European Plastic Converters condemns “emotional motives” driving PPWR votes

30 Nov 2023 --- European Plastic Converters (EuPC) say the results of the plenary vote on the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) are “unfortunate” as many of the measures passed by MEPs are driven by “emotional motives.”

Some examples of emotionally motivated voting include special reduction targets for certain plastic packaging, exemptions for composite packaging from the recyclate use quotas and bans on single-use stretch films, says the association.

“Packaging neutrality objectives and similar material circularity targets will create the level playing field that Europe really needs,” states EuPC managing director Bernard Merkx.

Following the initial results, the EuPC went on to say it is disappointed by the “unfounded tailored measures against plastics,” and that “the lack of rational support to a plastics converting and recycling industry that has been working for improved sustainability, recyclability, circularity as well as on improved performances of its packaging offer is a missed opportunity.”

The EuPC says issues like food waste were not properly accounted for.Food waste and recycled content
The association says that topics like additional food waste, which can result from the drop in shelf life caused by less durable materials, went unaddressed during the vote.

“Plastic packaging reuse quotas and others have not been very well assessed either. In our view the voted amendments will therefore not bring the expected environmental goals the European Parliament desires,” EuPC says.

“Moreover, the lack of consideration for how to reach the ambitious recycled content targets adds perplexity to their feasibility in coming years. The proposed targets are based on the assumption of a given consistent availability of high-quality recycled raw materials, which has proven to be lacking today.”

The association also says that linear waste management systems in many EU member states with open landfills and subsidized incineration have for years “been blocking additional investments required for high-quality infrastructure and high-tech systems for collection, sorting and recycling.”

Practical solutions?
Instead of targeting plastic materials, the EuPC says credit-based systems and clear exemptions must be included in a final version of the PPWR to allow the plastics converting and recycling industry (mostly composed of SMEs) and their customers, to effectively comply and support the market.

“Further concerns come from the ban of packaging falling in recyclability grade D or below, which may negatively affect future innovation and will have unforeseeable impacts on many, widely recycled packaging formats.”

The possibility for member states to adopt more stringent national measures undermines the harmonization of the PPWR and “risks creating the patchwork effect that we witness today in the sustainability arena,” says EuPC.

However, the association says it also welcomes many positive amendments from the vote — notably the exclusion for dangerous goods from the scope of the regulation, the various exemptions under reuse obligations and the possibility to prove high recyclability rates for packaging formats.

“The attention must now go to the Council where many pending aspects will be addressed in order to work together in delivering a new era for sustainable packaging and its future. We trust that the Council, which is closer to the realities at stake, will finalize this piece of EU regulation that everybody wants to see closed, taking our concerns into account, before the EU elections in June 2024,” concludes the EuPC.

Edited by Louis Gore-Langton

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