EU reaches provisional agreement on packaging law

The European Union has reached a provisional agreement on rules to change the way discarded packaging is handled.

The new law aims to make packaging used in the EU safer and more sustainable by requiring all packaging be recyclable, minimizing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in food content packaging, reducing excess packaging, boosting the uptake of recycled content and improving collection and recycling. The agreement also sets packaging reduction targets to 5 percent by 2030, 10 percent by 2035 and 15 percent by 2040.

“For the first time in an environmental law, the EU is setting targets to reduce packaging consumption, regardless of the material used,” Rapporteur Frédérique Ries says. “We call on all industrial sectors, EU countries and consumers to play their part in the fight against excess packaging.”

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According to the deal, certain single-use plastic packaging would be banned as of Jan. 1, 2030. These materials include packaging for unprocessed fresh fruits and vegetables; packaging for food and beverages consumed in restaurants; individual portion packaging for condiments, sauces, cream and sugar; miniaturing packaging for toiletry products; and shrink-wrap film for suitcases in airports. Members of parliament also banned lightweight plastic carrier bags unless required for hygiene reasons or provided as primary packaging for loose food to help prevent food waste.

Food and beverage distributors would be obligated to offer consumers the option of bringing their own containers and would be required to have 10 percent reusable packaging by 2030.

The European Parliament says negotiators agreed all packaging should be recyclable and fulfill strict criteria, which is to be defined through secondary legislation. However, there will be certain exemptions for lightweight wood, cork, textile, rubber, ceramic, porcelain and wax.

Other agreed measures include minimum recycled content targets for any plastic packaging; minimum recycling targets by weight of discarded packaging generated and increased recyclability requirements; and 90 percent of single-use plastic and metal beverage containers up to 3 liters (12.68 cups) to be collected separately by 2029 through a deposit-return system.

According to a release from the European Parliament, discarded packaging volumes have increased from 66 million metric tons (approximately 72.7 million tons) in 2009 to 84 million metric tons (approximately 92.6 million tons) in 2021. Each European generated an average of 188.7 kilograms (416.01 pounds) of material in 2021, a figure expected to increase to 209 kilograms (460.77 pounds) in 2030.

The European Parliament and Council of the EU must formally approve the agreement before it can become effective.