b'KRISTIN GEIDENMARK OLOFSSON, INNOVATION, SUSTAINABILITY & CSR DIRECTORThe EU has explicitly stated that Europe should be a leader in global efforts for the environment and sustainability, which are a must to reduce the negative environmental impact caused by humans. Parallel to this, politicians are lobbying to force industry to take the lead in sustainability efforts.The debate about the future of plastic is not going anywhere soon. Almost every day, the media feature stories about littering or recycling that in some way or other relate to plastic. Here at Trioplast, were already working actively on recycling and sustainability issues. Theyre a natural part of our entire business, says Kristin Geidenmark Olofsson, Innovation, Sustainability & CSR Director at Trioplast.A European plastics strategyNot that long ago, the EU adopted a new plastics strategy, one that aims to protect the environment and create new opportunities for industry to make recycling more profitable. This is part of the EUs efforts to create a circular economy.The plastics strategy has a clear objective, which is for 100 percent of consumer packaging to be recyclable by 2030. Each year, Europeans generate about 25million tons of plastic waste, yet less than 30 percent of it is collected for recycling. The EUs plastics strategy also requires industry to be able absorb 10 million tons of PCR (post-consumer recycled) plastic by 2025.Industry wants to do more, but are the politicians on board?Today, politicians are highly motivated by strong public opinion to develop clearer and stricter regulations for the plastics industry, says Kristin.Trioplast doesnt consider this an obstacle and actually 100 welcomes this move, but its important that the legislative bodies know what to regulate and understand the consequences. PERCENT Here, as an industry, we have a responsibility to inform and suggest possible ways forward towards a sustainable society, Kristin continues.By 2030, 100 percent ofConstantly keeping abreast of world developments in the consumer packaging infield, such as what the European Commission is working on and Europe must be recyclable what is happening at the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), is a large part of Kristins work.Its interesting work with major challenges, but were making progress all the time. In fact, within the industry we sometimes feel that the politics are holding us back in our sustainability work, Kristin ends.5'