Published March 24, 2023 | Version v1
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The 2022 Proposal for an EU Regulation on Packaging and Packaging Waste: Compostable/Biodegradable Packaging

  • 1. Institute for European Environmental Policy
  • 2. ISOTECH
  • 3. AKTI

Description

The European Commission published a proposal for a Regulation on Packaging and Packaging Waste on 30 November 2022. This includes provisions relating to “compostable packaging” and “biodegradable plastic polymers”.

The term “compostable packaging” is not well defined and needs revising to limit its end of life to industrial composting and to make its definition practical to manufacturers. This briefing proposes a revision.

The lack of a definition for “biodegradable plastic polymers” is unfortunate. The sense in which biodegradation is used is different to the understanding set out in the parallel policy from the Commission on bio-based, biodegradable and compostable plastics. The briefing proposes a definition and approach to ensure consistency across EU policies.

The provisions concerning how the European Commission may mandate compostable packaging are well set out.

This briefing frames its arguments for improvement in the text of the Regulation around the principles of better regulation.

Files

SEALIVE Briefing 4 PPW Proposal 24 March 2023.pdf

Files (1.1 MB)

Additional details

Funding

European Commission
SEALIVE – Strategies of circular Economy and Advanced bio-based solutions to keep our Lands and seas alIVE from plastics contamination 862910