About Us
Repak is an environmental not-for-profit organisation, with a social mission.
Our purpose, on behalf of our Members, is:
to lead the recycling and sustainability of Ireland’s packaging; advocate for a new circular economy; and educate businesses and consumers on reducing and recycling packaging.
Repak was set up in 1997 to help Member businesses meet their legal obligation to recycle the packaging they place on the Irish market. We have over 3,400 Members, whose fees fund household recycling bins, bottle banks, civic amenity sites and business back-door waste nationwide.
At Repak, we are passionate about protecting the environment and reducing the environmental impact of packaging waste, while helping to deliver Ireland’s recycling targets for the five main materials*. We run initiatives and campaigns to help our Members improve the sustainability of their packaging and to encourage consumers to reduce, reuse and recycle better.
Our Goals
Under our new 10 Year strategy, we have defined primary and secondary goals to help us deliver on our purpose.
Primary Goals
- To make Ireland a Primary Leader in Europe of packaging recycling by 2025 in a circular economy
- To recycle 50% of all plastic packaging placed on the market by 2025
- To achieve 80% recycling target for all packaging by 2030 (10% ahead of the EU target)
Secondary Goals
- Achieve all material recycling targets
- Achieve target outcomes cost-efficiently
- Have total market participation with regulatory support
- Reduction in plastic placed on the market to be measured by promoting the Plastic Pledge
- Fee structure aligned to recycling targets via eco fee modulation
- Funding framework to be developed by all stakeholders to support the plastic recycling infrastructure in Ireland
- Driving behavioural change
|
Material Targets for |
|
|---|---|
| Paper | 85% |
| Plastic | 55% |
| Glass | 90% |
| Metals | 80% |
| Wood | 85% |
Recycling Targets displayed in this table refer to 2030 recycling targets for Ireland.
How we lead
Over the past 20 years, Repak has grown from a ‘compliance scheme’ to a leading environmental organisation that has helped transform the recycling landscape in Ireland, providing credible knowledge and expertise to many stakeholders on packaging waste, while supporting our Members.
For many years, we have challenged our Members to increase the sustainability of their packaging, through the following initiatives.
Plastic Strategy 2030
Launched in 2018, this strategy sets out the key actions required for Ireland to achieve challenging new EU recycling targets.
Repak Members’ Plastic Pledge
Over 140 of Ireland’s largest producers have committed to five key objectives which encompass prioritising the prevention of plastic packaging waste, minimising avoidable single use packaging and promoting packaging reuse.
Packaging Design Guide
This new Design for Recycling Guide, offers a comprehensive insight into how packaging materials are collected, sorted and reprocessed, to inform the design of packaging for the Circular Economy, including advice for the design of flexible plastic packaging.
Our impact over the last 20+ years
How we advocate
We represent our Members at Government and EU level on key issues, legislation and policy relating to packaging, packaging waste and the development of sustainable packaging in a circular economy. This includes taking part in consultations with state bodies, local authorities, EU stakeholders, environmental organisations and other European Packaging Compliance Schemes (also known as ‘Extended Producer Responsibility’ schemes), as well as media interviews on packaging recycling and sustainability. Our stakeholders include:
How we educate
While keeping our Members informed of EU legislation affecting them and providing guidance on packaging sustainability, we also educate consumers on reducing and recycling through and our extensive annual marketing and communications campaigns across traditional and digital media.
How we behave
We are professional, transparent, honest in our dealings with stakeholders, and always act with integrity and in the best interests of our Members and society as a whole.
As part of our commitment to the highest standards of service to our stakeholders, we have implemented a Management System that meets the requirements of ISO 9001:2015. Our Quality Policy outlines how we implement continual improvement to drive Membership satisfaction and compliance. Repak Limited operates under approval (licence) from the Minister for the Environment.
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See our list of the most frequently asked questions about us
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