In a joint letter to the European Union, the group – which includes EuPC, Europen, PET Europe, and FoodDrinkEurope – said such measures should allow for the “real impact that reuse obligations have on certain packaging formats and related products”.

The signatories voiced concerns that the issue of reuse was being overplayed. “The characteristics and performances of protective and flexible transport packaging formats cannot be guaranteed through reuse,” they said. “For example, the cushioning or stretching properties of the material would diminish with each use, compromising the protection afforded to the packaged items and transport safety requirements”.

The group called on the EU to consider the unique requirements of such packaging formats when defining reuse obligations for transport packaging, to prevent the imposition of disproportionate or unfeasible targets which, it argued, “would lead to supply chains’ disruptions negatively impacting the efficiency of transporting goods and [those] businesses dependent on reliable and safe logistics”.

A series of technical trilogue meetings had been held throughout January, with political talks following in early to mid-February. All 27 EU member states are expected to vote on the regulations in early March.