The European Union has tightened the rules governing packaging, with new measures aimed at cutting waste, boosting recycling and curbing harmful chemicals.

 

The rules.cover all packaging placed on the EU market and set new requirements for how it is manufactured, what it contains and what happens to it after use.

 

Packaging is a major consumer of raw materials and a growing source of waste, much of which ends up in landfills or the sea. The new rules require packaging to be reusable or recoverable, meaning it must be capable of being reused or transformed into another product after disposal.

 

From 2030, the EU will also ban certain types of single-use packaging where more sustainable alternatives are available. That includes items such as small ketchup packets and mini shampoo bottles provided by hotels.

 

Under the new measures:

 

Plastic packaging must contain recycled material, with targets rising through 2030 and 2040.

 

All packaging must be recyclable by 2030, allowing its components to be recovered for further use.

 

Labels must make recycling easier, clearly indicating what packaging is made from, where it should be disposed of and how it can be returned for reuse.

 

Excess packaging and empty space in deliveries must be reduced, targeting unnecessary material and volume.

 

Reuse, refill and deposit-return systems will be expanded, with companies required to offer reuse or refill options where possible and without additional charges.

 

Polluters will face greater responsibility, with brands using non-recyclable or environmentally harmful materials required to help pay for clean-up.

 

PFAS chemicals will be restricted in food packaging, targeting so-called “forever” chemicals that can be harmful and some of which are cancer-causing.

 

The European Commission says the overhaul is designed not only to tackle packaging waste but also to create a more unified market for businesses and drive investment in recycling and sustainable packaging.