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On 24 October 2023, the Environment Committee (ENVI) of the European Parliament approved by a majority of votes (56 in favour, 23 against and 5 abstentions) the proposal to amend the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation. This will then be voted on in Parliament on the scheduled date of 20 November.
The text approved by the ENVI Commission provides in particular:
- a ban on the sale of ultra-light plastic bags (below 15 microns), unless they are required for hygienic reasons or provided as primary packaging for loose foodstuffs, in order to prevent food waste. Moreover, in Italy this ban has already existed since January 2018;
- specific targets to reduce plastic packaging waste, in a phased manner (10% by 2030, 15% by 2035 and 20% by 2040);
- minimum percentages (different depending on the type of packaging) of recycled polymer in new packaging;
- elimination of the 30% threshold for the recycling of single-use bottles containing beverages;
- a minimum content of 7.5% recycled material in plastic food packaging by 2030 (compared to 10% in the initial proposal);
- definition of criteria to be applied in the design of reusable packaging ensuring a minimum number of reuses;
- the possibility for consumers to use their own containers to transport food.
Furthermore, according to the Environment Commission's proposal, EU countries will have to ensure the separate collection of 90% of packaging materials (plastic, wood, ferrous metals, aluminium, glass, paper and cardboard) by 2029.
There were various reactions after the vote:
- Plastics europe, association of European plastics manufacturers, considers the new document to be an improvement, but underlines some critical points: positive judgement on the confirmation of mandatory targets for food packaging, negative judgement on the retention of reuse targets in transport packaging
- Zero waste, environmental network, believes that the new proposal is more 'diluted' but recognises that it is the best result that could be achieved at this time. The association's comment is summarised in the comment: "there is no point in integrating circular thinking into packaging production if half of the targets can be achieved using virgin plastic".
- Vannia Gava, deputy minister for the Environment and Energy Security, emphasises that the regulation is still excessively rigid and contrasts with the Italian model that is strongly oriented towards recycling and the investment plan in the PNRR.
However, it should be considered that re-use should not be understood as a threat to the Italian recycling system, on the contrary, it should be welcomed as an opportunity for building a circular economy.
Andrea Casciello
For further informations:
Proposta regolamento imballaggi (Commissione Europea)
Regolamento imballaggi, votata la relazione ENVI (Polimerica)
Regolamento imballaggi, reazioni dopo il voto in Commissione (Polimerica)
Proposta di regolamento del parlamento europeo e del Consiglio sugli imballaggi e i rifiuti di imballaggio (Ministero dell'Ambiente e della Sicurezza Energetica)