The Council of the European Union and the European Parliament reached a tentative political agreement on Monday to make packaging safer and more sustainable, by requiring that all are recyclable in the European Union or prohibit the so-called permanent chemicals (PFAS) in which are in contact with food, among other measures.

The agreement on the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, which has to be formally adopted by the two institutions before entering into force, considers the entire life cycle of packaging.

The pact covers a range of measures to reduce, reuse and recycle packaging, increase safety by minimizing the presence of harmful substances and boost the circular economy.

Every European generates almost 190 kilos of packaging waste each year and this figure is expected to rise to 209 kilos by 2030 without additional measures.

Less packaging
The agreement sets packaging reduction targets (5 % by 2030, 10 % by 2035 and 15 % by 2040) and requires EU countries to reduce, in particular, the amount of plastic packaging waste.

Under the agreement, certain single-use plastic packaging formats will be banned as of January 1, 2030.

These include packaging for unprocessed fresh fruit and vegetables, packaging for packaged food and beverages consumed in cafeterias and restaurants, individual portions (condiments, sauces, sauces, creams, sugar), miniature packaging for toiletries and luggage wrapping at airports.

Also included in the ban are very lightweight plastic bags (less than 15 microns), unless they are necessary for hygiene reasons or are provided as primary packaging for bulk food to help prevent food waste.

Prohibited the use of “everlasting chemicals”.
To avoid adverse health effects, the pact incorporates a ban on the use of so-called permanent or everlasting chemicals (perfluorinated and polyfluorinated alkyl substances or PFASs) in packaging in contact with…