The revision of the EU's Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) has been at the core of the #WeChooseReuse campaign, with signatories and supporters calling for strong and ambitious legislation, that will prevent the use and sale of unnecessary single-use packaging, and support and uplift reusable and refill packaging systems.
NGOs working on PPWR from the Rethink Plastic Alliance and #BreakFreeFromPlastic movement welcomed the end of this week's negotiations, with the deal successfully addressing some important issues and concerns. However, following intense industrial lobbying over the past years and months, it is clear how these lobbying efforts led to worrying loopholes and exemptions that could see a true reduction in packaging waste falter: specifically, paper-packaging.
The final agreement has failed to prohibit the use of paper-based packaging. Another major area of concern is that the takeaway sector will have no obligation to shift to reusable packaging. With so much takeaway packaging now being made of paper-based materials, this is a big win for the paper industry.
Takeaway sector evades reuse targets
Nonetheless, there are elements of the final agreement that are welcomed: binding packaging reduction targets for EU Member States have been set with 5% reduction by 2030, 10% by 2035 and 15% by 2040. Reuse targets for beverage and transport packaging (among others) have been set and a big win was made with the provision of harmful toxic chemicals used in food packaging, such as PFAS.
To find out more, read the Rethink Plastic Alliance's Press Release.