On 16 December 2024, the European Council formally adopted new sustainable packaging regulations which significantly restrict the generation of new non-recycled packaging.
The Regulation on Packaging Waste contain a number of ambitious measures, including:
- a target that by 2030, all new packaging placed on the market should be recyclabale;
- restrictions on single-use plastic packaging for broad categories of consumer goods and food products;
- 2030 and 2040 targets for a minimum percentage of recycled content (up to 65% for single use plastic bottles by 2040);
- requirements to minimise the weight and volume of packaging and avoid unnecessary packaging;
- restrictions on the use of substances of concern, including restricting placing on the market food contact packaging containing per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) if they exceed certain thresholds;
- new labelling, marking and information requirements;
- binding re-use targets for 2030 and indicative targets for 2040, which include among other things the requirement for take-away businesses to allow customers to bring their own containers.
The Regulations will replace and significantly update the existing packaging framework which has been in place since 1994 and updated several times. The European Council hopes that the current Regulations will bring in a much-needed modernisation to the regime and bring this up to speed for the 21st century.
Key contacts
Disclaimer
The articles published on this website, current at the dates of publication set out above, are for reference purposes only. They do not constitute legal advice and should not be relied upon as such. Specific legal advice about your specific circumstances should always be sought separately before taking any action.