By Sahar Azarkamand, researcher of the ARECO Fellowship at the UNESCO Chair in Life Cycle of ESCI-UPF.
The European Union generated approximately 83.4 million tons of packaging waste in 2021. According to forecasts, if no measures are taken, packaging waste could increase by another 19% by 2030 (European Council, 2024). In recent years, the amount of packaging has grown more rapidly than the economy and population of the EU (ibid). Packaging waste management is a key issue for achieving circularity and sustainability goals, as the packaging sector plays a crucial role in reducing environmental impact.
Given its importance in the transition to a circular economy, packaging waste regulation is constantly evolving, with frequent updates to ensure a more efficient and sustainable management of these materials.
The new Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) represents a significant change in the regulation of the packaging sector in the European Union. This regulation, which replaces Directive 94/62/EC, seeks greater harmonization and legal certainty for businesses, ensuring its immediate application in all Member States. It aligns with the Circular Economy Action Plan and the Waste and Contaminated Soils Law in Spain.
The PPWR sets specific targets for reducing packaging waste compared to 2018, with measures focused on sustainability. Among its key provisions are the ban on certain plastic products, the promotion of reusable packaging, and the inclusion of recycled material in plastic packaging. Progressive restrictions will be implemented to minimize the environmental impact of packaging, regulating the use of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) and promoting the reduction of packaging volume and weight.
Regarding tertiary packaging, milestones are set to be achieved on different dates. By the end of 2025, a minimum of 65% of the total weight of generated packaging waste must be recycled. From 2030 onwards, each packaging unit must be reduced to its minimum volume and weight, eliminating unnecessary components such as double walls and additional layers. The use of reusable packaging will also be encouraged, with 40% of transport packaging required to be integrated into a reuse system.
The regulation provides for a series of exemptions and flexibilities for certain economic operators, such as micro-enterprises or those marketing less than 1,000 kg of packaging per year. It also establishes the obligation to report data on compliance with recycling and reuse targets starting in 2030. Regarding recyclability, the PPWR requires all packaging to be recyclable in specific categories and to contain a minimum amount of recovered recycled material, increasing progressively until 2040.
By 2040, requirements will be strengthened, with a 15% reduction in empty space within packaging and a 15% reduction in per capita waste generation compared to 2018. Additionally, efforts will be made to achieve 70% reuse in packaging used by economic operators, although this is not mandatory. In terms of recyclability, even stricter targets are set, with 50% recycled content in PET packaging and 65% in other plastics.
The regulation also addresses Extended Producer Responsibility, in line with the provisions already established in RD 1055/2022 in Spain.
Requirements for reuse and refurbishment systems remain in place, with specific obligations to ensure the sustainability of the packaging sector. With the implementation of the PPWR, a significant reduction in the environmental impact of packaging and a greater transition towards a circular economy across the EU are expected (Official Journal of the European Union, 2024).
The new regulation reinforces and promotes ARECO’s model
Companies that are part of ARECO, Euro Pool System, IFCO Systems, and Logifruit appreciate that the new regulation promotes reuse in transport systems, thereby ensuring the transition towards a circular economy model and more efficient resource management.
In fact, this is the first time that specific reuse targets have been included in European regulations, reinforcing the argument—long defended by ARECO—that recycling alone is not enough to reduce environmental impact.
In this regard, the new regulation supports the business model of the companies that are part of ARECO, pioneers in the implementation of a more sustainable and lower environmental impact distribution system, as confirmed by various scientific studies in recent years.
In 2018, the UNESCO Chair in Life Cycle and Climate Change (ESCI-UPF), led by Dr. Pere Fullana, conducted the first comparative study of the main fruit and vegetable distribution options in Spain using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA).
For all the impact categories analyzed, reusable plastic crates showed better environmental performance than cardboard boxes. Overall, in the distribution of fruits and vegetables in Spain, reusable plastic crates generate 25% less environmental impact than single-use cardboard boxes (Bala et al., 2017).
More recently, in 2024, the same Chair analyzed the circularity index of these two transport systems. Using Material Flow Analysis (MFA) and applying the Material Circularity Indicators (MCI) and Product Circularity Indicators (PCI), it was evidenced that reusable transport packaging is more circular than cardboard boxes.
In this regard, ARECO members will continue working in line with the new regulation to keep promoting more sustainable packaging and transport solutions.
References:
BALA, A., and FULLANA, P., 2017, Análisis comparado de diferentes opcines de distribución de frutas y verduras en españa basado en el ACV, Cátedra UNESCO de Ciclo de Vida y Cambio Climático,ESCI-UPF, Available: https://areco.org.es/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Memoria_final_Estudio_ACV_ARECO.pdf
Consejo europeo. 2024. Envases. https://www.consilium.europa.eu/es/policies/packaging/
Diario Oficial de la Unión Europea. 2024. REGLAMENTO (UE) 2025/40 DEL PARLAMENTO EUROPEO Y DEL CONSEJO. https://www.boe.es/doue/2025/040/L00001-00124.pdf
Sazdovski, Ilija, Batlle-Bayer, Laura, Bala, Alba, Margallo, María, Azarkamand, Sahar, Aldaco, Rubén and Fullana-i-Palmer, Pere,. 2024. Circularity Entanglement: Selecting Appropriate Circularity Indicator, Study of Secondary Packaging for Fresh Food Distribution in Spain. Heliyon, volumen y páginas. Disponible en SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4646483 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4646483
