Packaging standards for cartons have not only gained importance in the course of globalization and worldwide logistics processes. Rather, the need of standardization for the European region was recognized more than half a century ago.

 

At that time, the European Carton Makers Association (ECMA) was established, which, with its codes for carton packaging, continues to set the standards for product packaging in its entirety today.

What is the ECMA?

The European Carton Marketers Association, ECMA for short, is an international network linking folding carton organizations, national cartonboard associations, cartonboard companies and suppliers from the cartonboard industry. The organization was founded in 1960 and has its headquarters in The Hague, with a further location in Brussels. The founding and honorary president was the former Lord Mayor of Düren, Ernst August Hammans.

Who does ECMA represent?

ECMA represents more than 500 cartonboard producers with currently over 60,000 employees in almost all countries of the European Economic Area (EEA). This corresponds to more than 80 percent of the cartonboard market volume in Europe. All major companies in the European cartonboard industry are members of ECMA.

Many producers advertise that they produce according to the standards of the packaging organization. Conformity with the ECMA Code is a kind of seal of quality for cartonboard producers.

The focus of the European Carton Marketers Association is on the

• Supporting a healthy development of European cartonboard producers
• Optimization of the profile and professionalism of the European cartonboard industry
• Supporting cartonboard producers in expanding their expertise and international network
• Development of contemporary international standards and
• Lobbying national and European legislators.

How is the association organized?

To increase the involvement of its members, ECMA maintains several standing committees and forums. It actively encourages its members to apply for committee membership and to participate in the work of the organization or to join one or more ECMA forums.

The General Assembly of the European Carton Marketers Association, in which each individual member company and association has a right to vote, delegates the day-to-day tasks of the organization. They are taken over by the Executive Committee's management team consisting of the President, the Vice President, the Treasurer and the Managing Director.

In addition to the management team, the latter also includes the chairmen of the standing committees, the executive members and the advisory members representing the European converter community. ECMA is supported by professional staff: the Executive Director, a Technical Advisor, and the Secretariat.

The five standing committees include:

• Food Safety Committee (platform for industry cooperation on technical programs).
• Marketing and Communications Committee (handles public affairs and communications interests, as well as ECMA's public relations activities)
• Association Development Committee (represents national converter associations, coordination of national and European public affairs, and exchange of information).
• Business Development Committee (assumes coordination of the ECMA Pharma, Tobacco and SME Forums) and
• Sustainability Committee (Focuses on developments around sustainability in the cartonboard sector as well as in the packaging industry in general).

All five committees have the option of including processor member representatives, national association experts, and associate supplier members for task forces or ad hoc working groups where there is a need for outside expertise (from non-ECMA members).

The independent ECMA Forums provide a basis for member companies to establish a communication structure for the exchange of information on technical issues of common interest. Three forums exist:

• Pharma Forum
• Tobacco Forum
• SME Forum (the forum of small and medium-sized enterprises).

What are ECMA's goals and procedures?

The European Carton Marketers Association focuses on the following topics, which are of equal interest to all companies in the folding carton industry:

1. Performance ECMA wants to encourage the European folding carton industry to raise its bar and improve its operational and financial performance on a global scale.
2. Food safety The association wants to ensure and increase the recognition of folding cartons as "food safe" packaging.
3. Sustainability The folding carton should be recognized as sustainable packaging and thus become the first choice for customers.
4. Positioning of the industry The overall positioning of the folding carton industry vis-à-vis authorities, interest groups and the media is to be improved.
5. Positioning of ECMA The organization would like to present itself as a competent, pan-European umbrella organization for the cartonboard industry.

To achieve its goals, ECMA engages in the following offerings and methods:

1. Platform for networking

   The European Carton Marketers Association offers various platforms for the exchange of information and experience. In addition, it organizes an annual congress, seminars and bi-monthly webinars in which current topics are addressed.

2. Government Affairs

   ECMA represents the interests of the cartonboard industry to national governments and the European Commission. It actively participates in workshops and consultations on cartonboard products and the fiber packaging sector. In addition, it passes on information on planned regulatory and legislative changes to its members.

3. Benchmarking and information exchange

   ECMA provides dedicated expert networks and industry platforms for both multinational companies and SMEs. It pays particular attention to:

   • Pharmaceutical packaging and tobacco packaging manufacturer
   • Food safety and communication and
   • on sustainability experts
   • B2B opportunities
   • Suppliers to the folding carton industry, the organization offers the best business-to-business opportunities. Firmly integrated into ECMA, suppliers have many opportunities to meet directly with converters' decision-makers.
     
     
4. Industry guidelines

   From ECMA come industry guidelines such as:

   • the ECMA Code
   • the ECMA food safety guideline Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) with the ECMA seal of conformity
   • the ECMA best practice guidelines for pharmaceutical secondary packaging and the
   • ECMA Braille Standard.
     
     
5. Cooperation with other associations

   The European Carton Marketers Association works closely with the following organizations:

   • Confederation of European Paper Industries (CEPI)
   • International Confederation of Paper and Board Converters in Europe (CITPA)
   • Paperboard Packaging Council (PPC)
   • Per Carton.

The ECMA Congress is the most important networking event for the folding carton industry.

Who is part of the association and how do the companies benefit?

Membership in the ECMA is particularly recommended for internationally oriented companies and organizations. Both processors and suppliers can benefit. The association supports all types of membership programs and promotes a collaborative dialogue between all partners in the production and supply chains.

The main advantages for producers and processors:

• ECMA is considered the leading platform for manufacturers of folding cartons.
• Companies participating in the ECMA GMP Compliance Program are allowed to use the ECMA Food Seal.
• ECMA takes over the lobbying work at EU level.
• Members get direct access to up-to-date knowledge and the latest industry news.
• Participation in committees and forums enables direct exchange with like-minded people.

Key benefits for national associations:

• ECMA is considered the leading pan-European platform for cartonboard manufacturers.
• The association facilitates the joint development of the ECMA Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standard and food label.
• As an active European lobbying network, ECMA ensures a rapid response in crisis situations.
• With ECMA, the members have a permanent representation at EU level.
• National converters gain access to knowledge and up-to-date industry news through their membership in ECMA.

Key benefits for suppliers:

• As the leading platform for the cartonboard industry, ECMA offers optimal B2B networking opportunities.
• Members of the European Carton Marketers Association are allowed to speak at and sponsor ECMA events for publicity.
• Where relevant, participating suppliers can get involved in ECMA committees and projects.
• Members benefit from media exposure on the ECMA website.
• Via special newsletters, ECMA provides participating suppliers with the latest news on its own activities as well as on the activities of other supplier members. 

How can companies become members of EMCA?

Companies wishing to become members of ECMA must apply for this. An Executive Committee decides on membership. This committee informs the interested parties within three weeks of receipt of the application whether it accepts it or not.

The membership fees of European cartonboard producers and distributors are staggered depending on annual sales. Small producers and sellers with sales of less than 10 million euros per year pay 1,050 euros annually. If sales exceed one billion euros, the annual membership fee is 40,000 euros.

There is also a sliding scale for supplier members, which include, for example, direct suppliers of machines, consumables and auxiliary materials, but also research and other service providers for the folding carton industry. Here, the contributions range from 3,150 to 10,500 euros per year.

The annual fee for national associations of folding carton manufacturers representing the folding carton industry in the respective European country is calculated on the basis of the number of their members.

Cartonboard producers from European countries without a national association who join ECMA as a corresponding member pay a flat rate of 2,100 euros per year. Producers outside Europe as well as interested third parties such as universities, institutes and media pay 1,050 euros annually.

Conclusion

Today, cartonboard outer packaging and folding cartons are indispensable elements in the international movement of goods.
With its regulations, ECMA ensures that cartonboard packaging does not cause any communication and design problems in the industries involved and, as an international network, helps to bring cartonboard manufacturers, folding carton companies, national cartonboard associations and suppliers to the cartonboard industry under one roof. As a customer, you also benefit from the resulting advantages.

FAQ

1. What are ECMA codes?
   In their entirety, the codes provide an overview of a wide variety of formats for folding cartons and stand-up packaging. They refer exclusively to the shape and leave the dimensions open. Customers only need to specify the relevant ECMA code and the desired dimensions and the carton manufacturers can produce the appropriate carton packaging.

   In the meantime, the ECMA codes are also being used outside Europe. Their popularity with packaging and production companies is due to their simplicity and clarity, which minimizes translation problems and helps avoid misunderstandings.

2. What is the ECMA GMP Guideline?
   The ECMA GMP Guideline was developed for the manufacture of folding cartons that come into contact with food or could be a source of chemical migration into food.

   Folding cartons with windows are included here, as are laminated folding cartons and folding cartons for dry, frozen and/or fatty foods. Folding cartons for liquids ("beverage cartons") are excluded. The guideline must be implemented in a quality system such as ISO 9001. Use as a stand-alone solution is not permitted.