BusinessEurope Reacts to Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation Proposal
Dec 19 2023
Commenting on the Environment Council’s agreement on a General Approach on the proposal for a Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, BusinessEurope Director General Markus J. Beyrer highlighted the importance of both reuse and recycling in managing packaging waste. Beyrer stated, “Reuse and recycling of packaging waste are two sides of the same coin, and this should be better reflected in the regulation.”
Beyrer emphasized that while reusable packaging can be a sustainable waste prevention measure, it is not always the environmentally preferred solution. He noted, “Reuse and recycling are complementary solutions to achieve circularity. Unfortunately, this is not sufficiently reflected in the General Approach. This risks sidelining efforts and investments already made by companies to increase the recyclability of packaging.”
Furthermore, Beyrer expressed concerns about the potential for market fragmentation due to varying national requirements included in the text of the regulation. He warned, “This will lead to market fragmentation which prevents the development of a circular economy, by undercutting economies of scale and hampering investments in innovation.”
Looking ahead to future negotiations, BusinessEurope called on co-legislators to prioritize strengthening the Single Market and consider the environmental performance of both reuse and single-use solutions. Beyrer concluded, “In the upcoming negotiations, we call on co-legislators to prioritise strengthening the Single Market and introduce mechanisms that consider the environmental performance of reuse and single-use solutions.”