Montecitorio does not agree with the EU proposal for the regulation on packaging and packaging waste, but a new UN report, as well as several European NGOs, show how necessary this new legislation is
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The EU Commission's Proposal for the Regulation on packaging and packaging waste, presented on November the 30th 2022, raises concerns in the Environment and Productive Activities Committees of the Chamber of Deputies. The two Committees have published an official paper in which they highlight some shortcomings and propose some changes to be made.
According to Montecitorio, a new impact assessment is necessary: in particular, the statement highlights as critical the greater weight given to the reuse of packaging compared to their recycling, with a potential disadvantage for states with a high recycling rate and a waste treatment system focused on the recovery of matter, as well as a plant system aimed at the production of packaging.
It is an open debate also the choice of the legal act: a Regulation is binding and directly effective within the individual Member States, while a Directive would establish the general objectives, leaving to individual countries the transposition with the definition of the provisions for their achievement.
The two Committees also require: to exclude PET packaging for food and beverages and drug packaging from the percentage of recycled plastic material; to have a greater application for compostable packaging in countries with facilities suitable for organic recycling; to exclude from re-use obligations, and from the security deposit, all States that recycle large quantities of packaging waste. In fact, in the proposal there is already a derogation to the introduction of the DRS (Deposit Return System) for countries that guarantee 90% of collection from what was placed on the market.
Different is instead UNEP’s (United Nations Enviroment Programme) position. In a new report published before the second round of negotiations in Paris, a global agreement was shaped to change the way we produce, use and dispose of plastic; to create a circular approach that would reduce its pollution of 80% by 2040. Specifically, the necessary market changes identified are:
• removing unnecessary plastic
• reusing packaging by refill and returnable PET or glass system
• recycling, by improving separate collection systems and start to recovery of the materials, and removing fossil fuels benefits
• re-orient and diversify products by substituting alternative materials (biodegradable and compostable paper or matter) for take-away packaging.
At the same time, the Rethink Plastic alliance, together with 81 civil society organisations and companies, with the aim of preventing packaging waste, write an open letter to the European institutions. In this letter they ask to support the re-use in the take-away food sector, to critically evaluate the comparison between reusable and disposable packaging without being influenced by vested interests, and to establish economic incentives for re-use of packaging.
This letter is followed by an information sheet in seven points, which shows the advantages of supporting reusable packaging against single use only.
The problem is therefore not related to plastic as such, but mainly concerns the idea of single use only.
The solution lies not only in optimising recovery and recycling, but in reducing the overall amount of waste produced. To do this, it is essential that citizens are properly informed and aware, and that environmentally friendly businesses adopt policies and practices to reduce the impact on our planet.
Update of the approval process for the Packaging Regulation
On 21st July 2023, three Committees delivered their opinions to the European Parlament: the Committee on Industry, Research and Science (ITRE), the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) and the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development (AGRI). All three Committees approved the amendments to the draft regulation tabled by the rapporteurs, which in some cases profoundly modify the text proposed by the European Commission, taking into account the suggestions made by the European associations of the sectors concerned.
The Environment Committee (ENVI), whose vote will be taken on 20th September 2023, has the final say, before moving on to Parliament in October.
Alessia Santoro
For futher informations:
Montecitorio boccia la proposta UE di regolamento imballaggi (Polimerica)
Con riuso, riciclo e diversificazione si può ridurre l’inquinamento da plastica dell’80% entro il 2040 | Nuovo rapporto ONU (Eco dalle città)
Regolamento imballaggi, lettera aperta di 81 Ong europee per chiedere target ambiziosi di riuso (Eco dalle città)
Rubrica – Speciale Regolamento imballaggi (Economia Circolare)
Read also:
The new draft of the Packaging Regulations
Not just recycling: the future is reduction