Rethink Plastic Alliance Joins Call to Protect the Integrity of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation

The European Commission must protect the integrity of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation!

We are deeply concerned by the potential reopening of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) as part of the upcoming Environmental Simplification Omnibus. That’s why we joined a coalition of 115 signatories, consisting of trade organisations, industry and national associations, reuse businesses and leading European NGOs & environmental groups to call on Executive Vice-President Stéphane Séjourné and Environment Commissioner Jessika Roswall to protect the integrity of the PPWR.

The PPWR is a cornerstone of the European Circular Economy and is a crucial step in establishing the necessary framework that enables truly reusable and recyclable packaging across the Single Market by 2030. While the legislation had already been watered down in response to intense industry lobbying, it provides crucial measures to help tackle Europe’s ever-growing consumption of throwaway packaging by setting binding rules for prevention, reuse and redesign.

That’s why our message to the European Commission is: Do not reopen the PPWR and other key environmental laws in the upcoming Environmental Omnibus!

Reopening this core law, even for minor amendments, risks:

1. Further worsening the EU’s packaging waste crisis, harming the environment and human health
2. Creating legislative uncertainty for businesses
3. Delaying crucial investments in circular solutions
4. Undermining the Clean Industrial Deal’s goal to double the EU’s circular material use by 2030

We urge the European Commission to act responsibly and maintain key environmental provisions that protect EU citizens and our environment. European businesses must have predictability so that they can seize the opportunity to transition to a truly circular economy.