PPWR: Parliament sides with the throwaway industry

Brussels, 22 November 2023 Today, the European Parliament voted on the proposal for a revised Packaging Regulation, as proposed by the European Commission in November 2022. The proposal was intended to reduce the record volume of packaging waste in Europe. Intimidated by unprecedented lobbying from the business community, the Parliament scrapped almost all provisions to reduce unnecessary packaging, as well as most of the reuse targets for 2040. Some reuse targets (e.g. for beverages) were maintained, but lowered to such an extent and provided with exemptions that they are barely effective anymore. This also sends a huge negative signal to the emerging reuse sector and the frontrunners in the circular economy. This outcome shows that the European Parliament is giving in to false claims, fearmongering and intense lobbying from industries that themselves produce huge amounts of waste. As a result, any ambition needed to prevent waste has been decimated. After the Environment Committee, the main Parliamentary committee on this file, had already watered down the ambition of the proposal in October, today's plenary vote dealt the death blow to the policies needed to tackle the packaging crisis. While support for making all packaging recyclable may improve stagnating recycling levels in the EU, it will do nothing to address the root of the problem: record levels of waste generation. “What we have seen today in the European Parliament can only be described as extremely disappointing. After unprecedented lobbying from the industry, MEPs seem to prefer maintaining the throwaway society rather than credible reuse solutions. Today's decision goes against the ambitious course that the Netherlands has chosen for this file, and shows that protecting financial interests apparently weighs heavier than protecting our planet” Janine Röling researcher at Fair Resource Foundation The fast food lobby and the disposable packaging industry are likely to celebrate today the hypocrisy of the EU claiming to be a world leader in the implementation of a circular economy. Indeed, MEPs have scrapped precisely those provisions that aim to limit the use of single-use packaging when eating or drinking on site, as well as those limiting unnecessary fruit and vegetable packaging. A small ray of comfort are the overarching waste prevention targets for Member States (to reduce total packaging waste by 5% by 2030 and 15% by 2040) which provide a direction for the packaging industry. In addition, Parliament added a long-awaited ban on the use of PFAS and BPA highly toxic and persistent substances in food packaging. Now, Member States in the Council must adopt an ambitious negotiating position for reuse and packaging prevention to steer this important policy file back on track. Trilogue negotiations are expected to start in early 2024, leaving little time to adopt the text before the European elections. Note to editors: The European Commission is revising the existing packaging directive because it does not address the uncontrolled growth of packaging waste, a major environmental issue that poses problems for both municipalities and citizens. The latest annual waste data, published on Thursday 19 October, shows that packaging waste in Europe has reached a new record of 188.7 kg per capita. A brief summary of the arguments can be found in this FAQ on Prevention and reuse the only solution to record amounts of packaging waste. For more information, please read our factsheet on reusable takeaway packaging and our report on disposable paper packaging. Please consult the Media Briefing on industry lobbying and the continuous weakening of the PPWR, as well as this Media Briefing on the massive increase of paper packaging in the EU. About this coalition: This coalition consists of members of the Rethink Plastic Alliance (Zero Waste Europe, European Environmental Bureau, ECOS, ClientEarth), together with Deutsche Umwelthilfe, Fair Resource Foundation, Fern and the Environmental Paper Network.

Brussels, 22 November 2023

Today, the European Parliament voted on the proposal for a revised Packaging Regulation, as proposed by the European Commission in November 2022. The proposal was intended to reduce the record volume of packaging waste in Europe. Intimidated by unprecedented lobbying from the business community, the Parliament scrapped almost all provisions to reduce unnecessary packaging, as well as most of the reuse targets for 2040. Some reuse targets (e.g. for beverages) were maintained, but lowered to such an extent and provided with exemptions that they are barely effective anymore. This also sends a huge negative signal to the emerging reuse sector and the frontrunners in the circular economy.

This outcome shows that the European Parliament is giving in to false claims, fearmongering and intense lobbying from industries that themselves produce huge amounts of waste. As a result, any ambition needed to prevent waste has been decimated. After the Environment Committee, the main Parliamentary committee on this file, had already watered down the ambition of the proposal in October, today's plenary vote dealt the death blow to the policies needed to tackle the packaging crisis.

While support for making all packaging recyclable may improve stagnating recycling levels in the EU, it will do nothing to address the root of the problem: record levels of waste generation.

“What we have seen today in the European Parliament can only be described as extre Janine Röling researcher at Fair Resource Foundation

The fast food lobby and the disposable packaging industry are likely to celebrate today the hypocrisy of the EU claiming to be a world leader in the implementation of a circular economy. Indeed, MEPs have scrapped precisely those provisions that aim to limit the use of single-use packaging when eating or drinking on site, as well as those limiting unnecessary fruit and vegetable packaging.

A small ray of comfort are the overarching waste prevention targets for Member States (to reduce total packaging waste by 5% by 2030 and 15% by 2040) which provide a direction for the packaging industry. In addition, Parliament added a long-awaited ban on the use of PFAS and BPA highly toxic and persistent substances in food packaging.

Now, Member States in the Council must adopt an ambitious negotiating position for reuse and packaging prevention to steer this important policy file back on track. Trilogue negotiations are expected to start in early 2024, leaving little time to adopt the text before the European elections.

Note to editors:

The European Commission is revising the existing packaging directive because it does not address the uncontrolled growth of packaging waste, a major environmental issue that poses problems for both municipalities and citizens.

The latest annual waste data, published on Thursday 19 October, shows that packaging waste in Europe has reached a new record of 188.7 kg per capita.

A brief summary of the arguments can be found in this FAQ on Prevention and reuse the only solution to record amounts of packaging waste

For more information, please read our factsheet on reusable takeaway packaging and our report on disposable paper packaging.

Please consult the Media Briefing on industry lobbying and the continuous weakening of the PPWR, as well as this Media Briefing on the massive increase of paper packaging in the EU.

About this coalition:

This coalition consists of members of the Rethink Plastic Alliance (Zero Waste Europe, European Environmental Bureau, ECOS, ClientEarth), together with Deutsche Umwelthilfe, Fair Resource Foundation, Fern and the Environmental Paper Network.