Spain's agri-food sector is leading the country's companies' efforts to relax the new EU packaging waste regulation, which is approaching its final phase of negotiations after it passes the Council of Ministers of Environment in Brussels.
The Council is looking for a common position to start the last stage of negotiation with the European Parliament on an ambitious regulation aimed at reducing packaging waste and promoting reuse and the circular economy.
Companies in the food sector have warned that the regulation would have a significant economic impact and are working to soften the regulation. The European Parliament approved an initial version that was more moderate than the original proposal.
The European institutions aim to have the regulation before the European elections in June 2024. The decision will affect more than 30,000 food and beverage companies, 25,000 food and hygiene outlets, and more than 300,000 hospitality and catering establishments, according to the consumer goods association Aecoc.
The proposals
A year ago, the European Commission (EC) proposed new rules to make all packaging sold in the EU recyclable and to reduce its waste by 37% by 2040 through reuse and recycling.
The EC proposed that by the end of 2030, countries ensure that 70% of the weight of any remaining packaging can be recycled, with specific targets for plastic (55%), wood (30%), aluminum (60%), glass (75%), and cardboard or paper (85%).
The European Parliament (EP) approved a watered-down version of the proposal in November, which some MEPs blamed on industry “pressure”.
Its opinion established the obligation of countries to reduce their waste by 5% by 2030, 10% by 2035, and 15% by 2040. The aim for plastic waste was increased to 10, 15, and 20%, respectively.
The Council will predictably approve its position on Monday. The Spanish agri-food and packaging industry finds that the position defended by the European Parliament is more favorable, as it took into account some of the demands of the industry. "It's not perfect, but it's more balanced," stated Emilio Oviedo, director for Iberia of the Alliance for Food and Beverage Cartons (ACE).
Economic Impact Assessment
However, the new regulation could cost the hospitality and food distribution sectors at least 23,000 million euro, with an expenditure that ranges between 50,000 and 150,000 euro per store, according to the calculations of the Asedas supermarket association.
According to a study by International Financial Analysts (IFA), the mandatory returnable system in Spain would have an impact of up to 5,000 million.
Source: efeagro.com