Belgium, (Brussels Morning Newspaper) The European Commission proposed EU-wide rules for packaging to strengthen the green push.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the Commission pointed out that packaging is a growing source of waste, with citizens generating nearly 180 kilograms of packaging waste annually on average.
According to the proposal, companies will have to offer reusable packaging options, scrap unnecessary packaging and provide labels to help consumers recycle.
The body expressed belief that the move will create new opportunities for companies, especially small ones, and increase the EU’s recycling capacity, among other.
The Commission pointed out that it wants a firmer grip on the packaging sector to bring it in line with the green agenda.
New rules will limit the use of compostable and biodegradable plastics, with the EC stressing that it wants to introduce rules for design, disposals and recycling, among other.
EC’s economic remodelling
The Commission pointed out that the move is part of its efforts to reshape the EU economy and “make sustainable products the norm,” adding that its decision is a response to “demands of Europeans.”
The body pointed out that it wants all packaging on the EU market to be recyclable by 2030 and stressed that it wants to do this in and economically viable way. It announced the introduction of mandatory targets to achieve the newly announced goals.
According to the Commission’s new plan, bloc members will have to reduce packaging waste 15% by 2040 compared to 2018 levels, with the EC stressing that this is to be achieved through recycling and reuse.
The body noted that it plans to ban “single-use packaging for food and beverages when consumed inside restaurants and cafes, single-use packaging for fruits and vegetables, miniature shampoo bottles and other miniature packaging in hotels,” among other.
The EC also wants to set design criteria for packaging, introduce mandatory deposit return systems for aluminium cans and plastic bottles and mandate the rate of recycled material in new plastic packaging.
The Commission expects the overall economic impact of new rules to be positive, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), with positive effects on biodiversity and the environment more broadly.
