Alina Oprea • 19 December, 2023 at 5:27 PM
Mega Image aims to eliminate, by 2025, problematic and unnecessary plastic from its own-brand product portfolio. By 2025, the company wants to reduce the amount of virgin plastic by 5%, according to the annual non-financial report. 20% of the plastic packaging of private label products will contain recycled material, also by 2025. Plastic packaging for private label products will be 100% easily and safely reused, recycled, or composted by 2025.
Mega Image targets a portfolio of measures for transitioning from the "single-use" model to models focused on reuse.
All private-label products will be labeled with consumer recycling information by 2025.
In 2022, the company started preparing for the implementation of the Return Guarantee System (SGR), which will become the second largest system of its kind in Europe.
With the implementation of the SGR, consumers will pay a guarantee of RON 0.50 (€0.1) when they purchase a drink (water, soft drinks, beer, cider, wine, or spirits) from a retailer. Customers will be able to reclaim this warranty upon return of the container. The system applies to non-reusable primary glass, plastic, or metal packaging, with volumes between 0.1 l and 3 l.
"Mega Image has made significant progress in implementing the SGR in 2022, working in collaboration with key stakeholders, developing the necessary infrastructure, and running consumer awareness campaigns. These efforts included the installation, in the pilot phase, of 18 automatic waste collection stations for recycling (PET, aluminum, glass)", informs the company in the report, stating that customers receive a voucher for every recycled packaging, offered as a bonus to encourage responsible behavior.
"As we complete the development and testing of the infrastructure, we anticipate positive results, such as increased recycling rates and new economic opportunities by collecting waste from the communities we operate and reintroducing it into the economic circuit. Through these investments, we are confident that we will bring new social and environmental benefits to Romania", the company's report shows.