About us

CONAI, packaging and the environment: the Consortium of companies for the circular economy

What is CONAI?

CONAI is a private, non-profit consortium, representing the both producers and users of packaging. It is the cornerstone of the national system for managing packaging and packaging waste, and with 651,713 EPR Organisation members, it guarantees the achievement of recycling and recovery targets nationwide.

Conai and Local Authorities

CONAI collaborates with Municipalities based on specific agreements governed by the ANCI–CONAI National Framework Agreement and represents, for citizens, a guarantee that materials collected through separate waste collection are fully utilised through proper recovery and recycling processes.

Conai and Consortia

CONAI directs the activities of the seven Packaging Material Consortia: steel (Ricrea), aluminium(Cial), paper (Comieco), wood(Rilegno), plastic(Corepla), bioplastic (Biorepack), glass (Coreve), ensuring the necessary coordination between them and the Public Administration.

What does CONAI do?

The law assigns tasks to CONAI in the environmental field of importance to the national system as a whole, involving the various stakeholders in packaging waste management.

Established under the Ronchi Decree of 1997, the Consortium marked the transition from a landfill-based management system to an integrated system based on the prevention, recovery and recycling of the seven packaging materials: steel, aluminium, paper, wood, plastic, bioplastics and glass.

Ensuring the achievement of the packaging waste recovery and recycling targets currently in force, overseeing the cooperation
of consortia and other economic actors.

Working in line with the principle of subsidiarity, stepping in when local separate collection systems are inadequate to achieve recovery and recycling objectives.

Entering into a national framework programme agreement with ANCI, the Union of Italian Provinces or the authorities, in order to implement the management coresponsibility principle between producers, users and local authorities.

Acquiring data relating to packaging flows into and out of the country and from the economic operators involved and supplying the data and information requested by the MASE.

Promoting and coordinating the separate collection of packaging waste in accordance with efficiency, effectiveness and affordability criteria.

Promoting environmental packaging and packaging waste impact prevention, through study and research into the production of environmentally friendly, reusable and recyclable packaging.

Ensuring compliance with the “polluter pays” principle as regards producers and users by means of EPR Fee calculation.

Incentivising recycling and recovery of secondary raw materials by promoting the market for them.

Reducing the amount of packaging waste going to landfill by promoting recovery alternatives.

Organising information, training and awareness-raising campaigns aimed at packaging users and consumers in particular.

Ensuring the achievement of the packaging waste recovery and recycling targets currently in force, overseeing the cooperation
of consortia and other economic actors.

Working in line with the principle of subsidiarity, stepping in when local separate collection systems are inadequate to achieve recovery and recycling objectives.

Entering into a national framework programme agreement with ANCI, the Union of Italian Provinces or the authorities, in order to implement the management coresponsibility principle between producers, users and local authorities.

Acquiring data relating to packaging flows into and out of the country and from the economic operators involved and supplying the data and information requested by the MASE.

Promoting and coordinating the separate collection of packaging waste in accordance with efficiency, effectiveness and affordability criteria.

Promoting environmental packaging and packaging waste impact prevention, through study and research into the production of environmentally friendly, reusable and recyclable packaging.

Ensuring compliance with the “polluter pays” principle as regards producers and users by means of EPR Fee calculation.

Incentivising recycling and recovery of secondary raw materials by promoting the market for them.

Reducing the amount of packaging waste going to landfill by promoting recovery alternatives.

Organising information, training and awareness-raising campaigns aimed at packaging users and consumers in particular.

Our identity

Structure and Governance

The consortial system in Italy and Europe. How does it work and who are the stakeholders?

International Network

A network of experts working on packaging and packaging waste.

Certifications

A unique set of data on packaging, waste and environmental benefits, available to institutions and stakeholders to support analysis and decision-making.

OUR IMPACT

CONAI: more than 25 years of commitment to the environment through packaging recycling

76,7%

 Recycled of packaging waste in Italy.

12mln

Tonnes of packaging waste recovered in Italy.

97%

The percentage of the Italian population served by municipalities that have entered into at least one agreement with the CONAI system.

Data related to 2024.

HISTORY

CONAI: more than 25 years of commitment to the environment through packaging recycling

Sharing the values and importance of proper recycling is essential to making a difference. Thanks to the work of CONAI, of 7 Packaging Material Consortia and to everyone’s commitment, we can reduce the use of valuable natural resources and protect the environment.

FURTHER INSIGHTS

Discover more

Work with us

If you want to get in touch with us, please send us your application.

Conai Community

To guide companies, associations and all stakeholders, in activities relating to packaging and circular economy.

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