From next summer we may have nothing with which to turn the coffee dispensed from vending machines. Little or nothing will change for the supporters of bitter coffee but a lot, and for the worse, will change for an entire production system: that of plastic coffee pallets which risks closing the shop, sending 90% of its workers home.
The alarm was raised by Confida, the Italian automatic distribution association. A sector that is an “undisputed international leader” and has three thousand companies and over 33,000 workers. The Sup directive is putting the supply chain at risk, which envisages replacing single-use plastics with natural and more sustainable alternatives. The directive was implemented by Italy through the European delegation law (number 53 of 22 April) published a few days ago in the Official Journal. Among the disposable products targeted are, in fact, also the plastic pallets. The problem, explains Confida, is that at the moment there are no viable alternatives. “Compostable bioplastic – explains the association – does not withstand the high temperatures (between 80 and 90 degrees) of hot drinks such as tea, coffee and chocolate. On the other hand, wood, in addition to not having recyclability certifications and being less resistant than plastic to the humidity and heat inside the machine, is an imported product and therefore the current Italian producers, currently European leaders in the production of plastic pallets, risk become simple resellers of foreign products “. So much so that, at the end of 2019, only 1% of the pallets on the market were made of wood.
Besides there are no ready-to-use alternatives, the companies in the sector do not have a diversified production. And this is also what exposes them to the “storm” without any protection. “The sector of plastic pallets is made up of Italian companies whose activity is based exclusively on this product” explains Confida herself, adding that “the cutting-edge machinery used in the production process cannot be converted into the production of accessories other than plastic and their consequent disposal will cause companies a loss in value of millions of euros “. A crisis that could have repercussions on the entire automatic distribution chain.
The law sets a ban on placing products on the market on 3 July 2021, but it is very unlikely that this deadline will be respected according to Stefania Di Vito, of the scientific office of Legambiente: “The law exists but Italy has not yet approved the implementing decree. Even if we hope so, at this moment it is difficult to think that the ban could really take effect from 3 July ”. Also because it is not only the implementing decree that is lacking: “Italy must also approve its National Reduction Plan with objectives of reducing and removing some very specific products. This is the task of the Ministry for Energy Transition ”. All this, continues Di Vito, is likely not to happen until the European Commission issues guidelines on the implementation of the directive, which is already circulating in the form of a draft and whose task is to specify in detail which objects will be placed. banned and which are not, “even if it is practically certain that among these there will be the pallets”
As for the lack of alternatives, the exponent of Legambiente explains that “in recent years there has been no shortage of companies that have managed to reconvert the production of plastic products. Let’s think, for example, of glasses, which today are very easy to find in biodegradable and compostable plastic according to European standards “.
“Plastic stirrers – is the point of view of the president of Confida Massimo Trapletti – are recyclable products made of the same material as the cups used in vending machines. For this reason, they have been included in the RiVending project wanted and promoted by Confida, Corepla, and Unionplast which combines with the European principles of the circular economy providing a virtuous “end of life” to the plastic of vending machines ”. Our sweetened coffee may be safe for a few more months. In the meantime, however, a more sustainable alternative to plastic pallets must be found.
.