GreenPak was presented with the Management Award for Sustainable Development at the recent sixth edition of the Environment Award for Enterprise, in recognition of the company’s ongoing achievements in the packaging waste sector.
The awards are organised by the Cleaner Technology Centre and Wasteserv Malta Limited.
GreenPak won the award for having achieved its main objectives. While creating a sustainable financing mechanism for its operation, GreenPak has been instrumental in influencing government policy and legislation, setting the rules for the recycling industry in Malta and has set Malta on track with the EU.
With the help of the international organisation Pro Europe, the largest waste recycling organisation which runs schemes in more than 30 countries, GreenPak helped Maltese companies improve their environmental standing. These companies make use of the world-renowned Green Dot international trademark on their packaging to notify consumers, retailers and authorities that a payment has been made towards the recovery of packaging waste.
GreenPak chief executive officer Mario Schembri said: “Since 2002, we have constantly upheld and promoted the model of extended producers’ responsibility. EU membership brought recycling obligations. Such requirements are positive as they decrease wastage, reduce exploitation of resources and improve the environment, and therefore Malta must recycle. For this purpose, we have endeavoured to bring about much needed operational and administrative changes and upgrades, as well new thinking to the waste packaging sector.”
He added that with the help of Pro Europe, GreenPak was able to avoid making expensive mistakes. Through Green Dot’s model, GreenPak has helped Maltese manufacturers improve their environmental standing. Thanks to this commitment, today in Malta, there is an increasing acceptance of the producers’ responsibility model as manufacturers appreciate that EPR enables direct financing of recycling, encourages them to create products that are easily recycled, stimulates innovation in design, manufacture and materials, and creates green jobs.