EUBA Position on the European Commission’s Proposal for a Revised Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation

KEY LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVES, SUCH AS THE REVISION OF THE PPWR, CONCRETELY AND COHESIVELY SUPPORT THE TRANSITION TO A MORE SUSTAINABLE CIRCULAR BIOECONOMY

The European Bioeconomy Alliance (EUBA)*, representing 14 leading European organisations from various sectors active in the bioeconomy, supports the intentions of the Commission’s proposal for a revised Regulation on Packaging and Packaging Waste (PPWR)1 to make all packaging reusable and recyclable by 2030. EUBA considers the move towards a circular economy essential and calls for a stronger support of the bioeconomy sector in the Commission’s legislative proposal to deliver on the sustainability and climate goals set out in the EU Green Deal.

The bioeconomy has the potential to provide innovative bio-based materials and packaging solutions to ensure the sustainability and competitiveness of the EU packaging sector, all while reducing the dependency on fossil-based resources. The Commission’s own Communication on Sustainable Carbon Cycles2 sets out the aspirational goal that at least 20% of the carbon used in chemical and plastic products should originate from sustainable non-fossil carbon sources. Bio-based products, including packaging, sourced from renewable raw materials can contribute to reaching the EU climate neutrality targets. Despite these declared ambitions, the Commission’s PPWR proposal misses the opportunity to fully embrace the required shift to bio-based materials and processes that is necessary to make packaging more circular and sustainable.