{"id":59751,"date":"2026-04-06T10:09:50","date_gmt":"2026-04-06T07:09:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/reciclador.green\/circularecon-2026-economia-circulara-nu-mai-e-o-optiune-e-o-strategie-de-business\/"},"modified":"2026-06-04T13:04:57","modified_gmt":"2026-06-04T10:04:57","slug":"circularecon-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/reciclador.green\/en\/circularecon-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"CircularEcon 2026: The Circular Economy Is No Longer an Option; It’s a Business Strategy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

On March 31, 2026, the CircularECON<\/a> hall was packed. And not by chance \u2014 this edition marked the shift from declarative discussions about sustainability to concrete arguments, real figures, and the healthy tension between what the European regulator wants and what local industry can deliver today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CircularECON 2026, a conference organized annually by Revista Pia\u021ba<\/a>,<\/strong> confirmed that European pressure will increase significantly through PPWR and that Romania has a long road ahead to reach the EU average. That is why Reciclad’OR continues its series of monthly PPWR-dedicated workshops<\/strong> <\/a>\u2014 a practical tool available to our partners, to navigate with clarity the most comprehensive European regulation on packaging in the last two decades. Below, we present the key takeaways<\/strong> from this year’s edition of CircularEcon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

1. From Compliance to Competitive Advantage<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Kantar<\/strong> presentation cut straight to the point: circular packaging is no longer a compliance burden. It is a differentiation tool. Brands that understand that packaging sustainability can create perceived value among consumers \u2014 not just avoid fines \u2014 are the ones that will gain market share in the years ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Key takeaway:  If you still treat PPWR or SGR as a compliance cost, you risk leaving a competitive advantage in the hands of faster competitors.<\/em><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

2. SGR Is Working \u2014 But the Real Conversation Is Just Beginning<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Robert Uzuna<\/strong>, Vice President of Corporate Affairs at Ursus Breweries<\/a>, complemented the perspective from within the brewing industry \u2014 an industry with complex packaging cycles that had to recalibrate rapidly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Key takeaway:  SGR is not a completed project. It is an ecosystem under construction. Producers who actively engage in its optimization will have a say in what tomorrow’s rules look like.<\/em><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

3. The Brussels\u2013Bucharest Dialogue: PPWR and the Reality on the Ground<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Julia Leferman<\/strong>, Director General of The Brewers of Europe<\/a>, participated online \u2014 and her presence marked the most interesting moment of the conference: the constructive confrontation between PPWR’s ambitions and the Romanian market’s actual capacity to absorb them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trends in packaging for the brewing industry are clear: weight reduction, increasing the share of recycled material, design for recyclability. But the pace of implementation, support for small operators, and financing mechanisms remain open questions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Key takeaway:  PPWR is not a threat for those who are prepared. It is a framework. The challenge is keeping up with its correct interpretation \u2014 and that requires partners who understand both the regulation and the operational reality.<\/em><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Official data presented in the panel (source: AFM<\/a>, Eurostat<\/a>):<\/p>\n\n\n\n