On Monday, Parliament and Council reached a provisional agreement on revamped rules to reduce, reuse, and recycle packaging, increase safety, and boost the circular economy.
The new measures aim to make packaging used in the EU safer and more sustainable by requiring all packaging to be recyclable, minimizing the presence of harmful substances, reducing unnecessary packaging, boosting the uptake of recycled content, and improving collection and recycling.
Less packaging and restricting certain packaging formats
The agreement sets packaging reduction targets (5% by 2030, 10% by 2035, and 15% by 2040) and requires EU countries to reduce, in particular, the amount of plastic packaging waste.
According to the deal, certain single-use plastic packaging formats, such as packaging for unprocessed fresh fruit and vegetables, packaging for foods and beverages filled and consumed in cafés and restaurants, individual portions (for e.g., condiments, sauces, creamer, sugar), accommodation miniature packaging for toiletry products and shrink-wrap for suitcases in airports, would be banned from 1 January 2030.
MEPs also ensured a ban on very lightweight plastic carrier bags (below 15 microns) unless required for hygiene reasons or provided as primary packaging for loose food to help prevent food wastage.
Banning the use of "forever chemicals"
To prevent adverse health effects, Parliament secured the introduction of a ban on the use of so-called "forever chemicals" (per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances or PFASs) in food contact packaging.
Encouraging reuse and refill options for consumers
Negotiators agreed to set a specific target for reusable packaging for alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages (except, e.g., milk, wine, aromatized wine, and spirits) by 2030 (at least 10%). Member states may grant a five-year derogation from these requirements under certain conditions.
Final distributors of beverages and takeaway food in the food service sector would be obliged to offer consumers the option of bringing their own containers. They would also be required to endeavor to offer 10% of products in a reusable packaging format by 2030.
In addition, at Parliament's request, member states are required to incentivize restaurants, canteens, bars, cafés, and catering services to serve tap water in a reusable or refillable format.
Recyclable packaging, better waste collection and recycling
Negotiators agreed that all packaging should be recyclable, fulfilling strict criteria to be defined through secondary legislation. Certain exemptions are foreseen for lightweight wood, cork, textile, rubber, ceramic, porcelain, or wax.
Other agreed measures include:
- minimum recycled content targets for any plastic part of packaging;
- minimum recycling targets by weight of packaging waste generated and increased recyclability requirements;
- 90% of single-use plastic and metal beverage containers (up to three liters) are to be collected separately by 2029 (deposit-return systems).
Next steps
Parliament and Council need to formally approve the agreement before it can enter into force.
For more information:
Dana Popp
European Parliament
Tel.: (+32) 2 28 46330 (BXL)
Tel.: (+32) 470 95 17 07
Email: envi-press@europarl.europa.eu