On Wednesday (22 November), the European Parliament adopted its position on new EU-wide rules on packaging, which Plastics Europe bemoaned as a “missed opportunity” to incentivise investments in circular plastic packaging.
The Parliament voted on new roles for reusing and recycling packaging within the EU (European Union). The policies include targets to reduce overall packaging and plastic packaging by 10% by 2030, 15% by 2035 and 20% by 2040.
MEPs proposed banning the sale of 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.
They voted to “heavily restrict” the use of certain single-use packaging formats, such as hotel miniature packaging for toiletry products and shrink-wrap for suitcases in airports. MEPs also requested a ban on the use of “forever chemicals” (per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances or PFASs) and Bisphenol A in food contact packaging.
MEPs approved the report, which constitutes Parliament’s mandate for negotiations with EU governments, 426 votes in favour, 125 against and 74 abstentions.
The new rules require all packaging to be recyclable. However, the Parliament says certain temporary exemptions are foreseen, citing the examples of wood and wax food packaging. MEPs also voted for EU countries to ensure that 90% of materials contained in packaging are collected separately by 2029.
Once the Council has adopted its position, the European Parliament will start talks with national governments on the final form of the law.
“Missed Opportunity”
Plastics Europe has criticised the plenary vote, calling it a missed opportunity to incentivise investments in circular plastics packaging.
Virginia Janssens, Managing Director of Plastics Europe, said: “Although Plastics Europe welcomes a number of decisions taken by the European Parliament, we believe today’s Plenary vote was a missed opportunity to strengthen this critical piece of regulation and create the incentives for the huge investments needed to make plastics packaging circular.
“It is unfortunate that the decision by the Environment committee to reduce the recycled content targets for contact-sensitive packaging has not been reversed in Plenary. This is a missed opportunity to use the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation to boost the development of the market for recycled plastic packaging in Europe.”
Faced with record levels of waste, MEPs chose to side with throw-away packaging producers and fast food giants.
Rethink Plastic was more critical and accused MEPs of being “intimidated by unprecedented lobbying” into voting to delete “almost all provisions” to tackle unnecessary packaging and most of the reuse targets for 2040.
Marco Musso, Senior Policy Officer for Circular Economy at the European Environmental Bureau, said: “Faced with record levels of waste, MEPs chose to side with throw-away packaging producers and fast food giants. Deleting provisions which would simultaneously reduce waste, scale up reuse and create new economic opportunities for Europe – they served the interest of polluters today.”
