Revision of declaration form

Why is it important to report with greater precision than before?

Sari Tapaninen, manager in charge of statistics and back office services at PYR, states that implementation of EPR will be based on accurate knowledge of packaging quantities by means of more precisely itemised packaging data. She explains, “We hope that filling in the form will also be easier for our customers thanks to this revision. The data declared by firms will then be reported as combined statistics  to the Finnish authorities, the Pirkanmaa Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY), who will duly submit them to the EU. We have made a special effort concerning the instructions for filling in the form and hope that we have succeeded in this.”

Juha-Pekka Salmi, Managing Director of Suomen Kuitukierrätys Oy, the producer organisation for fibre packaging, considers that introducing the new form is a good thing and the changes are necessary. He states, “We will gain an even clearer understanding of fibre packaging supply chain flows through to the consumers. We have also tried to clarify, for instance, what the difference is between cores for WC paper rolls and those for paper machine rolls.”

Eija Jokela of Suomen Kuitukierrätys Oy says that this does not represent a great change for the association. She adds, “Of course, we wish that the revision will help to make it easier for the person filling in the form to declare the annual packaging data as accurately as possible.”

Jukka Ala-Viikari, the Managing Director of Puupakkausten Kierrätys PPK Oy, the producer organisation for wooden packaging, estimates that from the standpoint of wooden packaging at least the accuracy of the data will considerably improve in the future. He confirms, “We will obtain more precise data on the various types of packaging, breakdowns in volumes and reuse by packaging type.”

Ala-Viikari hopes that firms, filling in the forms, will pay particular attention to the figures in the “Reuse as Packaging in Finland” column. He states, “I have a feeling that the reuse figures published for wooden packaging are slightly lower than the actual figures. By carefully entering reuse we will be able to show how efficiently wooden packaging is reused in reality.”

All interviewees state that they are of the opinion that the filling-in instructions for the form are clear and that sufficient attention has been paid to reporting instructions in the revision.  Eija Jokela nevertheless emphasises that one should not be afraid to ask questions, saying, “Rather ask than assume or guess. We will be glad to give assistance or advice. It is both worthwhile and necessary to be careful in filling in the form as the data forms the basis not only of the recycling fees paid by firms but also of the official statistics and, for instance, material-specific recycling rates.”