EU environment ministers pass law for less packaging waste

The EU environment ministers have passed a new law on packaging waste. For example, single-use plastic packaging for fruit and vegetables should disappear and waste should be reduced by 15 percent by 2040. The EU Parliament still has to agree.

By 2040, at least 15 percent less packaging will end up in the trash in the EU. The EU environment ministers agreed on this at their meeting in Brussels. According to a law to reduce packaging waste, single-use plastic packaging for fruit and vegetables should be banned, the same applies to small bags for sugar or ketchup in restaurants.

In the future, packaging should generally be recyclable in the EU. From 2035, packaging waste should be collected and sorted separately in all EU countries. The packaging industry should also comply with mandatory reusable quotas in the future.

Relief for Beverage company

However, under the compromise, beverage companies can join forces to meet targets across the sector. Federal Environment Minister Steffi Lemke advocated for such an exception in Brussels. This will “make the transition easier for many companies,” said the Green politician. The German beverage industry had previously warned that the new EU requirements could threaten the local reusable system.

All member states should also set up deposit systems for single-use plastic bottles and beverage cans according to certain criteria. If an EU state – such as Germany – already has such a system, there are no additional requirements. By 2029, at least 90 percent of these beverage packaging should be collected separately.

There is too much packaging in Germany

On average, every person in the EU produces around 190 kilograms of packaging waste every year. According to experts, without additional measures, the number could rise to more than 200 kilograms by 2030. The planned law is now entering negotiations with the European Parliament. A particularly large amount is consumed in Germany: around 237 kilograms of plastic, paper or glass packaging were produced in this country in 2021.