On June 8, 2023, the Rethink Plastic alliance, together with other 79 civil and business organizations, published an open letter to the European Parliament advocating for the incorporation of thoughtfully designed reuse systems as a driving force in the prevention of packaging waste for the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) revision (FPF reported and here).
In the letter, they express their concerns that “[…] misinformation and intense lobbying from the single-use packaging industry and the take-away sector are undermining the need for reuse as a driver for waste prevention, resource conservation and climate protection […]” Furthermore, they stress the urgency to support reuse systems to tackle the current environmental and waste problems in this sector. In addition to that, they reference the existence of peer-reviewed scientific literature, which should be the basis for the EU’s decision-making, rather than studies sponsored by corporations with a vested interest.
Accompanying the letter is a factsheet with seven reasons why reusable take-away packaging is a sustainable alternative, compared to single-use packaging. Some of these reasons include lower emissions when a break-even point is reached for reusable packaging; less water being used to wash reusable items compared to the production of single-use equivalents; or that paper, which is a commonly used food contact material used for single-use packaging, creates a burden on forests and is not always recyclable.
Consumer’s right organization Euroconsumers published a report on May 9, 2023, presenting five criteria to develop legislation to guarantee a PPWR that protects and empowers the consumers (FPF reported and here). Euroconsumers agrees with the coalition, demanding that safety be a priority and independent scientific studies that examine the entire life cycle of packaging items are required. Recycling and reuse systems should minimize and eliminate where possible potentially harmful chemicals from any food contact articles. Other concerns discussed in the report include simplifying reuse and recycling programs, reducing costs, and increasing transparency. “[…] higher costs related to adopting a more sustainable lifestyle are still by far the main barrier for consumers” and current labeling standards are confusing (FPF reported).
Larissa Copello, the reuse & packaging policy officer at Zero Waste Europe, one of the 79 signees, says in the press release: “[…] the evidence shows that the current EU packaging legislation has failed to address the issue of packaging waste, as recycling capabilities have proven to be insufficient to deal with the sheer amount of packaging waste. We don’t need more data or science to transition to reuse. Now we need action. What are EU politicians waiting for?”
References
Rethink Plastic (June 8, 2023). “Open letter: Well designed reuse systems as a driver of packaging waste prevention.”
Rethink Plastic (June 8, 2023). “Fact sheet: Reusable take-away packaging.”
Rethink Plastic (June 8, 2023). “Rethink Plastic alliance and 81 organisations are calling for well-designed reuse systems in the PPWR revision to reduce packaging waste.”
Euroconsumers (May 9, 2023). “Reducing packaging waste: Euroconsumers’ checklist for a regulation fit for consumers.”
Read more
Packaging Europe (February 28, 2023). “Return deposits, paper-free refunds and technological efficiency driving consumer interest in reverse vending solutions, according to TOMRA.”
European Commission (November 30, 2023). “Proposal for a revision of EU legislation on Packaging and Packaging Waste.”
