On April 24, 2024, the European Parliament approved the final version of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), which will replace the outdated Directive 94/62/EC. The new regulation, which applies to all 27 EU member states, aims to standardize practices across Europe to reduce packaging waste. It supports the circular economy and encourages the proper recovery and disposal of packaging for goods introduced into the EU market.
While the regulation is primarily technical, it includes many elements that will significantly impact citizens’ daily lives. A key aspect of the regulation is its definition of packaging, which encompasses various types, including takeaway, reusable, innovative, and single-use options. These definitions are just a few of those contained in the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR).
The regulation outlines also several obligations related to the “Extended Producer Responsibility” (EPR). This means that the entities involved in the production and management of packaging must ensure that they responsibly handle the entire lifecycle of the packaging, supporting its optimal reintegration into a circular economy at the end of its life.
Starting from January 1, 2030, retailers with a sales area larger than 400 square meters will be required to dedicate 10% of their space to refill stations for both food and non-food products.
Additionally, the recyclability of packaging will be classified into three categories known as “Recyclability Performance Classes”: Class A: 95% or greater recycling capability, Class B: 80% or greater recycling capability, and Class C: 70% or greater recycling capability.
The Parliament, in accordance with the recent EU directive 2024/825, commonly known as the “Greenwashing” directive, aims to standardize packaging labels to the greatest extent possible. These labels must indicate the materials used in the packaging to promote proper recycling processes. Additionally, the labels are required to specify the percentage of recycled materials contained in the packaging. The new regulation sets minimum recycled content requirements for plastic packaging, with thresholds ranging from 25% to 65%, depending on the type of packaging.
The PPWR introduces the concept of “High-Quality Recycling”. This term refers to any recycling process that produces recycled materials of a quality equal to that of the original materials. These materials retain their technical characteristics and can be used as substitutes for primary raw materials in packaging and other applications.
These are just some of the aspects that packaging manufacturers need to consider to minimize negative impacts when the regulation takes effect. Consumers should also be informed about these aspects to effectively manage packaging after it has been used and reached the end of its life.
For more details, you can find the text approved by the European Parliament at the following link:
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-9-2024-0318_EN.htmlC.A.R.P.I. Consortium’s note on PPWR: