COP31 puts packaging recycling, carbon emissions and supply chains in focus

As COP31 opens in Türkiye, proposed waste reduction and circular economy targets for 2035 are drawing attention to packaging sustainability. For manufacturers and suppliers, the main challenges include recycling, sourcing recycled materials, carbon reporting and preventing food waste.

The 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31) takes place in Antalya, Türkiye, from 9 to 20 November 2026, as packaging manufacturers face tighter environmental rules and growing demands for supply chain transparency.

Türkiye is hosting the summit, with Australia leading the negotiations. Waste reduction, resource efficiency, methane emissions and industrial decarbonisation are among the priorities.

Türkiye’s Zero Waste initiative has also brought recycling and the circular economy into focus. The COP31 presidency has proposed targets to curb global waste growth and increase the use of circular materials by 2035.

For packaging manufacturers, converters and material suppliers, these proposals come as existing regulations are already changing how packaging is designed, produced and recovered.

The European Union’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), which began applying in August 2026, is one example. It introduces requirements covering packaging design, recyclability, recycled content and reuse.

COP31 cannot impose binding global packaging regulations. However, its outcomes could influence national policies, investment in recycling infrastructure and the environmental requirements that customers place on suppliers.

For the industry, the main issues are how to improve recycling and reuse, provide reliable carbon emissions data and reduce food waste without compromising packaging performance.

COP31 sets waste and circular economy ambitions for 2035

The COP31 presidency aims to halve the projected growth in global municipal solid waste generation by 2035.

It also wants to increase the global circular material-use rate to at least 15% by the same year.

These proposed targets cover waste management and resource use across industries, rather than packaging alone.

The waste target does not call for a 50% reduction in the total amount of waste generated. Instead, it seeks to halve the expected increase in waste generation.

For packaging manufacturers, the proposals highlight the importance of using fewer unnecessary materials, improving recycling and keeping resources in use for longer.

COP31 president Murat Kurum has emphasised the need to implement existing climate commitments rather than focus on making new pledges.

This places attention on the infrastructure, investment and industrial changes needed to turn environmental goals into measurable results.

The proposed targets are not legally binding packaging requirements. Their impact on businesses will depend on how governments and industry put them into practice.

Recyclable packaging faces greater scrutiny

Packaging designed for recycling is not always recycled.

A package may be technically recyclable but still end up in landfill or incineration because suitable collection, sorting or processing facilities are unavailable.

Recycling infrastructure differs widely between countries. A material recovered successfully in one market may have limited recycling options elsewhere.

This creates challenges for manufacturers supplying packaging across multiple markets.

The EU’s PPWR illustrates how regulatory expectations are changing.

The regulation began applying on 12 August 2026. It establishes requirements covering packaging design, material composition, waste prevention, recyclability and reuse.

From 2030, packaging placed on the EU market will face new recyclability requirements. Certain plastic packaging categories will also be subject to minimum recycled-content requirements, with conditions and exemptions applying.

Further provisions will address whether packaging is recycled at scale.

For manufacturers, these changes make the design of individual packaging components increasingly important.

Labels, adhesives, inks, coatings and multilayer structures can affect how packaging is identified, sorted and processed.

Switching materials also requires careful assessment. Replacing plastic with paper, for example, does not automatically improve environmental performance if the alternative is difficult to recycle or provides inadequate product protection.

Packaging suppliers therefore need to understand how their products will be collected and processed in the markets where they are sold.

The challenge is not simply to make packaging recyclable, but to design it for effective recovery through available waste management systems.

Reusable packaging and deposit-return systems gain attention

The move towards a circular economy is also increasing interest in reusable packaging.

Returnable transport packaging, refillable containers and deposit-return systems can reduce reliance on single-use materials when effective collection and return arrangements are in place.

COP31’s Zero Waste agenda supports wider efforts to promote reuse, recycling and waste prevention.

For packaging manufacturers, this could increase demand for containers and other formats designed for repeated handling, cleaning and transport.

However, reusable packaging requires more than durable materials.

Companies need systems to collect, inspect, clean, store and redistribute packaging. They must also establish how many times a container can be reused before it needs replacing.

Transport distances, washing requirements and return rates affect both costs and environmental performance.

Reuse is therefore not necessarily the best option for every application. Its benefits depend on how the entire system operates.

The EU’s PPWR includes requirements for packaging reuse and deposit-return systems, with obligations and implementation dates varying by packaging type.

For suppliers, the priority is to assess whether a reusable format can achieve sufficient return rates, operate efficiently and deliver measurable benefits over its lifetime.

Scope 3 emissions increase pressure on packaging suppliers

Packaging manufacturers are facing growing requests for information about the greenhouse gas emissions associated with their products.

For brand owners and retailers, packaging can contribute to Scope 3 emissions. These are indirect emissions generated across a company’s value chain.

They include emissions from purchased materials, transport and the treatment of products after use.

As companies seek to reduce these emissions, packaging suppliers may need to provide more detailed information about their materials and production processes.

The Greenhouse Gas Protocol provides guidance for measuring Scope 3 emissions, including the use of supplier-specific data for purchased goods and services.

One important measure is the product carbon footprint (PCF), which calculates greenhouse gas emissions associated with a product within a defined part of its life cycle.

Life cycle assessment (LCA) takes a broader approach, examining environmental impacts across different stages of a product’s life.

For packaging converters, reliable assessments require information about raw materials, manufacturing energy, production processes, transport and waste management.

The methods used to calculate emissions also matter.

Carbon figures can be difficult to compare when suppliers use different assessment boundaries, incomplete information or inconsistent methods.

COP31 does not introduce a universal requirement for independently verified carbon footprints for every packaging product.

However, suppliers that can provide reliable and comparable emissions data may be better placed to meet customer reporting requirements and respond to procurement requests.

Carbon data is therefore becoming an important consideration in packaging supply contracts, alongside cost, quality and product performance.

Recycled content creates sourcing challenges

Growing demand for post-consumer recycled (PCR) materials is creating further challenges for packaging supply chains.

PCR plastics are made from materials recovered after consumer use and processed for new applications.

They can reduce demand for virgin polymers, although their environmental benefits depend on the material, recycling process and intended use.

Availability, price, quality and regulatory compliance remain important considerations.

Food-contact packaging presents particular difficulties because recycled materials must meet applicable safety requirements.

Not every recycled polymer or recycling process is suitable for direct contact with food.

Under the EU’s PPWR, minimum recycled-content requirements will apply to specified plastic packaging categories from 2030, subject to relevant conditions and exemptions.

The European Commission is also developing measures for calculating and verifying recycled content.

These requirements increase the importance of knowing where recycled materials come from, how they are processed and whether they meet the necessary specifications.

Packaging manufacturers may need to work more closely with recyclers and material suppliers to secure suitable grades and maintain consistent quality.

Paper and fibre-based packaging producers face similar issues involving recovered-fibre availability, contamination and recycling performance.

Across material categories, manufacturers must balance recycled-content objectives with food safety, production efficiency and product protection.

Food packaging has a role in reducing methane emissions

Food waste prevention is another priority in COP31’s Zero Waste agenda.

According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), food loss and waste account for an estimated 8–10% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

Food decomposing in landfill also produces methane, a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming.

The COP31 presidency is encouraging countries to include waste-related methane reduction measures in their nationally determined contributions (NDCs), the climate action plans submitted under the Paris Agreement.

For packaging manufacturers, this highlights the importance of preventing food spoilage during storage, transport and distribution.

Packaging can extend shelf life, prevent contamination and protect products from physical damage.

Barrier materials, resealable packs, modified-atmosphere packaging and suitable portion sizes can help reduce food losses when designed for the intended application.

However, reducing packaging material does not always reduce the overall environmental impact.

A lighter pack may use fewer resources but increase food waste if it provides insufficient protection.

Replacing plastic barriers with paper-based alternatives may also require additional coatings or layers to maintain moisture and oxygen resistance.

Compostable packaging raises different questions. Its environmental performance depends partly on suitable collection and treatment facilities, as well as the conditions needed for effective composting.

These trade-offs are particularly important for fresh produce, meat, dairy products and ready meals, where packaging performance can influence the amount of food wasted.

For food packaging suppliers, material reduction must therefore be considered alongside food safety, shelf life and product protection.

Five priorities for packaging manufacturers

With COP31 beginning and new packaging regulations already taking effect, manufacturers can focus on five practical areas to prepare for changing requirements.

1. Review regulatory compliance

Assess existing packaging against current and forthcoming rules in the markets where products are sold.

For businesses supplying the EU, this includes the PPWR’s phased requirements covering recyclability, recycled content, reuse and packaging reduction.

Food-contact packaging suppliers should also review restrictions on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The PPWR’s limits on specified PFAS concentrations in food-contact packaging began applying on 12 August 2026.

2. Improve environmental data

Check whether material suppliers can provide reliable information on recycled content, material origin, manufacturing emissions and energy use.

Develop consistent product carbon footprint and LCA methods where customers require environmental data.

Digital tracking systems can help improve traceability and information sharing across supply chains.

3. Strengthen recycled-material sourcing

Review the availability, quality and regulatory suitability of recycled polymers and recovered fibre.

Work with recyclers and material suppliers to identify supply risks and secure appropriate material grades.

For food-contact applications, verify that recycled materials and processing methods meet relevant safety requirements.

4. Assess reusable packaging systems

Identify applications where reuse could deliver environmental and commercial benefits.

Evaluate collection, cleaning, storage, transport and return rates before investing in reusable formats.

Compare operating costs and environmental impacts across the expected life of the packaging.

5. Maintain packaging performance

Test lighter packaging, alternative materials and new barrier technologies against product protection requirements.

For food packaging, assess whether design changes could affect shelf life, food safety or the amount of food wasted.

Reducing packaging waste should not create additional product losses or compromise quality.

COP31 could influence future packaging policy

COP31 takes place as environmental objectives are increasingly being translated into packaging regulations and supply chain requirements.

Türkiye’s proposed 2035 targets place waste prevention, circular material use and methane reduction among the priorities for international climate action.

Their impact on packaging businesses will depend on how governments turn these ambitions into legislation, infrastructure investment and industrial policies.

The EU’s PPWR already sets out a timetable for changes affecting packaging design, recycled content, reuse and waste management.

Other markets have different regulatory frameworks and recycling systems, creating additional compliance and sourcing challenges for international suppliers.

For packaging manufacturers, the immediate task is to meet existing requirements while preparing for changes in customer expectations and environmental reporting.

Reliable carbon data, access to suitable recycled materials, effective recycling and reuse systems, and packaging that protects products throughout distribution will remain important.

COP31 could help shape longer-term packaging policy, but manufacturers do not need to wait for the summit’s conclusions to act.

The industry’s challenge is to demonstrate not only what packaging is made from, but also how efficiently it is produced, how effectively it can be recovered and how well it protects the products it contains.