The EU reaches a provisional agreement to reduce packaging that ends individual portions of sauces or miniature shampoos

The European Parliament and the Council (the Member States) have reached a provisional agreement on the proposed European law that seeks to make packaging more sustainable and reduce waste, so, in addition to encouraging recycling and reuse of packaging, will involve a ban on some plastic products, such as miniature shampoo bottles in hotels.

Measures that are, according to the European Commission, more than urgent: each European citizen generated almost 190 kilos of packaging and wrapping waste in 2021, more than 80 million tons between them, which could increase to 209 kilos in 2030 if they are not It puts a stop to this type of products.

The proposal considers the “full life cycle” of packaging and seeks to guarantee that the packaging used in the EU is safer and more sustainable, the Council highlighted after learning, on Monday night, of the agreement, which must still be ratified by both parties before it can come into force.

The text negotiated together with the European Parliament based on the proposal made by the Commission at the end of 2022 will require that all packaging be recyclable by 2030, minimize the presence of harmful substances and reduce “unnecessary” packaging.

To do this, it will require, for example, that fast food establishments allow you to bring your own container for food or drinks to take home at no additional cost and, starting in 2030, they must offer 10% of their products in reusable packaging formats. .

For their part, producers and importers must reduce packages to a minimum, in which the maximum empty space in them will be 50%, with the idea of ​​preventing orders such as those made by digital platforms from arriving in large packages in which there is excess half the space.

With the new regulations, improved collection and recycling will also be promoted: for example, 90% of single-use plastic and metal beverage containers of up to 3 liters must be collected separately from 2029.

The negotiated proposal maintains the global packaging reduction targets proposed in the regulation (5% by 2030, 10% by 2035 and 15% by 2040) and calls on countries to also reduce packaging waste.

If finally adopted, the “regulation on packaging and packaging waste” will lead to the ban, as of January 1, 2030, of certain single-use plastic packaging for fresh fruit and vegetables, or for food and beverages. that are consumed in cafes or restaurants.

From that date on, individual portions of condiments, sauces or sweeteners, nor the miniature bottles of shampoo or cream present in many hotels, will also not be offered.

Anyone who wants their suitcase to arrive whole at its final destination will also have to look for alternatives from 2030, when it will be prohibited to wrap luggage in cellophane at airports.

The ban also includes very light plastic bags (less than 15 microns), except for “hygienic” reasons or that they constitute the “primary packaging” for bulk foods in stores, as a way to avoid food waste, explains the European Chamber.

After a final eight-hour marathon meeting between representatives of the European Parliament and the Council of the EU, the negotiators have also agreed to ban, until 2026, the use of chemical compounds called perfluoroalkyls and polyfluoroalkyls (PFAS), popularly known as “ eternal contaminants”, in wrappers and packaging that are in contact with food, such as pizza or

nugget

boxes .

In general terms, the agreement seeks to enable the EU to meet the set objective of reducing packaging and wrapping waste by 15% by 2040, while also cutting pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

The entire negotiation has been accompanied by strong controversy due to the intense lobbying carried out by many interest groups on behalf of the packaging and fast food industry.

A pressure that already led to the European Parliament approving last November a less ambitious negotiating position than initially planned since the final rule contains several exceptions and derogations, despite which, the parliamentary negotiators have now welcomed the agreement. accomplished.

“For the first time in an environmental law, the EU sets objectives to reduce packaging consumption, regardless of the material used,” celebrated the European Parliament rapporteur, Belgian MEP Frédérique Ries (Renew).

As she stressed in a statement, the provisional agreement also constitutes a balance with the demands of the industry.

“It was essential that environmental ambitions confront industrial reality,” she said.

In fact, the regulations contain various exceptions, such as for food containers made of wood, porcelain or wax.

“I assure amateurs of camembert, mont d'or or gorgonzola that the adopted text does not endanger wooden packaging.

"We can leave this controversy behind," said the president of the Environment Commission, MEP Pascal Canfin, ironically, referring to the protests in countries like his own, France, where it was stated that the regulations were going to end national icons such as the traditional wooden boat in which the famous Camembert cheese is wrapped.

The agreement also introduces a renewable five-year general derogation from the achievement of reuse targets under “specific conditions”, as long as States exceed some recycling or waste prevention targets.

Micro-businesses will also be exempt from the new rules, which also provide for the possibility for operators to form groups of up to five final distributors to meet reuse objectives in the beverage sector.

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