Photo: Dag Sørli, Norges sjømatråd (Norwegian Seafood Council)

The seafood industry is taking the initiative to map the flow of fish boxes in Asia

NORWAY
Friday, September 13, 2024, 00:10 (GMT + 9)

Seafood Norway and the Norwegian Seafood Council are collaborating with the EPS association on a project that can increase the recycling of fish boxes in Asia.

"The purpose of the initiative is to gain more knowledge about what happens to the fish boxes when they arrive at their final destination", says Mounir El'Mourabit, responsible for policy and development in the EPS association.

In Europe, an industry has grown over the years for the recycling of EPS (expanded polystyrene) fish boxes. The recycling rate in several European countries, including Norway, is over 90 per cent.

In parts of Asia, however, the infrastructure is not as developed as in Europe, with the result that the handling of the fish boxes is more unclear.

Recognized by UNEP

EPS boxes are the most commonly used solution for packing and shipping fish due to the material's low weight and high insulation capacity, as well as hygiene requirements. In April this year, UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme) recognized that fish boxes made of EPS are recycled in practice and on a large scale.

This is a recognition that only a handful of packaging types have.

"EPS boxes are a good solution as they are recycled. We want the fish boxes to be part of a circular value chain. Therefore, together with the EPS association, we have looked at how the industry can deliver solutions to increase the recycling share", says Henrik Wiedswang Horjen, communications manager at Sjømat Norge.

Will increase material recycling

Together with Norway's Seafood Council and Seafood Norway, the EPS association has now initiated a survey of the Asian market. The aim is for the industry to be able to implement measures together to ensure higher material recycling in vulnerable areas.

Most of the fish boxes go into hubs where they are handled. The challenge arises when the fish is resold, and the Norwegian producers no longer have control over the shipment.

"We have started a survey to find out where the fish boxes end up and how they are ultimately handled", Horjen elaborates.

Photo: EPS association

Important seafood market

Southeast Asia is a growing and important market for Norwegian seafood. In 2023, Norway exported 153,000 tonnes of seafood worth NOK 8.4 billion to the region.

"Recycling as many fish boxes as possible that are exported is a good ambition for the Norwegian seafood industry. We hope that this survey can provide useful answers and, in the long term, ensure a system for recycling fish boxes", says the Norwegian Seafood Council's envoy to Southeast Asia, Åshild Nakken.

"So far, we have met with goodwill and seen opportunities. Compressed EPS is an important resource in the circular economy, and we want to contribute to ensuring that as many fish boxes as possible are collected for recycling", concludes El'Mourabit.

About the EPS association

The EPS association is organized in Norsk Industri, which in turn is part of the Norwegian Confederation of Business and Industry (NHO). The association organizes the companies that produce and recycle EPS, colloquially referred to as Styrofoam.

The most important product areas are:

• Insulation products for building and construction
• Packaging for fish and other foodstuffs
• Molded special products

The EPS association wants to be part of the solution to the plastic problem. With increased recycling and waste prevention, the amount of waste that ends up on its way is reduced, and is broken down into microplastics in nature.

<== EPS consists of 98% air in a network of polystyrene. In Norway, 65,000 tonnes of EPS are produced per year, of which 35,000 tonnes are fish boxes Photo: Vartdal Plast

Facts EPS

EPS (expanded polystyrene) is a light and environmentally friendly material consisting of 98% air and 2% polystyrene (plastic).

As packaging, EPS contributes to increased food safety and reduced food waste, while as insulation, EPS contributes to warmer and more energy-efficient buildings.

EPS is profitable to recycle. Used EPS packaging in Norway has an approved return rate of 99% in Grønt Punkt Norge's statistics, and is recycled into everything from building boards to coat hangers.

"By recycling 1 kg of plastic, 2 kg of oil and 1.5-2 kg of CO₂ emissions are saved."

The majority of Norwegian seafood exports are made with fish boxes made of EPS, which have the unique quality that the boxes themselves weigh little and keep the food fresh all the way to markets around the world.

EPS weighs significantly less than alternative packaging materials such as paper, wood or metal, and fish boxes made of EPS therefore contribute to fewer lorries on the roads, lower emissions, lower transport costs, less food waste and more sustainable seafood exports.

Author/Source: Day Sørli/Norwegian Seafood Council (translated from original in Norwegian)

[email protected]
www.seafood.media

Print