On Wednesday, Parliament adopted the new Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR). The regulation was approved with 476 votes in favour, 129 against and 24 abstentions.
The rules, which have been provisionally agreed on with the Council, include packaging reduction targets (5 per cent by 2030, 10 per cent by 2035 and 15 per cent by 2040) and require EU countries to reduce, in particular, the amount of plastic packaging waste.
To reduce unnecessary packaging, a maximum empty space ratio of 50 per cent is set for grouped, transport and e-commerce packaging; manufacturers and importers will also have to ensure that the weight and volume of packaging are minimised.
Certain single use plastic packaging types as well as "forever chemicals" (PFAS) will be banned from 1 January 2030.
The European Council needs to formally approve the agreement as well before it can enter into force, presumable after the summer.
