Italy has adopted a decree-law requiring several single-use plastic packaging formats to be certified as biodegradable and compostable according to EN 13432 or an equivalent European standard. The measure applies to:
- Single-use plastic packaging for pre-packaged fresh fruit and vegetables weighing less than 1.5 kg;
- Single-use plastic packaging for food and beverages that are pre-filled and intended for on-site consumption within hotels, restaurants, and catering establishments;
- Single-use plastic packaging used in the hotel, restaurant, and catering sectors except when provided with take-away food and required to ensure safety and hygiene in facilities where individual medical care is provided;
- And certain other single-use non-food packaging (FPF reported).
The measure builds on provisions in the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), which will restrict several single-use packaging formats from January 1, 2030 (FPF reported). However, Article 9(2)(b) of the PPWR allows Member States to derogate from this restriction under specific conditions. Italy has made use of this provision by requiring packaging affected by the PPWR that are placed on the national market to be certified as compostable.
Prior to adoption, the European Commission raised concerns when Italy notified it of the draft measure. In comments issued through the EU Technical Regulation Information System (TRIS), the Commission previously argued that the proposed January 1, 2030, application date would not meet a condition in Article 9(2)(b) requiring national compostability requirements to be in place before the PPWR became applicable on August 12, 2026. The Commission also requested clarification on disposal instructions and the potential effects on recycling systems in Member States lacking comparable composting infrastructure. In addition, it noted that compostable plastics remain within the scope of the Single-Use Plastics Directive (SUPD), which does not distinguish between compostable and conventional plastics (FPF reported).
The compostability requirement entered into force on August 8, 2026, one day after publication of Decree-Law No. 143/2026 in Italy’s Official Gazette and before the PPWR’s August 12 enforcement date. Administrative penalties ranging from €2,500 to €25,000 for non-compliance will apply from January 1, 2030.
The Italian measure is among the first national-level initiatives in the EU to make use of the flexibility provided under the PPWR to require compostability for packaging applications that would otherwise become subject to the PPWR’s restrictions.
References
Government of Italy (August 7, 2026). “Decreto-Legge 7 agosto 2026, n. 143 Disposizioni urgenti in materia di obbligo di compostabilita’ di determinate tipologie di imballaggi (26G00166).” Gazzetta Ufficiale Della Repubblica Italiana
European Commission (July 7, 2026). “Proposal for a technical regulation laying down biodegradability and compostability requirements for certain single-use plastic packaging. Comments pursuant to Article 5(2) of Directive (EU) 2015/1535.” European Commission
