Packaging: EU regulation for sustainability and labelling published

The Packaging and Packaging Waste (PPW) Regulation has been published in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEC).

The text was approved by the European Parliament on 24 April 2024 and formally adopted by the European Council on 16 December 2024.
It will then enter into force on 11 February 2025 and will be applicable from 12 August 2026.

The Regulation aims to reduce the generation of packaging waste by setting binding reuse targets, restricting certain types of single-use packaging and requiring economic operators to reduce packaging to a minimum.

The regulation covers the entire life cycle of packaging. It sets new binding reuse targets for 2030 and indicative targets for 2040.
Targets vary depending on the type of packaging considered (for example, binding targets of 40% for packaging intended for transport and sales).

The main rules introduced include:

• minimum recycled content percentage targets by 2030 and 2040 (up to 65% for single-use plastic bottles by 2040);
• minimizing the weight and volume of packaging and eliminating the use of unnecessary packaging ;
• minimising the use of hazardous substances and restricting the placing on the market of food contact packaging containing PFAS exceeding certain thresholds.

To this end, they should look at labelling, marking and information requirements (for example on the composition of materials or recycled content) to facilitate selection and choice by consumers.

Furthermore, the Regulation introduces restrictions on single-use plastic packaging for specific uses:

• pre-packaged fruit and vegetables weighing less than 1.5 kg;
• food and drinks consumed inside hotels, bars and restaurants;
• single servings of condiments, sauces, cream and sugar consumed in hotels, bars and restaurants;
• disposable personal care products and cosmetics used in the hotel sector;
• ultra-light plastic bags for loose products.

Finally, according to the new rules, in take-away restaurants, consumers will have to be offered the possibility of using their own containers to fill at no additional cost.

The Regulation includes support measures for companies , in particular SMEs, to facilitate the transition towards sustainable production models. (Source: https://www.macplas.it /)