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Energy, Climate change, Environment
Environment

Packaging & Packaging Waste Regulation

Recyclable packaging is lined up next to each other
© Getty Images, Nikita Burdenkov
Packaging Waste Regulation

Boosting business and protecting the planet

Tackling microplastic pollution with a cross-society approach
Oregon State University/ Wikimedia Commons

Unnecessary packaging waste is growing faster than our economies and even our population. 

Packaging uses too many resources and is inefficient and expensive for businesses and consumers. Packaging waste is too difficult to recycle and dealing with it costs taxpayers. 

Most businesses already use sustainable packaging and laws are already in place throughout Europe.  

But more is needed. The Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) is designed to boost business and innovation in Europe while protecting people and the planet.

What must be done?

Create business opportunities

for small businesses and innovators

Cut greenhouse gas and fossil fuels

packaging in the EU generates as much CO2 as a small country

Harmonise packaging standards

across the EU

Decrease pollution

on land and in the sea - half of marine litter is packaging

Reduce expensive waste

over 180kg annually per person and rising - 1/3 of municipal waste

Make packaging safe again

without deadly “forever” chemicals

How?

These new measures will help give us packaging that is:

  • Recycling of plastic bottles in France
    Less wasteful

    Plastic packaging must be made in part from recycled content, with increasing targets for 2030 and 2040.  

  • Lili Bulk and La Ferme nos Pilifs, an example of circular economy
    More recyclable

    All Packaging must be recyclable by 2030: This means packaging must be designed so that all parts can be used for something else afterwards, instead of valuable material being dumped or burned. 

  • EU food products
    Clearly labelled

    No more confusing labels or complicated colours, making it easier to sort trash for recycling. 

    People will be able to see what it’s made of, where to bin it, how to return it for reuse. 

  • Coronavirus - Snorkling masks become ventilator masks
    Common-sense packaging

    No more layers of useless packaging or pellets in your deliveries. Small, light packaging without empty space. 

  • An example of diversification of a Greek brewery (Industry, environment, employment, culture)
    Encourages re-use, refill & collection

    Deposit and return systems will be boosted. 

    Some single-use plastics will be banned. 

    Companies must make reuse or refill options available whenever possible, with no extra charge.

  • Introduction of the euro in Croatia
    Fairer and safer

    Brands using non-recyclable or environmentally harmful materials will have to pay to clean them up.

    Harmful and cancer-causing “forever” chemicals (PFAS) will be banned from packaging from August 2026.

What happens next?

The Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation will begin to apply from mid-2026. It replaces the existing Packaging Waste Directive. 

The new Regulation will apply to all packaging and packaging waste, although micro-enterprises will be subject to lighter rules. 

Find out more