European packaging groups urge harmonized rules to cut administrative burdens and boost recycling

EUROPE – A coalition of 22 organizations across the European packaging sector has delivered targeted recommendations to the European Commission on its proposed 28th legal regime. 

The group seeks to simplify existing Union regulations, improve business operations, and advance recycling efforts throughout the value chain.

In a joint statement, the organizations, which include EUROPEN, the Association of the Greek Manufacturers of Packaging and Materials, and the European Packaging Alliance, emphasized the need for unified processes in environmental compliance. 

They pointed out that current rules create overlapping demands in areas like product registration and reporting, adding costs for companies. 

The signatories called for these benefits to reach all firms active in the Union, extending beyond just smaller enterprises.

The coalition identified ongoing challenges in managing cross-border waste shipments and the flow of recycled materials as key areas where a single framework could deliver results.

According to the group, adopting mutual recognition principles would accelerate approvals across borders, reducing delays in operations.

Further proposals center on technology to ease compliance. The organizations advocated for a shift to digital systems as the standard, with platforms that connect seamlessly. 

They suggested establishing a centralized online portal for meeting extended producer responsibility requirements, allowing firms to handle obligations in one place.

The statement also pushed for stricter application of the once-only data rule, under which businesses submit information once, and regulators share it securely among member states.

This approach, the coalition noted, could clear away leftover hurdles in the internal market and support broader recycling targets.

EUROPEN Secretary General Francesca Stevens highlighted the potential impact. “The 28th legal regime offers a real opportunity to remove barriers that still fragment the Single Market,” she said. 

She added that a unified setup would help European firms compete globally while speeding up moves toward more reuse and less waste.

These suggestions come amid fresh Union actions on packaging sustainability. The European Commission recently enacted the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, which took effect this month. 

The new law requires all packaging to become economically recyclable by 2030 and sets the stage for climate-neutral operations by 2050. 

It tackles the full lifecycle of materials, from production to disposal, with a focus on cutting primary resource use.

Under the regulation, public procurement will incorporate green standards by February 2030.

Contracts for packaging must meet basic sustainability benchmarks, such as recycled content levels and reduced environmental harm, without driving up prices unfairly. 

Officials expect these measures to standardize recycling practices and encourage safer reuse of plastics across the region.

The coalition’s input arrives as member states grapple with implementing these changes. 

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