Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive: What’s new?
Since our last update in December, the revision of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive (PPWD) has made some progress. Work by Eunomia, the consultancy firm supporting DG Environment, has continued in the first quarter of this year to complete the PPWD Impact Assessment study, focusing on the selected measures identified for each key intervention area.
After its finalisation, the impact assessment will be reviewed by the Regulatory Scrutiny Board, an independent body within the Commission that evaluates all impact assessments. At the time of writing, we understand that the Commission is striving to publish the text of the legislative proposal in July 2022, although the publication could be pushed back to October in case of delays.
Together with the proposal for the revision of the PPWD, we will expect in July the publication of the Commission’s Communication on an EU policy framework on biobased (BBP), biodegradable and compostable plastics (BDCP). This initiative was initially announced in New Circular Economy Action Plan (CEAP 2.0) published in March 2020.
The Commission’s work on the policy framework started in January 2022 with the launch of a public consultation. EUROPEN supports the objectives of the initiative, which are to:
- promote the transition to a circular bioeconomy, while enhancing investment certainty within the Single Market, and encourage competitiveness and innovation;
- developing an enabling and coherent harmonised EU policy framework for the sustainable use of develop, biodegradable and compostable plastics, and ensuring their resource-efficient waste management and recycling.
It is essential that the policy framework developed for biobased, biodegradable and compostable plastics supports innovation and investments, and does not confine the use of BBP and BDCP to a close list of products or applications. Such a framework can only be successful if relying on science-based, clear and harmonised definitions, and if it supports investments in organic waste separate collection and recycling. The advancement of consumers’ awareness of these materials is also crucial, and can be enabled thanks to clear and harmonised labelling and sorting instructions.
WHAT DID YOU MISS?
- March 2022: Eunomia organised further stakeholders’ consultations with a view to finalise the PPWD Impact Assessment study, including on: minimum requirements for deposit return schemes, labelling measures, plastic recycled content targets, and the definition and assessment of recyclability.
WHAT’S NEXT?
- April - May 2022: Review of the PPWD Impact Assessment study by the Commission’s Regulatory Scrutiny Board.
- 20 July 2022: Expected publication of the European Commission’s Circular Economy Package II. The Package will include a proposal for a revised PPWD, a Communication on an EU policy framework on biobased, biodegradable, and compostable plastics, and a proposal for a Regulation on substantiating green claims.
- August - September 2022: Start of the Ordinary Legislative Procedure of the files published in July
EUROPEN members: do not hesitate to visit the dedicated members’ area of our website here to keep track of our work on the PPWD.