Brasil Pack Trends 2020

BrasilPackTrends2020 178 sustainabi l ity & ethics The need of mitigation of greenhouse gases is clearly expressed in the 4 th IPCC report. Models based on the current levels of greenhouse gases (GHG) and on the rates of temperature rise measurements estimate an increase in global average from 1.8°C to 4°C until 2100, and the most reliable estimate predicts an increase of 3°C if the GHG concentrations stabilize down at 45% above the current rate. The landslides that happened in 2011 in Teresópolis, in the State of Rio de Janeiro, due to a long rainy period, as well as the floods in Pakistan in 2010, the heat waves in France in 2003, the drought in Russia in 2010, the heat in the Alpine resorts in 2006 and the drought in USA in 2012, among other events, are reflexes of the climate changes (IPCC, 2007c; IPCC, 2011; FAPESP AGENCY, 2012). Since these events have been increasingly frequent, the need is urgent for all sectors of the economy, including the packaging sector, to contribute to the reduction in the emission of greenhouse gases and implement actions to reduce the anthropogenic impact on our system The urgency in reducing the effects of anthropogenic actions The National Policy of Solid Waste (NPSW) was instituted in Brazil through Law number 12.305, August 2 nd , 2011, after almost 20 years passing through the National Congress, and this fact can be considered a landmark in Brazilian history. According to the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics, 80% of almost 260,000 of daily collected or received garbage, are designated to controlled and/or sanitary landfills. Unfortunately, 18% of the domestic and/or public solid waste is still sent to open landfills (BRAZILIAN INSTITUTE OF GEOGRAPHY AND STATISTICS, 2008). Therefore, the minimization of waste generation as well as the proper disposal of solid waste should be priorities in the country, to meet the basic principles of sanitation. Due to its importance and complexity, it is necessary to understand how the policy is structured in relation to packaging. The NPSW text is divided into four parts or Titles: General Considerations (T-I) In the first part related to the general considerations (T- I), the NPSW gives general guidelines for the integrated management of solid waste and assigns responsibilities to their generators and also the government. The most important definitions are: Life Cycle of products: it involves the steps from the acquisition of the raw material, its processing, consumption and to final disposition. Adequate Environmental Destinations: include reuse, recycling, composting, energy recovery and use or others allowed by regulatory agencies. Final Adequate Environmental Disposal: considers only the orderly distribution of waste in landfills, according to their operational standards, preventing damage or risks to public health and safety. The National Policy of Solid Waste (NPSW)