OVERSHOOT DAY: A CLEAR SIGNAL TO ACCELERATE THE SUSTAINABLE TRANSITION

06-05-2026

During these weeks, several European Union countries reached Overshoot Day — the date marking the exhaustion of the natural resources the Continent can regenerate within a year.

From this point on, we symbolically enter a phase of ecological debt, consuming more than ecosystems can sustain.

 

Earth Overshoot Day marks the calculated date when humanity’s demand for ecological resources and services in a given year exceeds what Earth can regenerate in that same year. It represents the point where the planet enters a, “deficit,” operating on ecological credit by depleting resources and accumulating waste.

 

This figure is part of a complex picture, confirming that the ecological footprint remains high, albeit with significant differences between individual countries.

 

In this context, Pro Carton, the European Association of Carton and Cartonboard Manufacturers — chaired by RDM Group CEO Michele Bianchi — highlights how the cartonboard sector is demonstrating that industrial transformation is possible. According to data released by the association, the European cartonboard industry has significantly reduced fossil emissions through the use of renewable energy, process efficiency, and increasingly circular production models.

 

RDM Group fully identifies with this path. Its commitment to the production of recycled cartonboard and the development of sustainable packaging solutions represents a concrete contribution towards reducing environmental impact and protecting natural resources.

 

Overshoot Day is a call to action for everyone: institutions, businesses, and citizens alike. For RDM Group, it means continuing to innovate responsibly, helping to push back the boundaries of resource consumption and build a more sustainable future.

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RDM GROUP FOR THE PAOLO CULICCHI PRIZE

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