PPWR: EU Reaches Provisional Agreement

Α few weeks ago, European Union took a significant step towards addressing the ongoing challenge of packaging waste with the provisional political agreement reached between the Council presidency and the European Parliament’s representatives on a proposal for the regulation on packaging and packaging waste (PPWR). The agreement was made in EU’s efforts to reduce the escalating percentage of packaging waste while maintaining a harmonized internal market for packaging producers and contributing to the circular economy.

 

PPWR Proposal’s Objective

The core objective of the proposal is to tackle the issue of packaging waste by considering its entire life-cycle, establishing requirements to ensure the safety and sustainability of packaging, mandating that all packaging must be recyclable and minimizing the presence of harmful substances.

Furthermore, the proposal lays down labelling harmonization requirements to improve consumer awareness and received information. The agreement aims to reduce packaging waste by enforcing binding re-use targets, regulating single-use packaging, and minimizing packaging usage.

 

Key Elements of the Provisional Agreement

1. Sustainability Requirements and Recycling Targets

The agreement, while upholding most of the sustainability requirements for all packaging (e.g. reducing waste volumes by -5 % by 2030 and -15 % by 2040) and the headline targets for minimum recycled content in plastic packaging by 2030 and 2040, now includes stricter regulations on substances in contact with food, and particularly per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFASs).

Moreover, the Commission is tasked with assessing technological advancements in bio-based plastic packaging to establish sustainability requirements for bio-based content.

 

2. Re-use Targets and Obligations

New binding re-use targets for 2030 (e.g. 5 % of alcoholic beverages are ought to be available in reusable packaging from 2030) along with indicative targets for 2040 (implementation of Deposit Return Schemes), have also been set for different types of packaging, excluding cardboard packaging. Specifically:

• alcoholic and non‑alcoholic beverages (excluding wine and aromatized wines, milk and other highly perishable beverages)
• transport and sales packaging (excluding packaging used for dangerous goods or large-scale equipment and flexible packaging in direct contact with food)
• grouped packaging (plastic packaging used at retail level to group goods)

Furthermore, the agreement adds an obligation for take-away food businesses to offer their customers the ability of bringing their own containers to fill with beverages or food, without any extra charge. Also, by 2030 take-away activities must be able to offer 10 % of their products in reusable packaging formats.

 

 

3. Restrictions on Certain Packaging Products

The agreement introduces new restrictions-bans on the use of different single-use plastic packaging products for the below products:

• fruits and vegetables (nets, bags, trays, containers)
• condiments (sachets, tubs, trays, boxes)
• sauces within the HORECA sector (trays, disposable plates and cups, bags, foil, boxes)
• small cosmetic and toiletry products used in the accommodation sector (shampoo bottles, hand and body lotion bottles, sachets around miniature bar soap)
• lightweight plastic bags (e.g. those offered at markets for bulk groceries)

 

4. Minimizing Packaging Usage

The agreement indicates a maximum empty space ratio of 50 % in grouped, transport and e-commerce packaging, which will require manufacturers to minimize packaging weight. Exception of the above are packaging designs subject to geographical indications of origin and protected under Union legislation.

 

5. Derogations

Moreover, a general derogation from the attainment of re-use targets was also introduced by the agreement, which will be up for renewal after five years for specific member states, which are not specified at the moment. This will be applicable under the following specific conditions:

• Exempted member states exceed recycling targets achieved in 2025 by 5 percentage points and are expected to exceed recycling targets in 2030 by 5 percentage points.
• Exempted member states are expected to achieve their waste prevention goals.
• The operators have adopted an operational waste prevention and recycling plan that helps achieve the waste prevention and recycling targets set out in the regulation

These new rules also exempt micro-enterprises (SMEs) from reaching those targets, while giving the possibility for economic operators to form pools of up to five final distributors, in order to achieve the re-use targets.

 

6. Deposit Return Systems (DRS)

Member states are also required to ensure the separate collection of at least 90 % of single-use plastic bottles and metal beverage containers annually, by 2029, making mandatory the implementation of deposit return systems.

Exemptions of the aforementioned are granted for states already achieving an 80 % separate collection rate by 2026, and also if they submit an implementation for achieving the 90 % separate collection target.

 

Conclusion

In conclusion, the provisional agreement on the packaging and packaging waste regulation (PPWR) signifies a united effort by the EU to address environmental challenges while keeping the targets viable for the member states and promoting a more sustainable and circular economy. By enforcing the aforementioned restrictions and guidelines, the EU aims to lead the way in reducing packaging waste and achieving the desired recycling targets set by 2030 and 2040 accordingly.

If you want to learn more regarding the regulation of packaging products, contact our team of experts.