EANS-News: Lenzing AG Lenzing welcomes clear positioning of the EU Commission in the fight against plastic waste
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Corporate news transmitted by euro adhoc with the aim of a Europe-wide
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Company Information
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* Guidelines of the EU Commission to implement the Single-Use Plastics Directive
have been published
* Uniform labelling obligation for wipes and feminine hygiene products
containing plastics as of July 03, 2021
* Lenzing's wood-based, biodegradable VEOCEL(TM) branded fibers as a sustainable
alternative to plastic
Lenzing - The Lenzing Group, the globally leading supplier of sustainably
produced specialty fibers, welcomes the issuance of the guidelines for the
implementation of the Single-Use Plastics Directive (EU) 2019/904, which took
effect on June 05, 2019[1] [#_ftn1]. In these guidelines, the EU Commission
specifies which products fall within the scope of the directive, thus providing
clarity in the joint fight of the EU member states against environmental
pollution from plastic waste. Lenzing's wood-based, biodegradable cellulosic
fibers such as those of the VEOCEL(TM) brand comprise a sustainable and
innovative solution to this man-made problem.
"Pollution of the environment - especially marine pollution - is one of the
biggest problems of our time. For this reason, we welcome the measures taken by
the EU to reduce certain single-use plastic products and the transition to
closed-loop models", says Robert van de Kerkhof, Member of the Managing Board of
the Lenzing Group. "Lenzing has been investing in the development of sustainable
and innovative solutions for the textile and nonwovens industry for many years
and will also continue in the future to intensively work on achieving systemic
change towards a circular economy", van de Kerkhof adds.
Lenzing's ambitious sustainability targets make it a trailblazer in
manufacturing industry, especially the fiber segment. Lenzing's considerable
investments in developing sustainable innovations and implementing climate
objectives focusing on carbon neutrality not only strengthen the company's
market position and increase shareholder value but also continuously create new
jobs.
Zwtl.: Uniform labelling rules for some single-use plastic products
The Commission implementing regulation (EU) 2020/2151 applying to the Single-Use
Plastics Directive stipulate uniform labelling requirements for some of the
single-use plastic products on the packaging or the product itself starting on
July 03, 2021. They encompass feminine hygiene products and wet wipes for
personal and household care containing plastic.
"The issue of hygiene is becoming increasingly important and is especially the
order of the day in the light of the prevailing epidemic conditions", states
Jürgen Eizinger, Vice President Global Nonwovens Business at Lenzing. "The
Single-Use Plastics Directive enables consumers to make a more informed purchase
decision. That is why we welcome these implementation guidelines which now
provide enhanced clarity. Lenzing's VEOCEL(TM) fibers already offer a natural
solution today for the problem of global plastic waste, and the company is
continually expanding its capacities for wood-based specialty fibers as a means
of promoting the development of sustainable wipes and hygiene products", Jürgen
Eizinger adds.
Zwtl.: Consumers want sustainable hygiene products
Even before the implementation of the Single-Use Plastics Directive, Lenzing
already gives consumers clear guidance in their purchasing decisions. Products
bearing the VEOCEL(TM) brand logo on their packaging are produced in line with
stringent certification criteria. As a consequence, consumers can be assured
that the products contain biodegradable, cellulosic materials.
A Marketagent survey carried out in German-speaking Europe in October 2019[2]
[#_ftn2] concluded that nine out of ten consumers would immediately change their
purchasing behavior for wipes if they found out that their current product
contains plastic. This would seem to imply that new market dynamics will emerge
once the labelling rules for single-use plastic products takes effect. According
to a Smithers Report[3] [#_ftn3], about 500,000 tons of petroleum-based fibers
are used each year for the production of wipes.
Zwtl.: #ItsInOurHands - the initiative for enhanced awareness and transparency
On the basis of its environmental initiative #ItsInOurHands, Lenzing has been
supporting a movement since the end of 2019 in collaboration with its partners
to create enhanced awareness and transparency for materials used in wet wipes.
An online platform as well as a dedicated community strive to increase awareness
on the part of producers and consumers and thus push ahead with the development
of sustainable alternatives (more information at https://itsinourhands.com
[https://itsinourhands.com].
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[1] [#_ftnref1] Directive (EU) 2019/904 of the European Parliament and of the
Council of 5 June 2019 on the reduction of the impact of certain plastic
products on the environment
[2] [#_ftnref2] Representative Marketagent Online survey, n = 1,005 (14 - 69
years old, from Austria and Germany). https://itsinourhands.com/
[3] [#_ftnref3] Smithers Report "The Future of Global Nonwoven Wipes to 2023",
published in 2018, page 23, reference year 2018
Further inquiry note:
Dominic Köfner
Vice President Corporate Communications & Public Affairs
Lenzing AG
Phone: +43 7672 701 2743
E-mail: media@lenzing.com
end of announcement euro adhoc
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issuer: Lenzing AG
A-4860 Lenzing
phone: +43 7672-701-0
FAX: +43 7672-96301
mail: office@lenzing.com
WWW: http://www.lenzing.com
ISIN: AT0000644505
indexes: ATX, WBI
stockmarkets: Wien
language: English