After long and complex negotiations, the ambassadors of the 27 member countries of the European Union have finally confirmed the achievement of an agreement on the new packaging regulation (PPWR). This regulation is the result of negotiations between the Council and the European Parliament, two institutions that have worked tirelessly to find a compromise satisfactory for all parties involved. Despite the agreement, Malta and Austria have expressed some reservations which will need to be carefully examined before the regulation finally enters into force.
Meloni's satisfaction
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni welcomed the result obtained with great satisfaction, underlining how this new regulation on packaging enhances Italian production excellence without however penalizing the national industry as a whole. Meloni wanted to publicly thank the ministries involved in the negotiation process, the Italian diplomatic representatives in Brussels and the MEPs Massimiliano Salini and Patrizia Toia for their precious work and tireless commitment.
Greater sustainability for the sector
The new regulation aims to substantially increase the sustainability of the entire packaging sector, promoting greater recyclability of the materials used and reducing barriers to the internal market through the introduction of common and binding rules on labeling and waste management. This represents a fundamental step towards a more efficient and environmentally friendly circular economy.
Flexibility for Member States
One of the key features of the new regulation is the flexibility left to Member States in choosing between adopting reusable or single-use recyclable packaging. This decision was made to protect Italian sectors of excellence, such as compostable plastics, and encourage the adoption of cutting-edge technologies such as chemical recycling.
Waste management
As regards the delicate issue of waste management resulting from packaging, the regulation offers Member States the possibility to choose between the introduction of a security deposit system or the adoption of virtuous models of separate collection. This flexibility allows solutions to be adapted to specific national needs and contexts.
Duty of care
An important innovation introduced by the regulation is the duty of care directive, which will impose specific obligations only on large companies operating in the packaging sector. These companies will in fact be required to carefully monitor the sustainability of their supply chains, ensuring compliance with rigorous environmental and social standards throughout the production chain.
The next step
Following the agreement reached, the text of the new packaging regulation will now be examined by the European Parliament, where it will be put to the vote in the week of 22 April. If approved, the regulation will enter into force and member states will have a set period of time to transpose it into their national legislation.
