Treatment of ceramic packaging in Directive 2018/852 on Packaging and Packaging Waste
28.2.2022
Question for written answer E-000828/2022
to the Commission
Rule 138
María Soraya Rodríguez Ramos (Renew)
Ceramic packaging is an inert and recyclable material that is reused in 95 % of cases. However, current Directive 2018/852 on Packaging and Packaging Waste does not include this type of product in its definition of reusable packaging. As a result, ceramics do not fall under the current classification, which aims to encourage the demand for reusable packaging and achieve a reduction in the consumption of non-recyclable and excessive packaging.
Indeed, this type of material is being penalised even though others, such as plastics, are more polluting. This is the case in France, where the contribution to the Extended Producer Responsibility Scheme is required at a price almost equal to the unit cost of production, thus seriously threatening the continuity of most ceramic packaging businesses.
- 1.What steps will the Commission take to better accommodate this sustainable packaging? Is the Commission planning to revise the current definitions of reusable packaging to incorporate products manufactured for multiple uses such as ceramic packaging?
- 2.To foster the use of more sustainable materials, will the Commission approve a transition period to allow for the development of separate collection and recycling systems for circular products such as ceramic containers?