The turnover of the packaging industry in Western Europe represents around 2% of GDP. The food industry is the main user of packaging with nearly 60% of total packaging production.
The range of packaging types and products is highly diversified and in many cases tailored to the needs of the users.
Packaging concerns a variety of actors: raw material producers, packaging converters, users, transport, distribution, consumers, waste management activities and public authorities.
In some sectors of packaging (e.g. glass, paper, cardboard, metal cans) mergers and internationalization have increased. However, there is still a large number of small and medium size companies.
Benefits
Packaging has a vital social and economic function and is subject to various legislative requirements related to the quality, safety and hygiene of packaged products, for example:
- regulations concerning packaging in contact with foodstuffs
- requirements for the transport of dangerous goods
- measures dealing with the environmental aspects of packaging and packaging waste.
The collection of CEN/TC 261 is now composed of close to 200 normative documents or technical reports.