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A 2024 analysis of the EU's latest packaging law

en November 03, 2024

On 15 March 2024, the President of the European Council and the representatives of the European Parliament reached a provisional political agreement on the proposal for regulation of packaging and packaging waste.The aim is to address the increase in packaging waste generated in the EU, while harmonizing the internal packaging market and promoting a circular economy. The proposal takes into account the entire life cycle of packaging. It establishes requirements to ensure the safety and sustainability of packaging, requiring that all packaging be recyclable and that the presence of substances of concern be minimized. It has also developed label coordination requirements to improve consumer information. According to the waste grading system, the proposal aims to significantly reduce the generation of packaging waste by setting binding reuse targets, limiting certain types of single-use packaging and requiring economic operators to minimize the use of packaging.

In this remind enterprises, PPWR will change the EU's regulatory standards on packaging, pay attention to regulatory dynamics, to do a good job.

The main content of the agreement

  • Sustainability requirements and recycled ingredients in packaging

The text of the interim agreement retains most of the sustainability requirements for all packaging on the market and the overall objectives set by the commission. It strengthens the requirements for substances in packaging, restricting the placing on the market of food contact packaging containing perfluoroalkyl substances and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) above a certain threshold.

The new regulations will reduce unnecessary packaging, set a maximum vacancy rate of 50% for packet packaging, transport packaging and e-commerce packaging, and require manufacturers and importers to ensure that the weight and volume of packaging is minimised, with the exception of protected packaging designs (provided that such protection is already in effect on the date of this regulation).

  • Reuse goals and refulfill obligations

The text sets new binding reuse targets for 2030 and indicative targets for 2040. These objectives vary according to the type of packaging used by operators: Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages (excluding wines and aromatic wines, milk and other highly perishable beverages) , transport and marketing packaging (excluding packaging for dangerous goods or large equipment and soft packaging in direct contact with food) and packet packaging.

  • Restrictions on certain packaging formats

The new regulations impose restrictions on certain forms of packaging, these include disposable plastic packaging for fruits and vegetables, food and beverages in the catering industry, condiments, sauces, small bottles of cosmetics and toiletries (such as shampoo or body wash) used in the accommodation industry, and very light plastic bags (such as those in the market for bulk groceries) .

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