more informed decisions in the present and serve as a valuable guide for future choices, allowing us to communicate clearly and transparently with clients and partners.
LCA Applied to Packstyle’s Pouches
LCA is an internationally recognized and precise tool for measuring environmental impact, yet few companies have chosen to undertake this path. Packstyle has decided to lead the way in the sector by partnering with S.C.F. International S.r.l., a consultancy firm specialized in sustainability. The goal was to compare different types of packaging intended for dry, liquid, or powdered foods, evaluating their environmental impact and efficiency.
The analysis focused on two types of Packstyle flexible packaging made from different materials: one multilayer with a zip, and the other a monomaterial polypropylene with a zip. For the comparative study, Packstyle supplied both stand-up and flat pouches in three different finishes—glossy, matte, and soft touch—available in both the monomaterial and multilayer versions.
To assess the environmental impact, Packstyle provided all relevant data on the flexible packaging, including material specifications, the grammage of the different layers, and information on energy and raw material consumption at the Romano d’Ezzelino facility.
Among companies that choose to follow this path, the most commonly used indicator is climate change, which measures greenhouse gas emissions. However, to gain a truly comprehensive and in-depth understanding of a product’s sustainability, it is essential to consider additional indicators of environmental impact.
This is why, at Packstyle, we chose not to limit ourselves to a single indicator. Instead, we selected five, allowing us to analyze the life cycle of our products from multiple angles and provide a richer, more accurate, and transparent picture of our environmental commitment.
The Indicators
Climate Change (kg CO₂ eq):
The impact on climate change mainly concerns greenhouse gas emissions throughout all stages of a product’s life cycle (production, transport, use, and disposal). Each phase, from raw material extraction to processing and transportation, contributes to the release of CO₂ and other gases that affect the greenhouse effect and thus global warming. LCA quantifies these emissions to determine the overall impact on climate change.
Photochemical Ozone Formation (kg NMVOC eq):
This phenomenon is caused by the reaction of atmospheric pollutants (such as nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds) under sunlight, leading to the formation of ground-level ozone. In LCA, the impact on photochemical ozone formation is assessed by measuring the amount of these pollutants emitted during each phase of the product’s life cycle.
Ozone Layer Depletion (kg CFC-11 eq):
Air pollution caused by chemicals like chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and other harmful agents can contribute to the thinning of the ozone layer, which protects the Earth from harmful UV rays. In LCA, the impact on ozone layer depletion is evaluated based on the quantity of these substances released during the product’s production, use, and disposal.
Acidification (mol H⁺ eq):
Acidification is the process by which the environment—especially water bodies and soils—becomes more acidic due to emissions of nitrogen and sulfur oxides, which combine with atmospheric water. This phenomenon can damage ecosystems and natural resources. In LCA, the impact of these pollutants produced during the product’s life cycle and their contribution to environmental acidification are measured.
Water Resource Depletion (m³ deprived):
Water resource depletion occurs when industrial activities consume excessive amounts of water, reducing its availability for other needs such as agriculture and drinking water. LCA considers the volume of water used at each stage of the product’s life cycle, from production to disposal, to assess how much each product contributes to pressure on water resources.
Main Results
The LCA analysis, as mentioned earlier, compared two materials used by Packstyle for its bags: the multi-layer laminated film and the monomaterial film, each in the three different finishes—glossy, matte, and soft touch.
The analysis conducted across the five indicators highlighted a consistent difference between the monomaterial and the laminated film. With the exception of the ozone layer depletion indicator, where monomaterial bags performed similarly to laminated ones, a significant gap was observed in all other parameters: the monomaterial values were considerably lower than those of the laminated material. Another trend that emerged from the analysis relates to the finish of the materials: bags with matte or glossy finishes showed a lower environmental impact compared to those with a soft touch finish.
The greatest difference was seen in CO₂ emissions: monomaterial bags produce fewer emissions than the other options, with an average value of 0.21 kg CO₂ eq per liter of volume capacity (the LCA Functional Unit of the packaging), compared to 0.45–0.58 kg CO₂ eq / FU for the laminated bags. Likewise, in terms of water consumption, monomaterial bags showed a significantly lower impact.
Finally, it is crucial to consider the disposal phase: monomaterial bags prove to be more sustainable because they can be recycled more easily than laminated ones, which are often destined for energy recovery through incineration. The study also highlighted that the raw material production phase is the most impactful for both types of packaging analyzed, underscoring the importance of optimizing production and recycling processes to reduce overall environmental impact.
The Path Taken by Packstyle
As already mentioned, one of the reasons that drove us to embark on this journey was the desire to base our choices on real, objective, and comparable data, ensuring decisions that are truly sustainable for the environment.
In light of the results from the LCA analysis, Packstyle has made a first concrete decision: to focus on producing monomaterial bags and to gradually phase out the stock of laminated bags. The new monomaterial bags, intended to permanently replace the previous ones, will guarantee the same performance in terms of strength and protection, with the added advantage of being fully recyclable. This transition not only meets the requirements of the new European regulation but also responds to the expectations of our customers, who are increasingly attentive to sustainability issues.
The LCA analysis also represents a fundamental step for us toward more transparent communication with our clients. It is, in fact, the first step toward creating the Environmental Product Declaration (EPD), a key document that collects objective, reliable, and easily comparable information on the environmental performance of products and services.
In this direction, Packstyle is already working on drafting the EPD for its products, to provide customers and potential clients with a concrete tool to evaluate and compare our solutions with others on the market.
Our monomaterial bags have passed many tests, including empirical recyclability trials, and have also achieved excellent results in the LCA analysis. We are truly proud to offer our clients a product that is strong, protective, designed to last, yet light on the environment.
Our journey doesn’t stop here. We are working on many new initiatives—light like our bags and the impact we want to leave, but full of value—and we can’t wait to share them with you. Stay tuned!