{"id":23954101,"date":"2023-11-22T17:13:56","date_gmt":"2023-11-22T17:13:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fairresourcefoundation.org\/ppwr-parliament-sides-with-single-use-industry\/"},"modified":"2025-02-17T14:34:50","modified_gmt":"2025-02-17T14:34:50","slug":"ppwr-parliament-sides-with-single-use-industry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fairresourcefoundation.org\/en\/ppwr-parliament-sides-with-single-use-industry\/","title":{"rendered":"PPWR: Parliament sides with single-use industry"},"content":{"rendered":"

Brussel, November 22, 2023<\/span><\/p>\n

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 Europe\u2019s <\/span>record levels of packaging waste.<\/span><\/a> Intimidated by <\/span>unprecedented<\/span><\/a> lobby<\/span><\/a> from industry, the Parliament scrapped almost all provisions to reduce unnecessary packaging, as well as most of the 2040 reuse targets. Some reuse targets (e.g. for beverages) were kept, but lowered and subject to exceptions to the point that they would be barely effective. This also sends a large negative signal to the emerging reuse sector and the frontrunners in the circular economy. <\/span><\/p>\n

This outcome shows that the European Parliament has caved in to false claims, scaremongering and intense lobbying from industries that produce themselvs enormous amounts of waste. As a result, levels of ambition needed to prevent waste have been decimated. After the Environmental Committee – most important Parliamentary committee on this dossier – had already watered down the ambition of the proposal in October, today\u2019s plenary vote has delivered the final blow to the policies needed to tackle the packaging crisis. <\/span><\/p>\n

While supporting the recyclability of all packaging may improve the EU\u2019s stagnant recycling levels, it will do nothing to address the root of the problem: record levels of waste generation. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat we have seen today in the European Parliament can only be described as extremely disappointing. After unprecedented lobbying by the industry, MEPs appear to prefer perpetuating the throwaway society over credible reuse solutions. Today\u2019s decision goes against the ambitious course the Netherlands has chosen for this dossier, and shows that protecting financial interests apparently outweighs protecting our planet\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

Janine R\u00f6ling \u2013 researcher at Fair Resource Foundation<\/b><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The fast food lobby and the single-use packaging industry will probably be celebrating the hypocrisy of the EU \u2013 which claims to be a world leader in implementing a circular economy. MEPs have scrapped precisely those provisions that would restrict the use of single-use packaging when eating or drinking on the premises, as well as those that would limit unnecessary fruit and vegetable packaging. <\/span><\/p>\n

A glimmer of comfort comes from overarching waste prevention targets for Member States (to reduce overall packaging waste by 5% by 2030 and 15% by 2040) that provide direction for the packaging industry. In addition, Parliament added a long-awaited ban on the use of PFAS and BPA \u2013 highly toxic and persistent substances \u2013 in food packaging. <\/span><\/p>\n

Now, Member States in the Council need to adopt an ambitious negotiating position on reuse and packaging prevention to set the course for this important policy dossier. Trilogue negotiations are expected to start in early 2024, with little time to adopt the text before the European elections. <\/span><\/p>\n

Note to editors: <\/span><\/em><\/p>\n