Ekopak Newsletter March 2013

Dear clients and associates of Ekopak, 

Welcome to our March 2014 Newsletter!

In Ekopak, the previous month was marked by preparation of the Annual report on packaging and packaging waste management which was, in accordance with the requirement of the Ordinance, submitted before March 31, 2014 to the Federal Ministry of Environment and Tourism and the Environmental Fund of the FBiH. We are proud to inform you that in 2013, there were 415 companies in the system of Ekopak – starting from the multinational, regional to  significant local producers, importers and retailers. We took over the waste management of 51.864 tons of packaging. Trough public utility service and collecting companies which are involved in the system of Ekopak, we collected and handed over for recycling 7.063 tons of packaging waste thus we fulfilled the annual recycling target of 13%. 

Apart from the fulfillment of the annual target, our activities in the last year were focused on cooperation with the local community and public utility service companies hence, with our investment in the Bihać, Gračanica, Orašje and Donji Vakuf, separate packaging waste collecting is being established.

Our youngest citizens are very important to us, and therefore, more than 10.000 children were involved in our educational projects through educational institutions of all levels, from kindergarten to secondary schools. This is all evidence that in our country, despite unfavorable socio-economic situation, the European system of packaging waste management is establishing.

In March, we have successfully finalized the first phase of the „Planet's Smile is in Your Hands“ educational project in the Sarajevo Canton. In the Final quiz of knowledge, around 50 best prepared pupils from the 14 Sarajevo schools participated. For the winners, we have prepared prizes with the main aim to stimulate the children to develop a habit of separate packaging waste disposal. This competition in the packaging and packaging waste collecting among schools within the project will be active until the end of the school year.

With the arrival of spring, we have participated in the clean up actions. Anent the preparations for the traditional event „Čimburijada“ in Zenica, in cooperation with the Zenica Citizen Associations, we have helped clean up the Kamberovića Polje. We have also marked the World Forest Day through the action of remediation of illegal landfills in the Kladanj Municipality supported by the Public Utility Service Company “Šume TK” and Šumsko gazdinstvo “Konjuh” Kladanj.

As a friend of the educational project „Packaging-Product-Consumer-Environmental protection“, organized by the Institute of Packaging and Graphic Arts Tectus, on the exhibition square „Zakopčaj me selotejpom“ ("Button Me Up With Scotch Tape") in Sarajevo BBI Center, 3rd floor, we are presenting dresses made of our clients' packaging. The primary objective of this project is promotion of the packaging and packaging waste usage in a different, creative way, by which we want to affect the public awareness about the importance of packaging waste recycling and recovery. This is also the beginning of the „Green Dot“ trademark promotion as a new value on the BiH market which represents the direct connection between the consumers and our clients which are promoted as a socially responsible companies. 

We cordially invite you to visit the exhibition which is open until April 14th.

With the same goal, we have supported the performance by the members of the Artists Association „Bellarte“ in the Art Cinema Kriterion in Srajevo. By the performance, costumes and fashion designs made of the packaging and other materials that would otherwise end up on landfills were presented. The designs were created on the „Waste is Taste“ workshop in the Association for the Promotion of Cultural Creativity „Mlaz“ in Počitelj.

In 2014, we have fully adopted the online packaging waste reporting system through our clients' profiles, thus, we are using this opportunity to remind you that the first quarter of 2014 report on packaging waste is due April 20th. 

More detailed information about our activities can be seen in the following segments.

Respectfully, 

Ekopak Team