In the light of recent joint efforts regarding the circular economy, the major organisation for the recycling of plastics packaging Eco-Emballages (www.ecoemballages.fr) and the association for paper recycling Ecofolio (Paris / France; www.ecofolio.fr) have announced a merger, voted on by the respective members' meetings. This comes after several years of talks between the two bodies, with the aim to improve France‘s packaging recycling system (see Plasteurope.com of 24.08.2016).

The leadership team will be chaired by former Eco-Emballages president Philippe-Loïc Jacob, with Jean Hornain and Géraldine Poivert completing the senior management. A name for the new association will be presented in September.

The two organisations can both look back on a successful past: Eco-Emballages prides itself with a recycling rate of about 68% of plastics packaging, Ecofolio states a solid 55% for paper. The objective of increasing recycling rates to 100% in both sectors will now be tackled together. In addition, both partners had announced a rethink of traditional models of recycling. Instead of the approach of a pure waste management system, the target is a comprehensive reutilisation of materials towards a true circular economy.