On 11 February 2025, the Regulation (EU) 2025/40 on packaging and packaging waste, entered into force. The Regulation constitutes part of the European Union’s (“EU”) strategic sustainability initiatives such as the European Green Deal, which aims to set the EU on the path to a green transition and render it climate neutral by 2050, and the EU’s new Circular Economy Action Plan, which promotes the circular design of products focusing on resource-intensive sectors - such as plastics- and encourages sustainable consumption with a view to prevent waste. The Regulation, among others: · Sets 2030 and 2040 targets for a minimum percentage of recycled content in packaging; · Provides that plastic packaging shall contain a certain minimum amount of recycled content recovered from post-consumer plastic waste per packaging type and format; · Defines the standards that certain packaging shall need to comply with in order to be considered compostable; · Sets requirements for reusable packaging; · Requires that the weight and volume of packaging be reduced to the minimum size necessary; · Provides harmonizing labelling and marking requirements; · Requires that a deposit return system be established by 1 January 2029 for all single-use plastic beverage bottles and single-use metal beverage containers with a capacity of up to three liters; · Introduces restrictions on the use of certain packaging formats (e.g. very lightweight plastic carrier bags, tea/coffee bags, and sticky labels attached to fruit and vegetables). Τhe Regulation shall apply from 12 August 2026.
