EU agreement to ban certain plastic packaging

The EU wants to significantly reduce packaging waste. Negotiators in Brussels have agreed to ban certain single-use plastic packaging from 2030. But the final approval of the member states is shaky.

In the EU, significantly more packaging will have to be recyclable in the future. Negotiators from the European Parliament and the EU countries agreed on this in the evening in Brussels. Certain single-use plastic packaging, such as for unprocessed fresh fruit and vegetables or individual packaging for sugar or salt portions, will be banned from 2030, as the EU Parliament announced.

Parliament’s chief negotiator, Frédérique Ries (Liberal), spoke of a “major victory for consumer health”. The basis for the negotiations was a legislative proposal from the EU Commission from 2022. The new rules still have to be formally adopted by the member states and the EU Parliament.

Reusable quotas should become mandatory

The goal is to gradually reduce packaging waste in the international community by at least 15 percent by 2040 compared to 2018. In addition to the ban on single-use packaging, the compromise includes a ban on plastic films for suitcases in airports and light plastic bags in supermarkets from 2030. However, packaging made of paper and other materials such as wood or wax remains largely permitted.

According to the agreement, food packaging will no longer be allowed to contain so-called perpetual chemicals that are particularly long-lasting and are considered harmful to health. The member states should set up deposit systems for single-use plastic bottles and beverage cans. The packaging industry should also comply with mandatory reusable quotas in the future.

Germany may abstain

However, the approval of the member states is shaky: Italy’s government is against the law and there is currently no common position in the German federal government on the new rules. If Germany abstained, a majority would no longer be secure.

There is currently an average of around 190 kilograms of packaging waste per person in the EU every year. According to experts, without additional measures, the number could rise to more than 200 kilograms by 2030.