MEP Mr. Andrés Perelló introduces
the event with representatives of GROW International.
GROW INTERNATIONAL, an organization
that brings together the European sector of light wood packaging in Germany,
Spain, France and Portugal held last Tuesday, May 31, a briefing with members
of the European Parliament and European Commission representatives and other
business organizations based in Brussels.
The event whose main objectives were
to raise awareness of the sector and their priorities and challenges in food
safety and environment, was sponsored by Mr. Andrés Perelló, Spanish MEP and
member of the parliamentary committees of the referred areas.
Mr. Perello in his welcome speech
highlighted the international integration of GROW, the traditional value of
wood packaging, its quality, sustainability and links with the origin of
products, the positive evolution of the sector, strategic in the climate change
fight, in a context of strong competition from other materials. The MEP Advocated
a more active promotion of the sector within the Parliament and the European
Commission, referring to the case of fish packaging.
BONPHIL office General Manager,
consultant of GROW in European affairs, Bruno Guichart, presented to the
members, objectives and activities of the organization, emphasizing its
integration into FEFPEB, European Wood Packaging and Pallets Federation, and
the latter in CEI-Bois, European Wood Industries Confederation.[See this and following presentations Powerpoint below]
The presentation on food security
was provided by Fernando Trénor, General Manager of FEDEMCO / GROW (Spanish
Federation of Wooden Packaging) in Spain, which also made an analysis and
assessment of European legislation on hygiene and food contact materials and
its interpretation, focusing his message in different arguments and scientific
references about the compliance of wood industry and timber in contact with
food. Trénor asked those present to strong support for the sector, especially
in the defense of wood packaging for fish.[See hygiene arguments]
Olivier de Lagausie, General
Delegate of SIEL-GROW, Union of Industrial Light
Wood Packaging in France, defended the environmental superiority of wood
packaging from life cycle analysis comparison with cardboard and plastic fruit
and vegetable packaging (CO2 capture, low energy and water consumption, etc.).
He defended the use of this tool to question the principle of hierarchy of
reuse compared to prevention and recycling of packaging waste management. Using
real examples of advertising, showed how different corporations, such as
Carrefour, have taken environmental positioning of wood packaging.
Finally, Uwe Groll, General Manager
of the association GROW Germany and Filipa Pico, Secretary General of
the association EMBAR GROW Portugal, presented the environmental benefits and cascade
valuation of wood waste, showing the high degree of compliance with the
European target of wood packaging recycling in different countries. They
challenged the common interpretation of the legislation on packaging and
packaging waste, which tends to prioritize the reuse against material recycling
without sufficient justification. They also highlighted the possibilities of
extending the storage effect of CO2 through recycling of waste in other
products as well as the effect of replacing fossil fuels with wood residues.
The presentation concluded with a
cocktail-lunch on the premises of the Europeann Parliament, decorated with
attractive displays of wooden packaging and fresh produce. In this context, and
in a more relaxed, MEPs, GROW members and representatives of other
organizations based in Brussels, confirmed in a more relaxed atmosphere the
interest and commitment of all to promote and defend the interests of the
sector.
MEPs Mrs.Maria Irigoyen, Mr. Andrés
Perelló and Mr. Antolin Sánchez Presedo with Mr. Fernando Trénor, General
Manager of FEDEMCO / GROW Spain.
MEP Mrs. Pilar Ayuso with Mr. Alberto
Palmi, FEDEMCO / GROW representative (left) and Mr.
Juan Manuel Revuelta, Delegate of the Valencian Government in Brussels (right).
MEP Mr. Jean-Paul Gauzès (center) with
(left to right) Claire
Becquet de Mégille, representantive of
French Federation of Vegetable Producers (FNPL), Mr. Thierry Péré and Mr. Olivier de Lagausie (SIEL-GROW France)
Mr. Uwe Groll (GROW Germany), Mr.
Paulo Verdasca (FEFPEB, European Federation of Wood Packaging and Pallets), and
Mrs. Filipa Pico (EMBAR GROW Portugal)
Mr Ricardo Cortes Lastra (MEP) (center) with Mr Vicente Montaner (Mr Perelló MEP assistant) and Mr Joaquín GUZMAN (MEP assistant).
Gabriela Gorostiza (CEI-Bois) and S & D Party Delegation assistant
MEP Mr. Jean-Paul Gauzès talking to press media
Bruno Guichart, Alba Ridao, Alesia Dacal (BONPHIL) with (center) Fanny Lossy (OriGin, Insight Consulting)
GROW Lightweight wooden packaging and fresh produce show
Tuesday May 31st
2011, 12:30 – 14:30, European
Parliament
Room PHS 7C050
12:30 - 12:35 Welcome words –
Mr. Andrés Perelló (MEP)
12:35 - 12:40 Sector
presentation - Bruno Guichart (Permanent
Representative of GROW INTERNATIONAL in Brussels)
12:40 - 12:50 Food Safety
Wood in contact
with food and the advantages; Good manufacturing practices and hygiene – Fernando Trénor (General Manager FEDEMCO, Spain)
12:50 -
13:00 Environmental aspects
Life cycle,
carbon footprint and environmental impact: how to understand the results and
the hierarchies – Olivier de Lagausie (General
Delegate SIEL, France)
13:00 - 13:15 The end of Packaging and Waste management useful life
Environmental
benefits of “cascade” recovery; recycling and renewable energy generation – Uwe Groll (General Manager GROW GMBH, Germany) and Filipa Pico (Secretary General, EMBAR, Portugal)
13:15 - 13:30 Debate (questions & answers)
13:30 - 14:30 Lunch-cocktail and exhibition of wood packaging
EMBAR (the National Association of the Recovery and Recycling of Wooden Crate Waste (www.embar.pt)
has recently joined GROW International. It aims to incorporate the
attitude towards the environment, and the prestige and quality of GROW
crates at a European level into its sector.
EMBAR promotes the recycling of wooden packaging as part of the
Portuguese Green Dot scheme, and defends the interests of producers,
recoverers and recyclers of crates, packaging and pallets.
Together with the Association of Wood and Furniture Industries in
Portugal (AIMMP), EMBAR is made up of manufacturers of crates, cases,
packaging and pallets, suppliers of raw materials, wood and boards,
recoverers and recyclers of wood waste, pallet pools, etc.
Around 200 registered companies in Portugal belong to the crates,
packaging and pallets sector, some of which form part of AIMMP (www.aimmp.pt).
