In an in-depth interview with Deloitte, Kirschner outlined practical roadblocks and the potential of reusable alternatives to pallet wrap and strapping under PPWR.
As the European Union pushes forward with its Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), a critical spotlight has turned to an often overlooked but essential part of industrial logistics: pallet wrapping and strapping. Under proposed rules, companies will be required to shift toward reusable load-securing materials. But what does that mean for B2B logistics?
In the April 2025 issue of the FEFPEB newsletter, Marcus Kirschner, Chair of the PPWR Task Force for the European Federation of Wooden Pallet and Packaging Manufacturers (FEFPEB), spoke with Deloitte and DG ENV about the real-world implications of such a transition. (DG ENV is the acronym for Directorate-General for Environment, which is a department of the European Commission.
Kirschner began by pointing out the fundamental disconnect between the PPWR’s consumer-focused ambitions and the realities of industrial packaging. “The PPWR’s provisions primarily target consumer and plastic packaging with a strong B2C focus,” he said. “Wooden pallets and industrial wooden packaging predominantly serve B2B supply chains.” As such, he warned, a one-size-fits-all approach could impose “unnecessary burdens while overlooking their substantial contributions to the circular economy.”
The Role of Wrapping and Strapping in Load Safety
Wrapping stabilizes loads, prevents shifting during transport, and even improves pallet strength. “The load-bearing capacity of the pallet can be improved by measures to secure the load unit (stretching, shrinking, strapping),” Kirschner explained, especially when dealing with flexible loads such as sacks or cardboard boxes.
Machine and manual handling methods introduce an array of performance needs for strapping and wrapping. These range from withstanding vibrations on forklifts to withstanding compression in shrink tunnels. In automated storage systems, film or strapping that trails behind can cause serious disruptions.
“In all of these applications,” Kirschner noted, “load-securing equipment must fit snugly against the load. Protruding tapes or film trailing behind lead to malfunctions.”
The Reusable Straps Requirement Dilemma
One of the most pressing questions Kirschner addressed was whether reusable straps or wraps are a viable alternative. “None [are] available so far,” he said bluntly. While some discussions have floated the idea of rubber bands or reusable fabric alternatives, Kirschner believes there are limitations: “This would result in a fixation that is too elastic… causing damage, especially to vibration-sensitive goods.”
Even when reuse is technically possible, the cost and complexity of collection and redeployment can outweigh any environmental gains. “Reverse logistics only make sense in cases where a large quantity of wrappings or straps can be expected at a single facility,” he said. In most supply chains, “the number of end users… is almost unmanageable.”
Aiming for 100% reuse, Kirschner warned, is more aspirational than realistic. “This is a non-reversible process,” he said, referring to the deformation of stretch film during use. “There is no time or space to unwind film and wind it back onto a roll.” The same holds for straps, which are often cut during removal.
Practicality Over Ideals
For any new reusable system to work, Kirschner said, it must integrate seamlessly with existing operations. “Only such alternatives are real alternatives if they can be used on the existing systems with the existing tools, with the existing processes, organizational and logistics structures, in a cost-neutral manner.”
Reusable packaging advocates may find this sobering, but it’s a necessary reality check. Industrial supply chains value efficiency, safety, and compatibility above all. “The PPWR regulations must be manageable for SMEs. Currently, he noted, that is not the case.
The reusable straps requirement under PPWR may open the door to innovation, but Kirschner believes that any successful transitions must be grounded in logistical practicality. Reusable load-securing materials are a worthy goal only if they don’t jeopardize operational safety, product integrity, or economic viability.
For the full interview regarding reusable straps requirements and PPWR, visit www.fefpeb.eu and read the April 2025 FEFPEB newsletter.
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