On August 12, new rules under the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) will start applying across the European Union. There will now be strict limits for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS, known as ‘forever chemicals’) in food-contact packaging, further protecting consumers and the environment. Definitions, for example for manufacturers and producers responsible for extended producer responsibility of packaging, will now be harmonised across the EU. Certain markings and information will now also be required for packaging, ensuring that packaging manufacturers or importers can be identified and contacted as needed.
Additional rules under PPWR will come into place gradually. The majority of the obligations will become applicable as of 2030, including rules on recyclability, reuse targets or very small single-use plastic packaging formats used in hotels and restaurants.
The European Commission will continue to work closely with stakeholders and Member States to support efficient and practical implementation on the ground. To facilitate the uniform application of the new packaging rules across the EU and simplify compliance, the Commission has published guidelines on the implementation of the PPWR as well as updated Frequently Asked Questions.
On average, every single European throws away half a kilo of packaging every single day – from takeaway coffee cups to beverage capsules, film wrapping and foil, or from parcels for online purchases. The Regulation will help further tackle the environmental challenges caused by packaging and make Europe less dependent on imported fossil fuels from which plastic packaging is almost entirely made. It will help strengthen the Single Market for packaging, and facilitate cross-border businesses through common rules.
Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy, Jessika Roswall, said – The new Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation is an investment in Europe’s future: it will help reduce waste, increase recycling, make food-contact packaging safer for the consumers by limiting harmful substances such as PFAS, and reduce our dependence on virgin raw materials. These are essential steps towards a truly circular economy. At the same time, the Regulation will replace fragmented national rules difficult to navigate for economic operators in the internal market. But new rules also come with adjustment costs, and we have worked intensively with market operators to implement the new rules in a pragmatic and unbureaucratic way.
