On Tuesday, MEPs in the Environment Committee adopted their position on a proposed regulation establishing requirements for the entire packaging life cycle, from raw materials to final disposal, by 56 votes in favour, 23 against and 5 abstentions.

MEPs want to ban the sale of very light weight plastic carrier bags (below 15 microns), unless required for hygiene reasons or provided as primary packaging for loose food to help prevent food wastage.

Besides the overall packaging reduction targets proposed in the regulation, MEPs want to set specific waste reduction targets for plastic packaging (10% by 2030, 15% by 2035 and 20% by 2040). The plastic part in packaging would need to contain minimum percentages of recycled content depending on the type of packaging, with specific targets set for 2030 and 2040.

By the end of 2025, the Commission should assess the possibility of proposing targets and sustainability criteria for bio-based plastic, a key resource for ‘defossilising’ the…