On Wednesday 21 November, the European Parliament paved the way for harmonised rules to combat the ever-growing mountain of packaging waste in the EU (almost 190 kg per person per year) by imposing targets for reuse and recycling that will benefit the environment, health and the circular economy.
With 426 votes in favour, 125 against and 74 abstentions, the amended report by Frédérique Ries (Renew Europe, Belgian) was adopted, with the main points retained (see EUROPE 13278/12). However, the provisions on re-use have been watered down in this ‘European Green Deal’ regulation, as the debate preceding Tuesday’s vote (see EUROPE 13297/2) suggested. The comfortable majority achieved is partly due to amendments from the EPP group aimed at not overburdening European businesses.
Parliament’s vote is intended to reduce plastic packaging, combat chemical pollutants, encourage the reuse of packaging and minimise its volume, while at the same time sparing the takeaway food and catering sectors from constraints.
“Parliament is sending out a strong message in favour of a complete overhaul of the European packaging and packaging waste market. This legislation is essential for European competitiveness and innovation, and aligns environmental ambitions with industrial reality”, said a delighted Ms Ries in a press release.
Mandatory retraining. All packaging must be recyclable by 2030 and recycled by 2050.
MEPs want EU countries to ensure that 90% of the materials contained in packaging (plastic, wood, ferrous metals, aluminium, glass, paper and cardboard) are collected separately by 2029.
Wooden boxes or wax food packaging will be exempt. Camembert, whose box has no recycling channel because of its staples, is thus saved as a material in contact with food, which is a protected geographical indication (addition to the derogations provided for in Article 6 on the recyclability of packaging).
Reducing plastic waste. In addition to the overall packaging reduction targets proposed by the Commission, MEPs want to set specific waste reduction targets for plastic packaging (10% by 2030, 15% by 2035 and 20% by 2040).
Packaging prevention and exceptions. Mini-shampoos and all mini-packaged products will disappear from hotels. However, small paper sachets of sugar, salt or pepper will not be banned, disposable plates and cups in restaurants, and single-use packaging for fruit and vegetables will continue to be allowed (they have been removed from Annex V of the regulation, which lists unnecessary packaging formats).
Reuse/recharge/refill. Derogations from the mandatory targets set out in Article 26 of the Regulation have been introduced, in particular for beverages, if 95% of the recycling target is achieved.
PFAS. Parliament also wants to ban the use of PFASs (per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances), these eternal chemical pollutants, and bisphenol A intentionally added to packaging in contact with foodstuffs, which was not provided for in the Commission's proposal.
“We need a strong internal market for recycled raw materials to enhance our circular economy, but we don’t need a waterfall of bans. Paper is a sustainable material and, in Europe, we really have other things to worry about at the moment than paper bags”, commented the EPP Group’s environment spokesman, Peter Liese from Germany.
In the opinion of Marie Toussaint (Greens/EFA, French), the vote reflects “the victory of the agro-industry, led by McDonalds and Lactalis, who fought hard to weaken the ambitions of this regulation”.
Before obtaining a positive vote to send the text back to Parliament’s Committee on the Environment, Health and Food Safety (ENVI) to begin negotiations with the Council, Nils Torvalds (Renew Europe, Finnish), speaking in plenary session on behalf of Frédérique Ries, said he “understood that some people had doubts about the future”. Everything will be decided in the forthcoming inter-institutional negotiations. The EU Council has not yet decided on its position, but is calling for flexibility (see EUROPE 13143/7). (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)