In 2022, EU citizens generated nearly 186.5 kg of packaging waste per person, of which 36 kg were plastic.
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A new regulation on packaging, including food packaging, has come into force this week across the European Union, aiming to cut down on unnecessary packaging and plastic waste, in addition to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, water use and environmental costs in the packaging industry.
The new rules, which were approved in December 2024, and cover the entire packaging life cycle, are designed to "significantly reduce the generation of packaging waste by setting binding re-use targets, restricting certain types of single-use packaging and requiring economic operators to minimise the packaging used," according to the European Commission.
This includes targets for a minimum percentage of recycled content in packaging by deadlines in 2030 and 2040, in addition to minimising the weight and volume of packaging, and avoiding unnecessary packaging.
The new rules also include binding re-use targets for 2030, at 40% for transport and sales packaging and 10% for grouped packaging.
In addition to tackling the issue of waste, the regulation also aims for heightened consumer protection against "substances of concern", including setting thresholds on per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS, sometimes referred to as "forever chemicals") in food contact packaging.
The regulation also states that packaging should enable consumer choice and correct recycling through clear labelling and information on composition and recycled content.
Despite an increase in recycling rates across the European Union, the volume of packaging waste is rising more rapidly than the amount that gets recycled, according to European Commission figures.
In 2022, EU citizens generated nearly 186.5 kg of packaging waste per person, of which 36 kg were plastic. This translates into roughly half a kilogram of packaging waste per individual, per day.
The EU first adopted a directive on packaging and packaging waste in 1994, which has since been revised several times. The new regulation replaces this directive, covering every stage of the packaging life cycle, in support of the EU's wider strategy for a circular economy and climate neutrality.
