Regulation & Policy

The investment builds on California’s broader sustainability agenda including SB 54, which establishes an EPR program for packaging and single-use plastic foodservice ware set to take effect on 1 January 2027.

Consumers can deposit unwanted devices into specialized containers with no prior booking, handling fees, or paperwork required.

The Environment Authority has called on business owners and consumers to comply and expand the use of sustainable alternatives such as cloth or paper bags.

GPMA President Ebbo Botwe stated in a petition to the EPA that the sector’s capital investments in plants and machinery total GH¢1.493 billion (US$95 million), which would be rendered obsolete under the current timeline.

MAN cited international experience, noting that Kenya’s 2017 ban on thin plastic bags led to factory closures and job losses, yet banned bags continue to circulate through smuggling and cross-border trade.

The directive states that all food business operators must discontinue the use of metallic pins, wires or any similar materials for sealing, fastening, securing or packaging any food item, bakery product, takeaway meal, snack packet or food parcel.

The initiative, first of its kind in the Middle East region, follows agreements between the Council and four major retail chains that will exclusively implement the system on their packaged products.

Amcor’s RecyClass certification for PCR-containing products provides third-party verification that the PCR content is traceable and meets the standard, supporting customers’ tax compliance claims.

The initiative will run for six to twenty-four months, with measurable milestones for each participating business.

A typical GCC-based packaging manufacturer currently pays approximately AED 3,850 (US$1,048) per metric ton for conventional plastic resins, while GAIA’s PLA-free compounds are available at comparable or lower price points.