The EU Commission is reacting to problems in the current handling of packaging waste by the member states. Because only 14% of plastic packaging is recycled, while at the same time the share of non-recyclable packaging is increasing, there is an increasing variety of problematic chemicals in plastic waste and there is a lack of harmonisation of labelling regulations, the Regulatory Scrutiny Board (RSB) of the EU Commission has rejected the current draft amendment of the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive (PPWD).

This means that the initially expected publication in July 2022 will not be possible and will probably be postponed to October. In addition, the PPWD will be converted into a "regulation". This leaves significantly less scope for different national implementation models. Among other things, the EU countries will have to adjust to higher targets for the avoidance of packaging waste, recyclate use quotas for plastic packaging differentiated by area of use and a ban on the sale of packaging that does not meet the then specified recyclability targets.

Stay informed. Grüner Punkt will again offer seminars on (German) packaging legislation from Q3/22 (seminar language German). Info coming soon on www.gruener-punkt.de