The EU will unify SUPD and PPWR to give a broader definition of "recycling"
On June 13, the EU recently planned to unify two important regulations - SUPD (Single-Use Plastics Directive) and PPWR (Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation). The core measure is to expand the definition of "recycling" more broadly.
1. The current status of regulations and the contradictions are prominent
Since its entry into force in July 2021, SUPD (Single-Use Plastics Directive) has strictly limited the accounting standards for recycled plastics: only mechanically recycled materials are recognized to be included in the recycling target, and it is clearly required that recycled plastics must be derived from waste within the EU. This regulation greatly limits the source range of recycled materials.
PPWR (Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation) officially became law in February 2025, and its rules are in sharp contrast to SUPD. The regulation allows non-EU post-consumer waste plastics that meet the "mirror rule" (i.e., collected and processed according to EU standards) to be included in the recycling target, and is more open in terms of raw material sources. However, for chemical recycling technologies (such as pyrolysis), PPWR has not yet given a clear and definite legal definition, which has led to uncertainty in compliance when companies apply related technologies.
2. Core measures for unified reform
The EU plans to launch a major new bill in the fourth quarter of 2025. This reform will focus on two core areas. On the one hand, the new definition may cover more types of chemical recycling (such as the decomposition of plastics into raw materials) and physical recycling technologies, not just traditional mechanical recycling. And unify the calculation methods of recycled materials for SUPD and PPWR, and completely open up the source channels of waste plastics inside and outside the EU.
On the other hand, in response to technical disputes in the chemical recycling process, the new bill will establish strict quality conservation standards to solve the long-standing compliance ambiguity of cracking technology and provide clear technical guidance for the industry.
3. Industry impact and target planning
In terms of packaging reduction, PPWR has set clear quantitative goals: based on 2018, the amount of packaging will be reduced by 5% in 2030, 10% in 2035, and 15% in 2040, promoting the industry's transformation from "large-scale use" to "lean packaging".
In terms of recycled content requirements, SUPD stipulates that the recycled content of PET beverage bottles must reach 25% by 2025, while PPWR requires that the recycled content of overall packaging reach 30% by 2030. The new regulations are expected to further coordinate the differences between the two and form a more coherent industry standard.
In addition, the terms of the ban will also be gradually tightened. From 2030, certain packaging forms will be banned from the market, such as disposable fruit packaging, condiments, food boxes, etc.), plastic packaging for fresh fruits and vegetables, single packaging for food and beverages in the catering industry (such as hamburger boxes, sugar bags, etc.), and micro plastic bags (such as hotel toiletries packaging) will be banned, accelerating the green innovation of packaging materials.
