The more the planned new EU packaging regulation takes shape, the more the plans from Brussels are criticised. The association of companies that produce plastic packaging is now addressing European politicians with seven recommendations.
The IK Industrievereinigung Kunststoffverpackungen takes a critical view of the Proposed definition from Minimum recycled content from 2030, including for plastic food packaging (except PET). Their reasoning: no authorised recyclates are yet available for this food packaging, which would ultimately lead to marketing bans.
Contrary to individual proposals by the Commission and Parliament the IK is in favour of material-neutral regulations. Where reusable packaging is to be promoted for ecological reasons, there should be no blanket exceptions for fibre-based packaging, otherwise only one disposable product would be replaced by another.
Similarly, there should be no exceptions to the recyclate usage quota if the plastic is combined with other packaging materials, as this would only encourage a switch to non-recyclable or difficult-to-recycle composite packaging and laminated packaging.
The industry representatives are more explicit when it comes to the special reduction target for plastic packaging, as proposed by the rapporteur.
The IK firmly rejects this. According to a recent study by GVM Gesellschaft für Verpackungsmarktforschung (see above), the amount of household packaging would increase by 10-20 per cent if - as proposed - 10 per cent of plastic packaging had to be replaced by other materials.
When it comes to recyclate quotas for plastic packaging, the industry association suggests using them more flexibly. Their argument: Requirements for the use of recyclates The potential for recycling varies greatly - a paint bucket, for example, can contain significantly more recycled material than shampoo or even food packaging.
The IK also recommends that the Minimum recyclability level from 70 per cent to 80 per cent to be tightened. Packaging for which more than 20 per cent material loss is planned from the outset should not be placed on the market from 2030. It would be better to focus on fully recyclable monomaterials.
The industry association wants packaging bans to be enacted only by the EU legislator and not by the Commission. Bans are always the legislator's last resort and should therefore not be decided by the administration.
In order to achieve a return to harmonised packaging rules in the EU internal market, Member States should not be allowed to deviate from the requirements for packaging design, packaging bans and reuse quotas.
Reuse quotas would also have a strong connection to the internal market and must therefore be standardised across the EU.
