Italian association denounces plan to amend EU packaging law
The European Commission will present a proposal to amend the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive in the form of a regulation (read article) at the end of November, but the proposal does not meet the requirements of the Italian association of bioplastics and compostable materials, Assobiplastiche, which refuses to introduce "penalties for new supply chains" and arbitrary and unscientific choices for technological and environmental innovation”.
According to the association, the draft proposal circulating online violates some fundamental principles, such as proportionality and technological neutrality. A note reads: "There are substantive issues, such as some packaging materials being penalized compared to others, but there are also methodological issues in European decision-making processes, given the lack of solid links to clear and transparent scientific assessments. regulation has so much impact on businesses, economic and social structures, and citizens.”
Assobiplastiche therefore calls for a complete rethinking of the text, "it puts packaging materials on the same plane, without penalizing those new supply chains that also benefit from the EU's own contribution, in technological and environmental innovations. more in the context of
The Bioplastic Coffee Pod Council proposal dedicates an entire article to the study of biodegradable and compostable packaging. Some products, such as tea bags, coffee pods, stickers on fruits and vegetables, and ultra-light plastic bags, must be compostable within two years of the regulations coming into force. Member States can also authorize the use of lightweight compostable plastic bags if there is a collection scheme and organic waste disposal infrastructure.
However, for all other packaging, compostable polymers will no longer be available 24 months after the regulation comes into effect. It is also possible that the committee will expand the list of must-compostable packaging in the future.
