The Regulation on Packaging and Packaging Waste has been published in the Official Journal of the EU

After an intensive legislative process, during which the EU Council approved new rules to reduce waste and promote the reuse of packaging in the EU, the Regulation on Packaging and Packaging Waste was published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 22 January 2025, thereby completing the entire legislative process. The Regulation will enter into force twenty days after its publication.

The new rules will significantly contribute to reducing the generation of packaging waste through binding targets for reuse, restrictions on the use of certain types of single-use packaging, and requirements for economic operators to minimize packaging. The Regulation covers the entire life cycle of packaging.

Among the main measures and requirements of the Regulation, which is binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all EU Member States, are:

• Packaging recyclability – Packaging placed on the market will have to be at least 70% recyclable. Recyclability will be determined by recyclability classes - A (95% or more), B (80% or more), C (70% or more)

• Ban on certain formats of single-use plastic packaging – The ban applies, for example, to pre-packed fruit and vegetables weighing less than 1.5 kg, as well as food and beverages served and consumed in hotels, bars, and restaurants (such as individual portions of sauces, condiments, coffee creamers, and sugar). It also applies to small single-use cosmetic and toiletry products in accommodation facilities (for example, small bottles of shampoo or body lotion).

• Reuse targets – Most commonly used transport packaging used for transport within a Member State should be 100% reusable.In the case of consumer packaging for both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, at least 10% of such products will need to be in reusable packaging.

• Refilling – Final distributors with a sales area of more than 400 m² should allocate 10% of this space to refill stations for both food and non-food products. Food and drinks that will not be consumed at the point of sale may be taken away in the customer’s own container or in reusable packaging.

• ‍Packaging minimization – The so-called empty space in transport packaging will be limited to a maximum of 50%, and for consumer packaging it must be reduced to the minimum possible. Empty space also includes space filled with cushioning or filling materials.

• Labelling – Harmonized labeling of packaging regarding material composition across the entire EU, aligned with the labeling of waste collection containers.

• Reduction of overall packaging waste per capita compared to 2018 – Waste prevention targets per capita will need to be separate from waste generated by commercial and industrial packaging.

Although the recycling rate in the EU has increased in recent years, the amount of packaging waste is growing faster than the amount of recycled waste. In 2022, the EU generated almost 186.5 kg of packaging waste per person, of which 36 kg were plastic packaging. This means that each person in the EU produces about half a kilogram of packaging waste per day.

This Regulation should help prevent the generation of packaging waste, reduce waste production, increase circularity, and overall contribute to a greener future. 🌍♻️

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