EU Lawmakers Agree to New Law Targeting 100% Recyclable Packaging by 2030

In an effort to combat the growing amount of packaging waste in the EU and advance the circular economy, legislators in the European Parliament and Council have reached a provisional agreement on a new set of sustainable packaging regulations. One of the goals of this agreement is to make all packaging completely recyclable by 2030

The agreement is in response to a November 2022 proposal by the European Commission to modernise the EU’s packaging and packaging waste regulations. The Commission reported at the time that packaging waste in Europe had already reached 180 kg per person annually and that, in the absence of action, this amount would increase to 19% by 2030, with plastic packaging waste rising by 46%.

Packaging accounts for 40% of plastics and 50% of paper used in the EU.

The new agreement includes packaging reduction targets for member states, reaching 5% by 2030, 10% by 2035 and 15% by 2040 through reuse and recycling, and mandates the reduction in the amount of plastic waste.

The new regulation would also introduce a ban on some single use plastic packaging formats, including packaging for unprocessed fresh fruit and vegetables and for foods and beverages in cafés and restaurants, among some others, as well as setting targets for reusable packaging for sectors including alcoholic and non‑alcoholic beverages and transport and sales packaging.

Additional reuse and recycling targets under the new law would include a requirement for member states to ensure the separate collection of at least 90% of single-use plastic bottles and metal beverage containers through the set-up of deposit return systems, obligations for food take-away businesses to offer customers the option to bring their own containers to be filled with beverages or ready-prepared food at no extra charge, and for food take-away businesses to endeavor to offer 10% of products in a reusable packaging format by 2030.

Key updates to the agreed text from the Commission’s initial proposal included slight easing to the minimum recycled content in plastic packaging rules by exempting compostable plastic packaging and packaging whose plastic component represents less than 5% of the packaging’s total weight, as well as the introduction of a ban on the use of PFAS or “forever chemicals” in food contact packaging.

With the provisional agreement reached, the legislation will be required to be formally approved by the Council and Parliament before entering into force.