March 18th, World Recycling Day, serves as a reminder that recycling is not just an ecological practice but a necessary condition for sustainable development. However, the problem lies not only in recycling itself but in the overall failure to integrate the principles of the circular economy into various aspects of daily life and business. An undeniable witness to this fact is the recent report – March 3, 2025 – by the European Environment Agency of the European Commission, which notes progress towards the EU’s zero pollution targets by 2030, but with two of the six targets remaining off track. Specifically, the targets concerning the reduction of microplastics in the environment and the reduction of waste production.
Mr K. Mavropoulos, Head of Sustainability & Water related Engineering Division and Head of R&D at TÜV AUSTRIA Hellas
The Practical Consequences of the Linear Economy
The dominance of the linear production and consumption model (“produce – consume – dispose”), particularly regarding the recycling of plastics, paper, and aluminum, has led to serious environmental and socio-economic problems, both in Greece and internationally.
Plastic Waste
According to Eurostat data for 2020, the European average recycling rate for plastic packaging was 37.6%, with Greece at the same level. This means that approximately 60% of plastic waste ends up either in the oceans and the environment or in landfills (LFS) and incineration, burdening the atmosphere with toxic pollutants. It is important to remind that plastics are derived from fossil fuels, thus exacerbating the climate crisis.
Paper and Aluminum
Although recycling rates for paper and aluminum are higher compared to plastics, significant challenges remain. The non-recycling of these materials leads to the waste of valuable resources and increased energy consumption to produce new products. Additionally, their disposal in landfills exacerbates the overloading of LFS and contributes to the release of harmful substances into the environment, burdening the aquifer.
The Role of Certification in the Circular Economy
The integration of the principles of the circular economy, with an emphasis on recycling, cannot be achieved without organized and documented actions. The certification of processes and products through reliable standards significantly contributes to reducing the disposal of plastic, paper, and aluminum in landfills, enhances their reuse in the production of new products, and promotes the use of biodegradable raw materials.
In this context, accredited standards of TÜV AUSTRIA and specialized services, such as:
- “OK Recycled” and EN 15343, which define the requirements for the calculation and certification of recycled plastic, paper, and aluminum in new products,
- “Zero Waste to Landfill”, which verifies and certifies an organization’s efforts to reduce its environmental impact, and the continuous reduction of its waste destined for landfill, and
- The “OK Compost” family of standards, which certifies the production of products from biodegradable raw materials,
constitute critical tools for the reliable transition of businesses to the circular economy.
The transition to a sustainable production and consumption model is therefore no longer an option but a necessity for the protection of the environment and the well-being of future generations. The integration of circular economy principles through relevant internationally recognized certification standards is a key step for the responsible management of resources and the reduction of our environmental footprint. The responsibility lies with all of us – businesses, consumers, and policymakers. Let’s act responsibly for a sustainable tomorrow.
Read the article by Konstantinos Mavropoulos on mononews.gr