AIPE (Italian association of expanded polystyrene) and ASSOITTICA sign an agreement for the recycling of EPS boxes used in the transport and sale of fish. This collaboration agreement, in addition to reducing the environmental impact of the polystyrene boxes, will allow their reuse, giving life to the circular economy that many have hoped for years. The polystyrene boxes represent today the container most used for the marketing of fish all over the world. A unique and highly hygienic material that allows fish products to remain fresh during all stages of transport and handling. Widely used in the seafood sector, EPS, if properly recovered, is recycled 100% and countless times and contributes to the circular economy of the fish distribution chain. This agreement will therefore put the companies belonging to ASSOITTICA in contact with the collection centers made available by AIPE (last year the association signed a similar agreement with another member of the Italy-IORA committee).
“In recent years, the Association has placed among its primary objectives, together with the essential objectives of food safety and the quality of fish products, the pursuit of sustainability and protection of the marine ecosystem” explains Maria Luisa Cortesi, President of ASSOITTICA. Alessandro Augello, President of AIPE commented “The synergy with the players in the national and international fish distribution will also allow us to support and increase the collection and recycling of EPS products, also helped by the protocol just signed, which fits well into the various actions and activities promoted by the Association which has long been committed to disseminating correct management of EPS waste and in particular of post-use fish crates, in order to reach the European targets that set us the goal of exceeding 50% of recycled material coming from EPS boxes in the fish sector“.
This is not the first initiative undertaken by ASSOITTICA, a member of the Italy-IORA committee, in the context of the circular economy. In fact, at the end of last year, an agreement was signed with Intesa Sanpaolo on access to funds for initiatives in the field of research, innovation and the circular economy.