Answer given by Mr Sinkevičius on behalf of the European Commission

15.3.2023

The Commission proposal for a new Regulation on Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation[1] includes f or the first time targets on packaging reuse and waste reduction in order to reverse the continuous and unsustainable increase of packaging waste generation and ensure the application of the waste hierarchy.

The impact assessment[2] showed that the waste reduction targets , at the level proposed, result in environmental benefits in the form of CO₂ e quivalent emissions savings by 11.8 million tonnes in 2030, to which both measures on reuse and on unnecessary packaging significantly contribute .

The model used[3] by the Commission assessed the environmental performance of combining the use of reusable packaging with remaining single use ones, considering impacts from manufacturing, waste management , transport and washing operations of reus able packaging.

Against this background, the outcome of the assessment supported the proposed ban of certain single use packaging formats such as trays, disposable plates and cups, bags, foil and boxes used in the HORECA[4] sector.

Based on data from 2009 to 2019, paper and cardboard represented the main packaging waste material in the EU. Having increased by 23.7% over the last 10 year s, they account ed for 40.6% of the total packaging waste generated in 2019 .

The high collection rate of paper and cardboard and their recyclability have been considered in the preparation of the proposal. However, in some cases their recycling may be hindered by quality problems, for instance in the case of composite formats used for food packaging.

The proposal outlines specific design for recycling criteria for all packaging, including paper and cardboard and composite packaging and aims to ensure full recyclability by 2030.

• [1]  COM(23022)677 final, https://environment.ec.europa.eu/publications/proposal-packaging-and-packaging-waste_en
• [2] https://environment.ec.europa.eu/publications/proposal-packaging-and-packaging-waste_en
• [3] https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/bdacd175-a0a9-11ed-b508-01aa75ed71a1 (Appendix H on waste prevention).
• [4] hotel and catering sector.