The new excise tax on non-reusable plastic containers came into effect in Spain on 1 January this year.
This measure, which is regulated by Law 7/2022 on waste and contaminated soils for a circular economy [LRSC](LRSC by its Spanish initials) and Order HFP/1314/2022 of 28 December, aims to:
- Encourage sustainability through recycling
- Reduce the use of non-reusable plastic
- Incentivise research and the use of more environmentally friendly materials
How is it applied?
The excise is applied to all non-reusable packaging that contains plastic, whether empty or used to contain, protect, handle, distribute or display goods.
In the specific case of ZFoam, this measure applies to:
- The polyethylene foams we produce, whether in sheets or rolls, when they are used to manufacture packaging.
- The foam inserts designed to contain perfume, cosmetics or other products, given that they are not meant for more than single use. –
As such, the new tax only applies to single-use plastic packaging and semi-processed products (such as our polyethylene foams) provided they are used for packaging.
What is the new excise tax rate?
The tax rate is €0.45 per kilogram of non-recycled plastic. It is also compulsory to indicate the amount of tax paid or exemptions and kilograms of non-recycled plastic on commercial invoices.
However, although this information will appear on our future invoices, ZFoam will fully cover this amount without passing it on to our customers, which means that the production costs we were charging at the time the tax came into effect will not change.
It is our wish to show our respect for all the professionals who have come to rely on us and, wherever possible, to assist in the transition towards the use of materials with least possible impact on the environment, allowing us to gradually bring about an efficient model of circular economy.
ZFoam, fully committed to sustainability
The aims behind the entry into effect of the new excise tax are the same as those that ZFoam have been contemplating for some time regarding the use of environmentally friendly materials and working with recycled and recyclable materials.
In fact, we have already been making inroads in this direction and others that go far beyond, including:
- The use of ECO & BIO ecological foams, which incorporate plant-based foams with a negative carbon footprint.
- Internal recycling of more than 95% of the waste we generate.
- The development, together with the Circe Foundation, or a life cycle calculator (LCC) to measure the environmental impact resulting from the manufacturing of our products.
Moreover, we have been awarded gold medal status by EcoVadis the world’s most prestigious sustainability ratings organisation, and Towards Zero Waste certification. We are currently putting our efforts into the goal of achieving zero waste in the near future.
We would like to remind you that we are at your service to resolve any doubts you may have as to the excise tax on non-reusable packaging and the different types of sustainable foams we work with.
