As part of the EU green deal, a proposal for a Regulation on Packaging & Packaging Waste was presented by the European Commission at the end of 2022. The overarching aim is to reduce packaging production and associated waste, and to improve recyclability or reuse of packaging. As a regulation, the content is mandatory for member states and once ratified it will have a thorough impact on packaging production. The current 118-page draft contains numerous details, which are likely to change to some extent. Organizations will need to dig through to understand the implications this draft regulation may have on their packaging and business. Intergraf, the European association of printing associations, held a conference on packaging to share some key insights and an outlook on packaging.

Packaging waste has been on the rise, not only in the EU, and is expected to continue to do so if no decisive measures are taken. The total amount of waste per head in the EU increased by 15.6% between 2006 and 2018 and is likely to increase again by almost 20% by 2030. Plastic packaging especially would rise by an estimated 40% if nothing is done. The plan by the EU is to curb waste and reach a level slightly lower than 2018 by 2030 instead.

EU Packaging Waste Per Head