Today the European Parliament Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) voted on proposed amendments to the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR). The final vote counted with 56 votes in favour, 23 against, and 5 abstentions.
Compromise amendments 8, 10, 12, and 25 are of particular importance to the plastics industry. Amendment 8 reduces the minimum recycled content target for contact sensitive packaging. For example, single use beverage bottles have been removed from the 30% target for contact sensitive packaging made from PET. The 10% target for contact sensitive packaging made from plastic other than PET, except single used plastic beverage bottles, has been reduced to 7.5%.
Industry body Plastics Europe commented that maintaining the originally proposed Commission mandatory targets for contact sensitive packaging is essential for incentivising investments in mechanical and chemical recycling. “We are particularly disappointed that the recycled content targets for contact sensitive packaging have been reduced,” said Virginia Janssens, Managing Director, Plastics Europe. “This is a missed opportunity to encourage the necessary investment and will undermine the development of the market for recycled plastic packaging in Europe.”
The adoption of compromise amendments 10 and 12 on reusable packaging was a ‘relief for policymakers’, according to Zero Waste Europe, which nevertheless noted that lobbying from the single-use packaging sector watered down the initial proposal. Compromise amendment 10 says by January 1, 2030, 50% of all packaging from economic operators, including online platforms, making large household appliances should be reusable. Cardboard will be included within the reuse targets, in what Zero Waste Europe has called a ‘notable step in the direction of refining reuse policies’.
“For the first time in European packaging legislation, prevention and reuse are given a chance,” said Joan Marc Simon, Director-Founder of Zero Waste Europe. “The ENVI Committee’s decision allows for the systemic solutions which can deliver on the ultimate purpose of this revision: reduce packaging waste.”
The reuse targets of amendment 10 also apply to flexible plastic films for transporting goods which, according to Plastics Europe, ‘largely overlooked…the achievability of reuse targets in this sector’.
“Unfortunately, today’s vote means that by 2030 flexible plastics films essential for transporting goods within, or between, EU Member States risk being banned entirely if the ENVI vote is confirmed in the final legislation,” said Janssens. “This will result in supply chain disruptions, higher costs for transporters and ultimately consumers, and will negatively impact transportation safety.”
Compromise amendment 12 passed, setting restrictions on the sale of single-use packaging, and setting forth a ban on all single-use packaging in restaurants, regardless of material. The restriction on single-use packaging will ban plastics packaging for fresh products or grouped packaging, like very light weight plastic carrier bags, shrink wraps, and collation films. Plastics Europe called it an ‘arbitrary ban… aimed at plastic packaging only, without any impact assessment or demonstration of environmental benefits’.
Compromise amendment 25 set a December 31, 2025, deadline to publish a report assessing the possibility of laying down targets for the use of bio-based plastic feedstock on packaging, counting towards mandatory recycled content targets. In particular, the Commission wants to consider meeting up to 50% of the recycled content targets by using bioplastics.
This move was classified as a ‘loophole’ by Zero Waste Europe, that said ‘there is no point in integrating circular thinking into packaging production if half the targets can be fulfilled by using plastic’. Plastic Europe, on the other hand, welcomed the recognition of the importance of bioplastics, but argued that separate targets are needed in addition to recycled plastic content targets. Otherwise, ‘today’s vote would allow the use of bio-based plastics in packaging only as a way to dilute the targets for recycled content’.
The legislative journey of the PPWR started in November 2022 when the European Commission introduced its draft regulation. Subsequently, in April 2023, rapporteur Fréderique Ries presented her draft report containing recommendations for amendments. MEPs submitted their proposed amendments by May 10 which have since then been under discussion. After today’s vote, the full house is scheduled to vote on its negotiating mandate during the second November 2023 plenary session.