Repak is a not-for-profit company established in 1997 as a joint Industry-Government initiative to help Ireland meet its target for the collection and recycling of used packaging. Established under the principle of shared responsibility, Repak works with all sectors of Irish society to create a long-lasting and economic solution to Waste Packaging Management and is an approved scheme in Ireland under the Waste Management (Packaging) Act,1997.

In 1996, it was determined by IBEC that 450,000 tonnes of packaging waste was placed on the Irish market. 79,000 tonnes of packaging waste was glass, 238,000 was paper, 114,000 was plastic, and 21,500 was metal.

EU law requires that a recovery rate of 25% of packaging waste must be reached by 2001. If companies fail to meet their obligations under the Regulation they will be liable to prosecution. Repak has agreed with Government to recover and recycle 27% of packaging waste.

Three years after its establishment, Repak introduced the Green Dot in Ireland as a symbol of participation. From 1^st January 2000, Repak has licensed its Members to use the Green Dot on their branded packaging. It signifies to consumers that the supplier of that packaging is financially contributing to the cost of recovery and recycling of packaging waste, through Repak. Repak use these contributions to fund existing packaging waste recovery and recycling schemes. In this way, some of the environmental obligations of Members are fulfilled.

The Green Dot is not an ecological symbol, and its use does not signify the quality of materials used, their recyclability or the fact that they will be recycled. Its use does signify that Repak Members are paying towards the cost of implementing Repak’s collection and recycling strategies. The Green Dot began in Germany in 1991. It has been adopted by eight (soon to be eleven) European countries under different recovery and recycling schemes. This means that the Green Dot is the most widely used packaging symbol in the world, and consumers should be aware of its significance.

As industry’s response to the packaging waste issue, Repak delivers a creative, practical and responsible solution on behalf of industry. It is committed to serving industry as its national recycling resource, and to making sure that the credit for a visible improvement goes to industry and consumers.