Spanish associations warn the EU about the impact of eliminating plastic films in goods transport across Europe.

The Spanish plastics converters association, Anaip, has coordinated a letter addressed to Spanish representatives in the European institutions, in which associations from various sectors have warned about the impact of Article 29 of the new Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), which includes films and strapping within reuse targets.

Almost all industrial sectors represented by the associations Anaip, Adelma, Aecoc, AIFIm, Anape, Anged, Ascer, Asefave, Asefapi, Asobiocom, Cepco, Cooperativas Agro-Alimentarias (Spain), Embalaje Flexible España (EFE), Feique, Fenin, Fiab, Oficemen, Plastics Europe, Sernauto and Stanpa are requesting that palletising films and strapping be exempted from the reuse obligations established in Article 29.

They warn that their use is essential to maintain the safety of goods transport and that, in many cases, their inclusion would make it entirely impossible to comply with reuse targets across industry and product logistics.

An impossible target with counterproductive effects

According to paragraph 1 of Article 29, as adopted, from 1 January 2030 companies using transport packaging — including films and strapping — must ensure that at least 40% consists of reusable packaging.

The issue lies in the methodology established to measure these targets, which is based on the average number of equivalent units. Under this system, the use of films and strapping as part of packaging would prevent companies from achieving the target, effectively forcing them to replace these materials with alternatives that are more expensive, less safe, and environmentally less efficient.

Thus, the signatory associations warn that…