The European Union will set out measures to clean up the packaging industry this week, from coffee pods to single-use plastic bottles, to reduce waste.
According to a draft document seen by Bloomberg, the regulations aim to boost the sustainability of packaging — one of the most extensive uses of new plastic and paper. EU countries and firms must ensure containers used for everyday products can be more easily recycled or biodegraded naturally.
“A circular economy of packaging will help decouple economic development from the use of natural resources,” the European Commission said in the draft, still subject to revisions. “Packaging increased in recent years faster than the gross national income, which leads to soaring CO2 and other emissions, and the overexploitation of natural resources, biodiversity loss and pollution.”
The rules will have ramifications across food production and chemical manufacturing sectors. In the EU, about 40% of plastic and half of paper are used in packaging, and its design often makes reuse or recycling difficult. The measures cover everything from stickers on apples to single-use carrier bags.
Companies will be required to use as little packaging as possible, while countries must ensure that 65% of all packaging waste is recycled by the end of 2025. The regulations are scheduled for adoption Wednesday, alongside rules on carbon removal certificates.