Interpretation and points of

New EU packaging regulations:

Bio-based plastic raw materials must be renewable

On Nov. 30,2022, the European Commission proposed new EU-wide rules to reduce packaging waste, promote reuse and refilling, increase the use of recycled plastic and make it easier to recycle packaging.

A number of measures aim to make packaging fully recyclable by 2030. This includes setting standards for packaging design; establishing a mandatory deposit-back system for plastic bottles and aluminum cans; and clarifying which very limited types of packaging must be compostable so consumers can throw them into biowaste.

Manufacturers will also have to include mandatory recycled content in new plastic packaging. This will help convert recycled plastics into valuable raw materials – as the example of PET bottles in the context of the Single-Use Plastics Directive demonstrates.

The proposal would eliminate confusion about which packaging goes in which recycling bin. Each package will have a label showing what the package is made of and which waste stream it should go into. Waste collection containers will have the same label. The same symbol will be used everywhere in the European Union.

The single-use packaging industry will have to invest in transformation, but the impact on the EU's overall economy and job creation is positive. Increased reuse alone is expected to generate more than 600,000 jobs in the reuse sector by 2030, many of them in local SMEs. We expect a lot of innovation in packaging solutions that make it easy to reduce, reuse and recycle. The measures are also expected to save money: each European could save almost €100 a year if businesses pass on the savings to consumers.

Biomass used for the production of bio-based plastics must be sustainably regenerated, do not harm the environment, and follow the principle of "biomass cascading use": producers should prioritize the use of organic waste and by-products as raw materials. Additionally, to combat greenwashing and avoid misleading consumers, producers need to avoid generic claims about plastic products such as "bioplastic" and "biobased". When communicating about biobased content, producers should refer to the exact and measurable share of biobased plastic content in the product (eg: product contains 50% biobased plastic content).

Biodegradable plastics need to be tailored to specific applications where their environmental benefits and circular economy value are proven. Biodegradable plastics should never provide a permit for littering. Additionally, they must be labeled to show how long they take to biodegrade, under what conditions and in what environment. Products that are likely to be littered, including those covered by the Single-Use Plastics Directive, cannot claim to be biodegradable or label them.

Industrial compostable plastics should only be used if they have environmental benefits, do not negatively impact compost quality, and have proper bio-waste collection and treatment systems. Industrial compostable packaging is only allowed for tea bags, filter coffee pods and pads, fruit and vegetable stickers and very lightweight plastic bags. Products must always state that they are certified for industrial composting according to EU standards.