Progress: Awaiting Parliament's position in 1st reading
Role | Committee | Rapporteur | Shadows |
---|---|---|---|
Lead | ENVI |
RIES Frédérique (![]() |
SALINI Massimiliano (![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Committee Opinion | ITRE |
TOIA Patrizia (![]() |
Angelika NIEBLER (![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Committee Opinion | IMCO |
JORON Virginie (![]() |
Carlo FIDANZA (![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Committee Opinion | AGRI |
DE MEO Salvatore (![]() |
Luke Ming FLANAGAN (![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Committee Opinion | JURI |
Lead committee dossier:
Legal Basis:
RoP 57, TFEU 114
Legal Basis:
RoP 57, TFEU 114Events
The Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety adopted the report by Frédérique RIES (Renew, BE) on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on packaging and packaging waste, amending Regulation (EU) 2019/1020 and Directive (EU) 2019/904, and repealing Directive 94/62/EC.
The committee responsible recommended that the European Parliament's position adopted at first reading under the ordinary legislative procedure should amend the proposal as follows:
Minimum recycled content in plastic packaging
The amended text stipulated that from 1 January 2030, the plastic part in packaging placed on the market should contain the following minimum percentage of recycled content recovered from post-consumer plastic waste, per packaging format, calculated as an average per manufacturing plant, per year:
- 30 % for contact sensitive packaging, except single use beverage bottles, made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) as the major component;
- 7.5 % (compared to 10% proposed by the Commission) for contact sensitive packaging made from plastic materials other than PET, except single use plastic beverage bottles.
Economic operators should be exempted from the obligation to meet the targets if, during a calendar year, they fall within the definition of microenterprise.
Labelling of packaging
Members suggested that 24 months after the adoption of the implementing acts, packaging placed on the market should be marked with a label containing information on its material composition in order to facilitate consumer sorting. The label should be exclusively based on pictograms and be easily understandable, including for persons with disabilities. This obligation does not apply to transport packaging. However, it applies to e-commerce packaging.
The label may be accompanied by a QR code or other type of digital data carrier placed on the packaging that contains information on the destination of each separate component of the packaging in order to facilitate consumer sorting.
Packaging forum
As regards the establishment of the packaging forum, Members called on the Commission to ensure that there is a balanced participation of Member States’ representatives and all interested parties involved with the packaging industry, including waste treatment industry representatives, manufacturers and packaging suppliers, distributers, retailers, importers, SMEs, environmental protection groups and consumer organisations.
Obligations related to refill
From 1 January 2030, final distributors with an area, excluding all storage and dispatch areas, of more than 400m2 shall endeavour to dedicate 10% of their sales area to refill stations for both food and non-food products.
Re-use and refill targets
Economic operators, including online platforms, making large household appliances available on the market for the first time within the territory of a Member State should ensure that from:
- 1 January 2030, 50% of those products are made available in reusable transport packaging within a system for reuse;
- 1 January 2040, 90% of those products are made available in reusable transport packaging within a system for reuse.
Requirements for substances in packaging
Members suggested that food contact packaging containing intentionally added per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFASs) or Bisphenol A (BPA, CAS 80-05-7) should not be placed on the market from 18 months from the date of entry into force of this Regulation.
Plastic carrier bags
Very lightweight plastic carrier bags, below 15 microns, have a high potential to become waste and contribute to marine pollution, therefore Members considered that measures should be taken to restrict their placing on the market except for strictly necessary uses. Those plastic bags should not be placed on the market as packaging for bulk foodstuffs, except for hygienic reasons or for packaging wet bulk foodstuffs such as raw meat, fish or dairy products.
By 31 December 2027, the Commission should prepare a report on the need and feasibility of reducing the use of paper carrier bags and, where appropriate, submit a legislative proposal setting out targets for a paper carrier bags reduction and measures to achieve these targets.
Mandatory separate collection for packaging
The report proposed a separate collection target of 90% for 2029 regarding all types of packaging covered by the legislative proposal and no longer only for plastic beverage bottles under the single use plastics directive, in a bid to increase recycling rates and content in line with the wishes of the sectors concerned.
PURPOSE: to update the EU legislative framework for packaging and packaging waste.
PROPOSED ACT: Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council.
ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: the European Parliament decides in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure and on an equal footing with the Council.
BACKGROUND: packaging is necessary to protect and to transport goods. The manufacturing of packaging is also a major economic activity in the EU. However, regulatory approaches differ from one Member State to another, which creates obstacles that prevent the internal market for packaging from fully functioning. Such discrepancies create legal uncertainty for businesses, leading to lower investment in innovative and environment-friendly packaging and new circular business models.
Moreover, the amount of packaging waste is growing, frequently at a faster pace than GDP. Packaging waste increased by more than 20% over the last 10 years in the EU and is forecast to soar by another 19% until 2030, if no action is taken.
The regulatory failures of the current Directive (e.g. poorly designed essential requirements for packaging and difficulties encountered by Member States in enforcing them) has made it clear that harmonisation is necessary, and that the harmonised rules should take the form of a regulation , rather than a revision of the current Directive.
CONTENT: therefore, the Commission proposes this regulation to update the EU legislative framework for packaging and packaging waste by giving Member States and businesses adequate support to achieve waste reduction targets. As an integral part of the European Green Deal and the new EU circular economy action plan, it will contribute to the EU's growth strategy for a modern, resource-efficient, clean and competitive economy with no net emissions of greenhouse gases by 2050 and with economic growth decoupled from resource use. In line with the new approach to products announced in the European Green Deal and the circular economy action plan, the proposal covers the entire life cycle of packaging .
Sustainability requirements for packaging
The proposal lays down requirements for substances in packaging, in particular a restriction on the concentration level of lead, cadmium, mercury and hexavalent chromium. The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts lowering the level of this restriction as well as laying down exemptions from it.
As of 1 January 2030, the proposal considers that plastic packaging should contain certain minimum amount of recycled content recovered from post-consumer plastic waste, per unit of plastic packaging; specific packaging has been exempted, as appropriate. These amounts should increase by 1 January 2040 and the derogations should be revised.
The proposed regulation defines conditions for packaging to be considered compostable and prescribes that filter coffee pods, sticky labels attached to fruit and vegetables and very lightweight plastic carrier bags should be compostable by 24 months after the entry into force of this Regulation. Moreover, the weight and volume of packaging should be minimised with due account taken of the packaging’s safety and functionality. Requirements for reusable packaging has also been introduced.
Labelling, marking and information requirements
The proposal requires that packaging is marked with a label containing information on its material composition in order to facilitate consumer sorting. The same labels should be placed on waste receptacles for the consumer to easily identify the appropriate disposal route. Harmonised labels should be designed also to inform, at the choice of the manufacturer, about the recycled content in plastic packaging. Reusable packaging shall bear a QR code or other type of data carrier giving access to the relevant information facilitating its re-use.
It is proposed that economic operators that supply products to final distributors or end users in grouped, transport or e-commerce packaging must ensure that the ratio of empty space in the packaging in relation to the packaged product(s) is maximum 40 %. A number of targets on re-use and refill for different sectors and packaging formats has been specified.
As for lightweight plastic carrier bags , the annual consumption of these bags cannot exceed 40 such bags per person by the 31st December 2025. Member States can exclude very lightweight plastic carrier bags, which are required for hygiene purposes or provided as sales packaging for loose food to prevent food wastage, from the obligation to meet the target.
Management of packaging and of packaging waste
The proposal requires each Member State to progressively reduce the packaging waste generated per capita as compared to the packaging waste generated per capita in 2018, by 5 % by 2030, 10 % by 2035 and 15 % by 2040. Member States should establish a register which should serve to monitor the compliance of producers of packaging with the requirements laid down in the proposed Regulation.
In addition, the draft requires a deposit and return system (DRS) for single-use plastic beverage bottles with the capacity of up to three litres and single-use metal and aluminium beverage containers with a capacity of up to three litres. By 1 January 2029, Member States must ensure that all DRS follow the minimum requirements set out in Annex X. Member States are also allowed to include glass in the DRS and should ensure that DRS for single-use packaging formats, in particular for single-use glass beverage bottles, where technically and economically feasible, are equally available for reusable packaging.
Recycling targets of packaging waste that Member States must meet by 31 December 2025 and by 31 December 2030 are set out.
Documents
- Text adopted by Parliament, partial vote at 1st reading/single reading: T9-0425/2023
- Decision by Parliament, 1st reading: T9-0425/2023
- Debate in Parliament: Debate in Parliament
- Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading: A9-0319/2023
- Committee opinion: PE745.499
- Committee opinion: PE746.894
- Committee opinion: PE746.712
- Contribution: COM(2022)0677
- Contribution: COM(2022)0677
- Contribution: COM(2022)0677
- Amendments tabled in committee: PE749.038
- Amendments tabled in committee: PE745.447
- Amendments tabled in committee: PE749.032
- Amendments tabled in committee: PE749.033
- Amendments tabled in committee: PE749.034
- Amendments tabled in committee: PE749.035
- Amendments tabled in committee: PE749.036
- Amendments tabled in committee: PE749.037
- Amendments tabled in committee: PE749.039
- Contribution: COM(2022)0677
- Economic and Social Committee: opinion, report: CES6037/2022
- Contribution: COM(2022)0677
- Contribution: COM(2022)0677
- Contribution: COM(2022)0677
- Committee draft report: PE742.297
- Document attached to the procedure: EUR-Lex
- Document attached to the procedure: SEC(2022)0425
- Document attached to the procedure: SWD(2022)0384
- Document attached to the procedure: EUR-Lex
- Document attached to the procedure: SWD(2022)0385
- Legislative proposal published: COM(2022)0677
- Legislative proposal published: EUR-Lex
- Document attached to the procedure: EUR-Lex SEC(2022)0425
- Document attached to the procedure: SWD(2022)0384
- Document attached to the procedure: EUR-Lex SWD(2022)0385
- Committee draft report: PE742.297
- Economic and Social Committee: opinion, report: CES6037/2022
- Amendments tabled in committee: PE749.032
- Amendments tabled in committee: PE749.033
- Amendments tabled in committee: PE749.034
- Amendments tabled in committee: PE749.035
- Amendments tabled in committee: PE749.036
- Amendments tabled in committee: PE749.037
- Amendments tabled in committee: PE749.039
- Amendments tabled in committee: PE745.447
- Amendments tabled in committee: PE749.038
- Committee opinion: PE746.712
- Committee opinion: PE746.894
- Committee opinion: PE745.499
- Text adopted by Parliament, partial vote at 1st reading/single reading: T9-0425/2023
- Contribution: COM(2022)0677
- Contribution: COM(2022)0677
- Contribution: COM(2022)0677
- Contribution: COM(2022)0677
- Contribution: COM(2022)0677
- Contribution: COM(2022)0677
- Contribution: COM(2022)0677
Activities
- Nils TORVALDS
Plenary Speeches (3)
- Heidi HAUTALA
Plenary Speeches (2)
- 2023/11/21 Packaging and packaging waste (debate)
- 2023/11/21 Packaging and packaging waste (debate)
- Marc ANGEL
Plenary Speeches (2)
- 2023/11/21 Packaging and packaging waste (debate)
- 2023/11/21 Packaging and packaging waste (debate)
- Clara AGUILERA
Plenary Speeches (1)
- 2023/11/21 Packaging and packaging waste (debate)
- Andrus ANSIP
Plenary Speeches (1)
- 2023/11/21 Packaging and packaging waste (debate)
- Pascal ARIMONT
Plenary Speeches (1)
- 2023/11/21 Packaging and packaging waste (debate)
- Biljana BORZAN
Plenary Speeches (1)
- 2023/11/21 Packaging and packaging waste (debate)
- Maria GRAPINI
Plenary Speeches (1)
- 2023/11/21 Packaging and packaging waste (debate)
- Elsi KATAINEN
Plenary Speeches (1)
- 2023/11/21 Packaging and packaging waste (debate)
- Seán KELLY
Plenary Speeches (1)
- 2023/11/21 Packaging and packaging waste (debate)
- Miapetra KUMPULA-NATRI
Plenary Speeches (1)
- 2023/11/21 Packaging and packaging waste (debate)
- Peter LIESE
Plenary Speeches (1)
- 2023/11/21 Packaging and packaging waste (debate)
- Angelika NIEBLER
Plenary Speeches (1)
- 2023/11/21 Packaging and packaging waste (debate)
- João PIMENTA LOPES
Plenary Speeches (1)
- 2023/11/21 Packaging and packaging waste (debate)
- Jiří POSPÍŠIL
Plenary Speeches (1)
- Massimiliano SALINI
Plenary Speeches (1)
- 2023/11/21 Packaging and packaging waste (debate)
- Michaela ŠOJDROVÁ
Plenary Speeches (1)
- Maria SPYRAKI
Plenary Speeches (1)
- 2023/11/21 Packaging and packaging waste (debate)
- Ivan ŠTEFANEC
Plenary Speeches (1)
- 2023/11/21 Packaging and packaging waste (debate)
- Marc TARABELLA
Plenary Speeches (1)
- 2023/11/21 Packaging and packaging waste (debate)
- Patrizia TOIA
Plenary Speeches (1)
- 2023/11/21 Packaging and packaging waste (debate)
- Tom VANDENKENDELAERE
Plenary Speeches (1)
- 2023/11/21 Packaging and packaging waste (debate)
- Susanna CECCARDI
Plenary Speeches (1)
- 2023/11/21 Packaging and packaging waste (debate)
- Mislav KOLAKUŠIĆ
Plenary Speeches (1)
- 2023/11/21 Packaging and packaging waste (debate)
- Grace O'SULLIVAN
Plenary Speeches (1)
- 2023/11/21 Packaging and packaging waste (debate)
- Philippe OLIVIER
Plenary Speeches (1)
- 2023/11/21 Packaging and packaging waste (debate)
- Mick WALLACE
Plenary Speeches (1)
- 2023/11/21 Packaging and packaging waste (debate)
- César LUENA
Plenary Speeches (1)
- 2023/11/21 Packaging and packaging waste (debate)
- Karen MELCHIOR
Plenary Speeches (1)
- 2023/11/21 Packaging and packaging waste (debate)
- Anna ZALEWSKA
Plenary Speeches (1)
- 2023/11/21 Packaging and packaging waste (debate)
- Pietro FIOCCHI
Plenary Speeches (1)
- 2023/11/21 Packaging and packaging waste (debate)
- Sara CERDAS
Plenary Speeches (1)
- 2023/11/21 Packaging and packaging waste (debate)
- Virginie JORON
Plenary Speeches (1)
- 2023/11/21 Packaging and packaging waste (debate)
- Beata MAZUREK
Plenary Speeches (1)
- 2023/11/21 Packaging and packaging waste (debate)
- Rosanna CONTE
Plenary Speeches (1)
- 2023/11/21 Packaging and packaging waste (debate)
- Francesca DONATO
Plenary Speeches (1)
- 2023/11/21 Packaging and packaging waste (debate)
- Silvia SARDONE
Plenary Speeches (1)
- 2023/11/21 Packaging and packaging waste (debate)
- Hildegard BENTELE
Plenary Speeches (1)
- 2023/11/21 Packaging and packaging waste (debate)
- Delara BURKHARDT
Plenary Speeches (1)
- 2023/11/21 Packaging and packaging waste (debate)
- Niels FUGLSANG
Plenary Speeches (1)
- 2023/11/21 Packaging and packaging waste (debate)
- Sunčana GLAVAK
Plenary Speeches (1)
- 2023/11/21 Packaging and packaging waste (debate)
- Salvatore DE MEO
Plenary Speeches (1)
- 2023/11/21 Packaging and packaging waste (debate)
- Manuela RIPA
Plenary Speeches (1)
- 2023/11/21 Packaging and packaging waste (debate)
- Max ORVILLE
Plenary Speeches (1)
- 2023/11/21 Packaging and packaging waste (debate)
- Maria Angela DANZÌ
Plenary Speeches (1)
- 2023/11/21 Packaging and packaging waste (debate)
- Achille VARIATI
Plenary Speeches (1)
- 2023/11/21 Packaging and packaging waste (debate)
- Laurence SAILLIET
Plenary Speeches (1)
- 2023/11/21 Packaging and packaging waste (debate)