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OPINION (COM(2022)0677 – C90400/2022 – 2022/0396(COD))

On the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on Packaging and packaging waste, amending Regulation (EU) 2019/1020 and Directive (EU) 2019/904, and repealing Directive 94/62/EC

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Committee on Industry, Research and Energy · Rapporteur: Patrizia Toia

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The Committee on Industry, Research and Energy gives its opinion on the proposed packaging and packaging waste regulation, asking the lead environment committee to take its amendments into account. It proposes extending the recyclability derogation for innovative packaging to seven years, letting CEN set design-for-recycling criteria, and giving companies five years to meet recycled content targets. It wants recycled content calculated as an average across a producer's packaging, a 90% separate collection target for 2030, and deposit and return systems for more beverage containers. It would remove several restrictions on packaging formats and delete most 2040 reuse targets, raising the small-business exemption to 200 m².

Committee position. The committee asks the environment committee to take its amendments into account. It proposes extending the innovative packaging derogation to seven years, letting CEN set design-for-recycling criteria, calculating recycled content as an average, a 90% separate collection target for 2030, and removing several packaging format restrictions and 2040 reuse targets.

Key points

  1. The rapporteur proposes tightening the definition of innovative packaging and extending the derogation from recyclability obligations from five to seven years.
  2. Member States should not be able to introduce additional packaging labelling requirements, to prevent fragmentation of the single market.
  3. European standardisation bodies (CEN) should set design-for-recycling criteria, while restrictions on packaging uses should be decided by co-legislators under the ordinary legislative procedure.
  4. Deadlines should be set for delegated and implementing acts and CEN standards, with companies given five years to comply with recycled content targets.
  5. Recycled content requirements should apply as an average of a producer's whole packaging portfolio, not per unit, and exclude non-structural elements such as adhesives, inks and coatings.
  6. Operators meeting recycled content requirements should get preferential access to recycled material, and extended producer responsibility contributions should mainly fund collection, sorting and recycling infrastructure.
  7. A consultative Packaging Forum should be set up with Member States' representatives and stakeholders to help shape delegated and implementing acts.
  8. Some proposed restrictions on packaging formats should be removed because they concern products that are currently recyclable and recycled.
  9. More ambitious 2040 reuse targets should only be set after a life-cycle analysis; 2030 reuse targets should be limited to Member States below 90% separate collection.
  10. The exemption for small operators should be raised from a sales area of 100 m² to 200 m², including storage and shipping areas.
  11. A 90% separate collection target for all packaging waste should apply by 2030, with collection infrastructure in public spaces and at final distributors, and deposit schemes as a tool for Member States.
  12. Deposit and return systems should cover single use plastic and metal beverage containers, single use glass bottles, beverage cartons and reusable packaging where feasible.

Who is affected

  • Producers and economic operators placing packaging on the market, who would face recycled content, labelling and reuse rules.
  • Small and micro enterprises, which would benefit from a higher sales-area exemption of 200 m².
  • Member States, which would run separate collection and deposit and return systems and report data.
  • Final distributors and the HORECA sector, which would provide refill stations and separate collection on premises.
  • Consumers, who would get harmonised sorting labels and access to refill and reuse options.

Figures and deadlines

  • Seven years: proposed derogation from recyclability obligations for innovative packaging.
  • Five years: time given to companies to comply with recycled content targets.
  • 90%: proposed separate collection target for all packaging waste by 2030.
  • 100 m² raised to 200 m²: sales area threshold for the small-operator exemption.
  • 31 December 2025: deadline for the Commission to request CEN harmonised standards on design for recycling.
  • 1 January 2030: date from which recyclable packaging must comply with design for recycling criteria.
  • 30%, 10% and 35%: minimum recycled content for PET contact sensitive packaging, other contact sensitive plastic packaging, and other plastic packaging.
  • 0,1 litre up to three litres: capacity range for single use plastic and metal beverage containers under deposit and return systems.