FAQ packaging regulation: Sorting through the trash talk

Levels of packaging waste in Europe are at an all-time high, which means an ambitious Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) is more needed than ever. However, the proposal for the PPWR has been one of the most intensely lobbied files of this political term. Policymakers across institutions have complained about an endless influx of requests, untransparent studies, and increasingly aggressive lobbying strategies. The attempts to undermine key waste prevention measures of the regulation were, regrettably, not accompanied by any credible alternatives to tackle the growth of packaging waste.

As a result of this intense negative lobbying, the Parliament’s responsible committees diluted the ambition of the proposal, introducing several exemptions which undermine the Regulation’s chances to stop the uncontrolled growth of packaging waste.

In preparation for the plenary vote in November 2023,  this document for frequently asked question will be an environmental NGO guide to help all members of the European Parliament sort through the trash talk from the single-use packaging industry, and choose to support reuse targets (art. 26) and tackle unnecessary packaging (art. 22 & Annex V).