It has just been published and is one of the most complex pieces of European legislation. At Cosmetic Valley’s 22nd Congress on Regulatory Issues - Fragrance & Cosmetics, Gilles Swyngedauw, from Albea, came to decode the European Regulation on packaging and packaging waste, focusing on its requirements in terms of the substances they are made up of, their recyclability and the recycled materials they contain.
Packaging and packaging waste have been regulated for several years at European level, in particular since 1994 by Directive 94/62 - Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive (known as PPWD).
Like all good directives, it has not been implemented in its entirety, or necessarily in the same way in all Member States, which has not been without its problems for brands and packaging manufacturers.
As part of the Green Deal, and in particular the circular economy plan, the European Commission has decided to review this text.
The first major change is that the Directive has become a Regulation (PPWR, therefore), directly applicable in the same way in all Member States.
The targets are also ambitious, with the generation of 5% less packaging waste by 2030, 10% less by 2035 and 15% less by 2040… whereas forecasts predicted an increase in the volume of plastic packaging waste of 46% by 2030 and 61% by 2040.
And this is no minor text, since it is made up of 188 “Whereas”, 13 chapters, 71 articles and 13 annexes…
“And it is probably one of the laws in Europe that will require the most secondary legislation, implementing acts, delegated acts and standardisation,” Gilles Swyngedauw warned. …
