News JVTech Say goodbye to shampoo bottles and coffee capsules: EU’s new anti-plastic law is clear
Published on 08/12/2022 at 19:15
The European Union continues its fight against packaging waste with a new bill that could drastically change the way we wash, and how we drink our coffee. Among other things, of course.
Figures on packaging that send shivers down your spine
While these are only accessories for holding or carrying products, packaging represents a very impressive share of world production, and therefore the share of waste generated. The European Union shares with us figures that are more than telling.
40% of plastic used in the EU is for packaging50% paper generated in the EU is intended for packagingOn average, a European generates 180 kg of waste per year
Half, or almost, of these components are not even dedicated to the production of products as such. Quite disconcerting.
Without action, the European Union would observeA 19% increase of packaging waste around 2030.A 46% increase of plastic packaging waste around 2030.
More than alarming statistics that reflect our daily lives well, even if France is far from being the worst country in terms of packaging. Many shops and brands replace plastic with paper and cardboard, but not all of them, far from it.
The proposed European Union law: no more unnecessary packaging
To push EU stakeholders to act, the European Commission tabled a bill last week to reduce the necessary production of packaging. For it, 3 objectives are determined:Promote the reusable packagingsuch as those that can be refilled, in order to extend its life and avoid having to throw away a bottle of shampoo after just one use. Return all packaging 100% recyclable by 2030. Reduce the need for primary resources and create a viable market for secondary (already modified) materials, such as recycled plastic.
Nice targets to reach, but what does it give concretely? For the moment,
the billstill seems rather vague, but it could be clarified after validation by the members of the European Parliament.
Here are the main points of this bill: Companies will have to use a certain percentage of products in reusable or refillable packaging. A standardization of packaging will be put in place to simplify the process. Reusable packaging will be clearly labeled and therefore visible to consumers. Forms of packaging will be banned, such as small portions of food, shampoo, or coffee that are often found in restaurants or hotels, non-reusable packaging for fruit and vegetables. Among the measures aimed at making packaging 100% recyclable by 2030, we find systems of mandatory instructions to return plastic bottles and aluminum cans. A defined proportion of recycled content must be present in new plastic packaging produced by companies.One of the most important perhaps: each element of a product’s packaging will carry a logo indicating what material it is made of and which bin it belongs to. Bins will use the same logo and these will be common throughout the EU.
If all these measures are applied, it could cause a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from 66 million tonnes if the law does not pass, to 43 million by 2030. Water usage will also be reduced of 1.1 million cubic meters.
Do not hesitate to go and see the bill in its entirety, many other points are addressed, in particular the use of biomass to produce sustainable packaging.
