Novo Verde, the packaging waste management entity, announced on November 21st the winner of the Packaging Enterprise Award (PEA). The grand prize of €25,000 was awarded to BioReboot, a project based in Madeira that seeks to use biodegradable seedlings as a substitute for disposable plastic trays and bags in the agricultural sector.

Ricardo Neto, President of the Board of Directors of Novo Verde, stated in a press release, "What we were looking for here has been achieved. A symbiosis between the various visions of the country from a sustainability perspective and packaging waste, and what the future may hold, with the presentation of the Packaging Enterprise Award, a program where valuable projects were presented that could influence the future of the packaging sector."

For Thiago Gomes, CEO of the BioReboot startup, "The interest in this program is not just the monetary value. The Packaging Enterprise Award unlocks some access barriers due to the region where we are located. The credibility of this project brings a new reality to BioReboot, which can now establish contacts and partnerships more easily."

The announcement of the winner was made on the sidelines of the event promoted by Novo Verde, "A New Vision of Responsibility," during the European Week for Waste Reduction. The event featured several renowned experts in the sector and aimed to foster a concrete debate on Circular Economy in the packaging sector, the new associated regulations, Ecodesign, and the challenges for meeting collection and recycling targets.

From the various panels held at the event, the panel on New Regulation in the Specific Waste Flow concluded that the rules of each member state must be harmonized and in line with European Union directives. The legislation will put all market players on an equal footing. It also emphasized the interdependence between the economy and the environment, as well as the need for cooperation between waste management entities, simplification of processes, and consumer awareness for the success of the recycling and reuse process. According to Cristina Câmara, Head of Sustainability at APED, "There is already a great focus on packaging innovation in Portugal."

In the Ecodesign and More Sustainable Packaging panel, it was concluded that despite consumer preference for price, companies are committed to adjusting packaging to meet sustainability goals without reducing investment. The focus is on simplifying packaging and reducing non-recyclable materials. Food safety and product durability are priorities, while smaller packaging facilitates transportation. Fernando Ventura, Head of Efficiency and Innovation Environmental Projects at Jerónimo Martins, stated, "There is a strong focus on the environmental impacts of packaging."