Sustainable material management

Fost Plus and its members see sustainable packaging as an important social mission. By focusing on prevention and reuse as well as recycling, we aim to have packaging systems and material chains in which raw materials are no longer wasted, but are used to the full in an infinite chain. We are making sure everyone is involved in this transition: citizens, governments, knowledge institutions and companies.

Towards a circular packaging economy

In a circular economy, products and raw materials are no longer lost as waste but can remain in circulation for as long as possible – preferably indefinitely. Prevention, reuse and recycling all have a part to play in achieving this. To meet the various consumption needs of citizens at the different times , single-use packaging, reusable packaging and packaging-free systems are complementary. They need to become more sustainable, both individually and as a whole.

PREVENTION

Limiting packaging to what is strictly necessary

The main goal of packaging is to protect products and keep them in the best possible condition. Companies don’t use packaging where this is not needed and the materials used are limited to what is strictly necessary. No more and no less. We are working together with them to explore packaging-free business models for specific applications.

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REUSE

From single-use to reusable

We are shifting away from single-use and towards reusable packaging for applications where this offers environmental benefits. We support the development of efficient, user-friendly logistics systems and innovative business models that can improve economic viability.

ECODESIGN

Recovering raw materials after use

Once an item of packaging – whether it is single-use or reusable – reaches the end of its life, we make every effort to recover as many raw materials as possible in efficient, sustainable cycles. To achieve this, the end-of-life phase has to be taken into account as early as at the packaging design stage.

Fost Plus as a driver of change

Fost Plus aims to facilitate and accelerate the transition to sustainable materials management.

Data and reporting. Today, the declarations we receive from our members allow us to map packaging volumes and recycling figures for the Belgian market. We also collect data on packaging reductions achieved by companies and on the use of reusable packaging. This data allows us to monitor legally defined targets and provide reports to the government.
Supporting companies in transition. We support producers that are seeking to make their packaging more sustainable and meet their legal targets in the areas of prevention, reuse and recycling. We are constantly expanding our range of services, from consulting and individual coaching to development of best practices.
Encouraging innovation. New systems, business models and technologies will all have an important part to play in the coming years. In areas where not enough expertise is available, we bring the whole ecosystem together to make progress possible, for example through pilot projects and research projects.