The EU has launched all the legislative machinery in an offensive aimed at dealing with the proliferation of single-use packaging. The Council and the European Parliament reached a provisional political agreement on Monday to approve the packaging regulation, intended to reduce the proliferation of this waste, ensure that all packaging is truly recyclable and ensure that it does not contain pollutants. These are the main contents of this new regulation, which has yet to be ratified.
Remove some formats
The thumbnail is garbage
It is a new offensive to put limits on single-use plastics, after the European directive was approved five years ago regarding the reduction of certain plastics that are susceptible to single-use (cutlery sets, stirrers, straws, balloons , glasses…), with the aim of reducing the environmental impact. From 1 January 2030, some formats of single-use plastic packaging will be banned, such as packaging for unprocessed fresh fruit and vegetables, serve-and-consume food and beverage packaging in cafes and restaurants, and individual portions and envelopes (for example, of condiments, sauces, creams, sugar…). Likewise, miniature packaging for toiletry products and shrink wrap for suitcases will have to be put away at airports.
Reduce packaging
This is indeed something new
The agreement establishes the objective of gradually reducing packaging by 5% in 2030, 10% in 2035 and 15% in 2040 (a figure that reduces the initial ambition of the European Parliament by 5%). It has also managed to introduce a ban on the sale of very light plastic bags, less than 15 microns, unless they are required for hygiene reasons or are primary packaging for bulk food to help prevent waste alimentary
reuse
Modest goals: 10%
Negotiators have set a specific target for reusable packaging for alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages (excluding milk, wine, flavored wine and spirits) of at least 10% by 2030. However, states they may grant a five-year exception to these requirements under certain conditions. “The initial objectives of reuse have been reduced to insufficient figures and some specific typologies have been deleted. It has been disappointing that these five-year exceptions are allowed in the industry”, says Rosa García, director of the Rezero Foundation, which focuses on waste reduction. In Spain, reuse only reaches 15%, the lowest in history, and they are concentrated in the restoration channels.
Takeaway food
Right to reusable packaging
It will be mandatory for restaurants serving takeaway food to accept reusable containers from customers. And they will be required to offer 10% of products in reusable packaging by 2030. “The measure, given the impact of these packaging, falls short; it would be more effective if they forced these establishments to serve these products in reusable containers and have recovery circuits”, says Rosa García.
All must be recyclable
But with some exception
The packaging must be recyclable and must meet the strict criteria that will be defined through future legislation. The aim is that all the material that reaches the shops can be recovered and transformed into a new resource. There will be exceptions for wood, cork, textiles, rubber, ceramics, porcelain and wax.
Free of plastics
Enjoy the fruit
Single-use plastic packaging for fresh fruit and vegetables will be prohibited. But the risk is that the “small print” appears in the legislative development that distorts the objective, warns Rezero. This is what happened in Spain, where the 2022 packaging decree prohibited the bulk sale of fruit and vegetables wrapped in plastic in batches of less than 1.5 kg. However, the entry into force of this measure was conditioned on the preparation of a list with exceptions related to perishable products, which could indeed be sold packaged. And the list that had to be drawn up by the Ministry of Agriculture has not yet been made public.
Selective collection of bottles
Free way to deposit and return
By 2029, states must guarantee the separate collection of at least 90% of single-use plastic bottles and cans of up to three liters each year. The states must implement the system of deposit, return and return of packaging to the trade (the old formula for returning it to the store). However, this system will not apply if systems in operation (yellow bin) have achieved a separate collection target of 90% by 2029 (or a rate above 80% by 2026 accompanied by a strategy to reach collection of 90%). “The deposit and return system is the most effective to meet the goal of separate collection of 90% of beverage containers, as has been seen in many countries,” says García.
Prohibit chemical substances
Avoid contact with food
The regulation will also include a very positive aspect linked to the protection of people’s health: the prohibition of chemical substances in contact with food (PFAS). This step was already taken with the Spanish Waste Law, which banned the use of phthalates and bisphenol A in packaging, although the measure has not been implemented either.
