The European Commission set to announce proposals to reduce packaging waste, including new targets for recycled content in plastic drinks bottles and for takeaway cup reuse and the reuse of packages used for online deliveries, Reuters news agency reports.
According to the report by Reuters, the revision of the European Union (EU) Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive aims to push towards the EU goal of ensuring all packaging is reusable or recyclable by 2030 and contributes towards achieving net zero by 2050.
The proposals, according to a draft seen by Reuters, suggests that 40% of plastics and 50% of paper consumed in the EU is used in packaging. The report also says that packaging as a whole comprises 36% of municipal solid waste.
The draft proposals, which could still be changed, keep the recycling targets of 65% by 2025 and 70% by 2030.
They also introduce new targets, which include achieving 30% recycled content in plastic drinks bottles and for “contact sensitive packaging” made from polyethene terephthalate (PET), as well as 10% for the packaging not made from PET and 35% for other plastic packaging.
By 2040, the targets would rise to 50% for contact-sensitive packaging and 65% for other packaging, including drink bottles.
It also sets 2030 and 2040 targets for packaging reuse.
For takeaway drinks cups, the targets are 20% and 80% respectively, for beer and soft drinks containers 10% and 25% and 10% and 50% for packaging used for non-food online deliveries.
Reuters reports that the proposals are likely to be presented on Wednesday and will need approval from the European Parliament and Council and the 27 EU governments before being entered into law.
