The IK Industrievereinigung Kunststoffverpackungen welcomes the EU Commission's new internal market strategy - but calls for more speed and clarity in the harmonisation of packaging regulations. In particular, the companies see a need for improvement in the planned EU packaging regulation.
With its new internal market strategy, the EU Commission wants to reduce bureaucratic hurdles and strengthen the competitiveness of European companies. The IK Industrievereinigung Kunststoffverpackungen e. V. sees this as an important opportunity - but warns against what it sees as an overly complex and unclear implementation of the planned EU packaging regulation (PPWR).
IK Managing Director Dr Martin Engelmann explained: „The EU internal market with its 450 million consumers offers the greatest growth potential for European companies. However, a return to standardised packaging rules is a prerequisite. .
Criticism of lack of harmonisation
The association welcomes the fact that the Commission has dedicated a separate section to the increasing fragmentation of packaging regulations. However, the planned measures are not sufficient, Engelmann continued. Although the PPWR aims to standardise the rules across Europe - for example with regard to the recyclability of packaging - the current structure is too complicated.
„However, the distribution of roles in the PPWR is regulated in an overly complex manner and many requirements are still unclear. In addition, there are numerous possibilities for member states to issue national exemptions and special rules,“ said Engelmann. .
Extended producer responsibility (EPR), particularly with regard to the licensing of packaging, has not yet been sufficiently standardised either. The member states have too much room for manoeuvre here, which makes efficient implementation difficult.
SMEs particularly burdened
The association is therefore calling for greater focus to be placed on the harmonisation of packaging regulations as a strategic goal of internal market policy. Without clear and standardised guidelines, there is a risk of a patchwork of special national regulations - with corresponding bureaucratic burdens for companies.
„The internal market strategy must focus more strongly on the EU-wide harmonisation of packaging regulations as a strategic factor,“ says Engelmann. Otherwise, there is a risk of a „bureaucratic explosion“ - especially for SMEs. They urgently need to be relieved of unnecessary reporting obligations. In addition, the Commission should encourage member states to comply with EU law more consistently
Source: Press release of the IK Industrievereinigung Kunststoffverpackungen e. V. from 22 May 2025
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