On March 4, 2024, the European Parliament and Council reached a provisional agreement on the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), marking a significant step towards its enactment. This regulation, pivotal for the packaging industry within the EU, emphasizes recyclability, recycling targets, and the incorporation of recycled content in packaging materials. It also sets forth objectives for reuse and refill systems, introduces deposit return schemes, and imposes restrictions on specific packaging formats alongside newly added exemptions and modifications to prior mandates.
Key provisions retained include mandatory recyclability for all packaging, with a stipulation for packaging to be at least 70% recyclable by weight. The agreement also specifies minimum recycled content requirements for plastic packaging, exempting compostable plastics and packaging comprising less than 5% plastic by weight. National recycling targets continue to be a cornerstone, measured against the weight of packaging materials marketed versus recycled.
The agreement upholds restrictions on substances of concern, including a ban on PFAS in food contact packaging, with the European Commission tasked with evaluating this ban's integration with other regulations over the next four years. Reuse and refill targets have been established, with a notable directive for food and beverage outlets to facilitate customer use of personal containers and offer a minimum of 10% of products in reusable packaging by 2030. Additionally, the agreement mandates the establishment of deposit return systems to enhance the collection and recycling of beverage containers.
Before formal adoption, this provisional deal requires approval from EU member states' representatives and the Parliament's Environment Committee (ENVI). Once published in the Official Journal of the European Union, the PPWR will take effect 18 months later, heralding substantial changes for the EU's packaging industry and waste management practices.
Source: research.rabobank.com