India’s rPET industry (recycled PET) is facing turbulence after amendments to the Plastic Waste Management Rules created uncertainty around recycled content obligations. The Association of PET Recyclers (Bharat), which represents Indian recycling companies, has warned that brand owners are stalling…
The European Commission has proposed raising the EU-wide levy on non-recycled plastic packaging waste, in order to account for inflation, which has eroded the real value of the current charge. Introduced in 2021 as part of measures to balance the…
Ukraine officially launched its REACH regulation, known as UA REACH (Resolution No. 847/2024), on January 26, 2025. Modeled on the EU REACH framework, this legislation establishes a structured system for the registration, evaluation, and management of chemicals on the Ukrainian…
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has reported that UK Plastic Packaging Tax (PPT) revenues for 2024/25 reached £ 259 million, a 3% decrease from the previous year’s £ 268 million. The figures highlight a decline in taxable plastic packaging as…
Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) has unveiled new certification standards for beverage bottles, cleaning product containers, and cosmetics packaging. The criteria, effective from 24 January 2026, aim to cut down material use, encourage higher recycled content, and…
Poland’s Ministry of Environment is preparing to roll out a fully state-run Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system, sparking pushback from major packaging industry groups including EUROPEN, Cepi, Flexible Packaging Europe, and Pro Carton. The organizations warn that the proposed model…
According to Plastic Recyclers Europe’s latest publication, Europe’s plastics value chain is in crisis. Production is down, recycling plants are shutting, and the EU’s global market share has dropped from 22 % in 2006 to just 12 %. By the…
The Global Waste Index (GWI), developed by Sensoneo, provides an in-depth comparison of waste management across the 38 OECD member countries. The 2025 edition arrives in a context shaped by inflation, conflict, and ongoing environmental challenges, measuring how countries handle…
In a recent survey by McKinsey & Company, European consumers reveal how their attitudes toward sustainable packaging have shifted in 2025. The insights, drawn from roughly 1,000 respondents per country across five European nations, show clear trends, including regional nuances,…
A joint analysis by The Guardian and the Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP) warns that the United Kingdom is falling behind the European Union on environmental protections in the wake of Brexit. Since leaving the EU, Britain has rolled…
Mid-2025 marks a pivotal wave of updates in food contact material (FCM) regulations across three diverse markets: the Netherlands, Indonesia, and Brazil. While the Netherlands and Indonesia focus on tightening chemical thresholds and harmonizing standards, Brazil sets contaminant standards for…
UK packaging and plastics producers risk “leaving money on the table” if they fail to adopt circular business models, according to a new report from WRAP and OC&C Strategy Consultants. The analysis shows companies embracing circular strategies, from designing for…