New report unwraps solutions for EU countries to end the packaging waste crisis

20 March 2025 | Brussels, Belgium | For immediate release

The EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), despite its shortcomings [1], can support national and local governments curb Europe’s out-of-control packaging crisis, a report published today by the Rethink Plastic alliance shows [2].

Through analysis of the PPWR and other relevant EU legislation, such as the Single-Use Plastics Directive (SUPD), the report outlines how Member States can best implement and raise the ambition of packaging reduction rules, including:

• Set higher and broader reuse targets for the sectors included in the PPWR, as well as setting targets for additional packaging sectors, such as binding reuse targets for the takeaway sector.
• Set fiscal/economic incentives to support the transition from single-use to reusable packaging systems, such as environmental taxes on economic operators, consumer-facing levies, and ring-fencing the funds to support reuse and waste prevention measures;
• Enhance Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), by including litter clean-up costs in the EPR fees for all single-use packaging types and earmarking a percentage, e.g. at least 10%, of the EPR fees to supporting waste prevention activities, including reuse packaging systems.
• Introduce a Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) as soon as possible: the PPWR mandates a separate collection level of 90% for plastic bottles and metal cans. Only a DRS can achieve this target.
• Invest in identifying substances of concern that negatively affect reuse and recycling of packaging materials and pose risks to human health and the environment.

The report, ‘Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation Implementation: A roadmap for national and local governments to slash record levels of packaging waste,’ is from the Rethink Plastic alliance with Break Free From Plastic, Zero Waste Europe, ClientEarth (Europe), Environmental Coalition on Standards (ECOS), Fair Resource Foundation, and the European Environmental Bureau (EEB).

Mathias Falkenberg, Programme Manager at ECOS – Environmental Coalition on Standards, said: The PPWR is introducing obligations for reusable packaging, a step forward compared to the law it is replacing, which had none. But each negotiation weakened the text, leaving us without bold leadership on reuse and refill. Local and national governments could fill this void. The report we’ve published today shows how our leaders can push back against the scourge of single-use and finally solve the EU’s packaging waste crisis – but they’ve got to want it.

Larissa Copello, Packaging and Reuse Policy Officer at Zero Waste Europe, said: Waste is one of the biggest environmental crises of our time, driven by our wasteful, linear economy. While the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) puts forward necessary measures to address single-use packaging, its success depends on strong national implementation. Member States must adopt additional rules to accelerate the shift towards reusable packaging systems – not as an option, but as a necessity for a sustainable, circular economy.

Tatiana Luján, Resources system lead lawyer at ClientEarth (Europe), said: Under the new law, Member States now have legal obligations to prevent packaging waste. This means that in order to achieve this goal, they are required to move away from single-use materials. One surefire way for Member States to abide by their legal requirements is to implement reuse schemes and obligations at national level.

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Notes to editor:

[1] Rethink Plastic alliance press release, March 2024, ‘EU institutions take an important step to prevent packaging waste and promote reuse, but reckless loopholes for throwaway packaging risk undermining EU efforts’: https://rethinkplasticalliance.eu/news/ppwr-trilogue-press-realease/

[2] Rethink Plastic alliance report, March 2025, ‘Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation Implementation: A roadmap for national and local governments to slash record levels of packaging waste’, with Break Free From Plastic, Zero Waste Europe, ClientEarth (Europe), Environmental Coalition on Standards (ECOS), Fair Resource Foundation, and the European Environmental Bureau (EEB)

Further reading:

• Adopted in December 2024, the PPWR was marked by an unprecedented and intense industry lobbying campaign to water down the ambition of the regulation (see here and here). Nonetheless, it established binding targets [4] for Member States to reduce packaging, as well as reuse targets for certain types of packaging, including beverages and transport packaging.
• PPWR packaging reduction targets for Member States – 5% by 2030, 10% by 2035, 15% by 2040.
• Officially adopted at the end of 2024, the PPWR came into force on 11 February 2025.
  Some provisions, such as PFAS restriction in food-contact packaging, will take effect in August 2026. Certain provisions, however, have different deadlines, e.g. obligations to use reusable packaging for certain beverages in supermarkets and to transport goods (2030).
• Total packaging waste generation in the EU increased between 2009-2021 from 66 million tonnes to 84.3 million tonnes (27.7% growth). Packaging waste is forecasted to further increase to 92 million tonnes in 2030 and 107 million tonnes in 2040. (European Commission p.20).
• Over 180kg of packaging waste was generated per capita across the EU in 2022. (Eurostat).
• This amount of waste has a significant environmental impact, including 59 million tonnes of carbon emissions (CO2e), equal to Hungary’s yearly emissions. (European Commission p.20).
• Packaging is one of the main uses of virgin materials (40% of plastics and 50% of paper used in the EU is destined for packaging), and accounts for 36% of municipal solid waste. (Eurostat).
• Zero Waste Europe (2023) Factsheet: Reusable Takeaway Packaging.
• Rethink Plastic alliance (2023) Disposable Paper-based Food Packaging. The false solution to the packaging waste crisis.

Media contacts:

• Rethink Plastic alliance
  Caroline Will, Communications Coordinator | +32 456 56 07 05 | [email protected]
• ECOS – Environmental Coalition on Standards
  Alison Grace, Senior Press & Communications Manager | +32 493 19 22 59 | [email protected]
• Zero Waste Europe
  Sean Flynn, Media Outreach Officer | +32 471 96 55 93 | [email protected]
• ClientEarth (Europe)
  Anaïs Rivalier, Global Communications Manager | +44 (0)7851 926887 | [email protected]

About us:

Rethink Plastic is an alliance of leading European NGOs, representing thousands of active groups, supporters and citizens in every EU Member State. We are part of the global Break Free From Plastic movement, consisting of over 13,000 organisations and individuals worldwide demanding an end to plastic pollution. The Rethink Plastic alliance has been working on the packaging file together with an informal alliance of NGOs with expert knowledge and hands-on experience on the entire lifecycle of plastics and paper: Zero Waste Europe, European Environmental Bureau, ECOS, ClientEarth, Surfrider Foundation Europe, Deutsche Umwelthilfe, Recycling Netwerk Benelux, Fern, and the Environmental Paper Network. www.rethinkplasticalliance.eu

ECOS – Environmental Coalition on Standards is an international NGO with a network of members and experts advocating for environmentally friendly technical standards, policies, and laws around the world. We ensure the environmental voice is heard when they are developed and drive change by providing expertise to policymakers and industry players, leading to the implementation of strong environmental principles. www.ecostandard.org

Zero Waste Europe (ZWE) is the European network of communities, local leaders, experts, and change agents working towards a better use of resources and the elimination of waste in our society. We advocate for sustainable systems; for the redesign of our relationship with resources; and for a global shift towards environmental justice, accelerating a just transition towards zero waste for the benefit of people and the planet. www.zerowasteeurope.eu

ClientEarth (Europe) is a non-profit organisation that uses the law to create systemic change that protects the Earth for – and with – its inhabitants. We are tackling climate change, protecting nature and stopping pollution, with partners and citizens around the globe. We hold industry and governments to account, and defend everyone’s right to a healthy world. From our offices in Europe, Asia and the USA we shape, implement and enforce the law, to build a future for our planet in which people and nature can thrive together. www.clientearth.org

European Environmental Bureau (EEB) is the largest network of environmental citizens’ organisations in Europe. We bring together over 180 civil society organisations from 40 countries, including a growing number of networks, and representing some 30 million individual members and supporters. Our vision is a better future where people and nature thrive together. The next generation deserves a healthy planet. We believe in a world where equal, just, peaceful, and democratic societies can prosper. A world with rich biodiversity and a safe climate. A world where laws and policies promote health and wellbeing while respecting nature. We believe that Europe has a crucial role to play in building this future. We advocate for progressive policies to create a better environment in the European Union and beyond. www.eeb.org