The plastics and packaging regulatory bills would ban mini-shampoo bottles and disposable cups, with a push to reuse rather than recycle.
The EU executive wants to ban mini-shampoo bottles in hotels and the use of disposable cups in cafes and restaurants, as part of sweeping legal proposals to reduce Europe’s mountains of waste.
A draft EU regulation published on Wednesday also proposes mandatory deposit and return schemes for single-use plastic bottles and metal cans, as well as an end to e-commerce companies that pack small items in huge boxes.
The new rules, which will need to be approved by EU member states and the European parliament, are aimed at tackling the rise of plastic and other packaging waste. EU officials estimate that 40% of new plastics and 50% of paper are used in packaging, making the sector a huge consumer of virgin materials.
The EU passed a law in 2019 to ban the most common single-use plastic items like plastic cutlery, stirrers and straws, but authorities want to go further to deal with the growing amounts of packaging waste. It is believed that the average European generates 180 kg of packaging waste per year, which could increase by 19% by 2030 if no action is taken.
According to the most recent proposals, EU member states would have to reduce packaging waste per capita by 15% by 2040 compared to 2018. Officials believe this could be achieved by increasing reuse and refilling, as well as tighter controls on packaging. For example, e-commerce retailers must ensure that the empty space in a case is no more than 40% of the product.
avoidable packaging
Some “avoidable packaging” would face an outright ban, such as mini-shampoo bottles in hotels and single-use containers for small amounts of fruit and vegetables. Hotels, cafeterias and restaurants will no longer be able to use disposable cups and plates for consumers to have their meals.
By 2040, take-out restaurants will be required to serve 40% of their meals in reusable or refillable containers, while most take-out coffees will come in a reusable or customer-supplied cup.
“The way products are packaged could and should be much better,” said European Commission Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans. “This excess packaging is a nuisance for us and increasingly harmful to the environment.”
“We want more packaging to be reusable because we can’t recycle from a growing waste stream. And reusable packaging in a well-functioning reuse system is better for the environment than single-use options.”
The commission also hopes to remove confusion over recycling: it proposes harmonized labels, probably pictograms, to make it clear to consumers which container to use.
A law to fulfill what is declared
In a separate law, the commission seeks to ensure that products claiming to be “bio-based”, “biodegradable” or “compostable” meet minimum standards. In an attempt to crack down on greenwashing, consumers can learn how long an item takes to biodegrade, how much biomass was used in its production and whether it is actually suitable for home composting.
Pascal Canfin, the MEP who chairs the European Parliament’s environment committee, described the packaging proposal as a big step forward and the most ambitious in the world.
“We have moved from disposables to recyclables and we are specifically committing to a trajectory of reuse because this is the most efficient resource and will also help us reduce our dependence on fossil fuels,” he said.
Ocean conservation group Oceana accused the commission of bowing to industry pressure by delaying single-use plastic reduction targets until 2040.
“The European Commission’s proposal represents a unique opportunity to end marine litter at its source,” said Natividad. Sánchez, who leads Oceana’s plastics campaign in Europe. “However, it is concerning that reuse targets for beverage packaging and e-commerce packaging have been lowered, and some even by half, compared to the draft text leaked just a month ago.”
By Jennifer Rankin. Article in English