New declaration system for packaging companies

Fost Plus pushes forward digital innovation in the circular economy with MyFost

- Fost Plus is launching a totally revamped declaration system called MyFost today. Companies use MyFost to declare what packaging they bring onto the market. This allows them to cover all the costs linked to the selective collection, sorting and recycling of their packaging. MyFost not only provides an accurate picture of the Belgian packaging market but also helps Fost Plus evolutions in the packaging market.

Laurence Havrenne, CFO Fost Plus: ”MyFost contains all the tools and features that today’s users expect from a digital system. It reflects our customer-oriented approach, our digital mindset and our strategic ambitions. Our members come from widely differing sectors, they vary greatly in size and they each have their own specific needs and wishes. This means that a segmented approach is the key to success. With MyFost, we are taking the next step in the digital transformation of the recycling chain for household packaging.”

The actual costs of the recycling chain

Companies that bring packaged products onto the Belgian market are responsible for the waste management of this packaging. For household packaging, they can join the Fost Plus collective system. Every year, they submit a declaration indicating exactly what type of packaging is involved, how much of each type of packaging they put on the market and what materials the packaging contains. Each material has its own Green Dot rate that reflects the actual cost of the material at each stage in the chain. This allows companies to answer for the actual costs linked to the selective collection, sorting and recycling of their packaging.

The Green Dot is also a financial incentive for companies to bring more recyclable packaging onto the market. Companies that bring packaging to market that significantly disrupts the current sorting and recycling scenarios are penalised with a higher Green Dot rate.

Developments in the packaging mix

The declaration is a valuable source of information about the Belgian packaging market. In combination with real-time data on collecting and sorting, accurate and reliable reporting to the various authorities at local, regional, federal and European level is further facilitated.

The data also help Fost Plus to constantly optimise the system and respond to new developments. For example, packaging trend analyses help us hone our collection scenarios, direct sorting centres and draw on new recycling markets.

A future-proof system

With the arrival of the New Blue Bag, a great deal of packaging is now selectively collected that was previously lost in residual waste. The new declaration system therefore also includes a series of new categories and Green Dot rates for this packaging, so that it can be perfectly inventoried. In addition, as of this year Fost Plus is responsible for packaging that falls under Domestic Hazardous Waste after use, such as insecticide or engine oil packaging. The new system also offers a solution for the declaration of these categories.

At the end of 2021, the industrial packaging declaration, for which Valipac is responsible, is to be integrated into the system. This, too, simplifies the process for a great many companies.

The new declaration system was extensively tested in 2020. In mid-2021, all Fost Plus members are to be granted access to the new system to prepare their declaration. For more information, members can contact their account manager or the Fost Plus customer service via [email protected] .


Valerie Bruyninckx

Corporate Communication & PR Manager, Fost Plus

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About Fost Plus

Fost Plus is a non-profit organisation responsible for the selective collection, sorting and recycling of household packaging waste in Belgium. Through organisation, funding and communication, we implement the circular packaging economy. We recycle 95% of the household packaging on the market every year thanks to the efficient collection of glass, paper-cardboard and PMD.

Packaging management has evolved firmly in the direction of sustainable materials and ressource management. To this end, we work closely with all parties concerned: companies, federations, authorities, intermunicipalities, collection, sorting and recycling companies and the general public. Fost Plus was established in 1994 on the instigation of the industry and commerce, and operates in all three regions of the country. By joining the collective system of Fost Plus, packaging companies contribute to a more sustainable society and a cleaner world for all. www.fostplus.be