As EU member states prepare to vote on the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), Articles 22 and 26 become focal points in the most lobbied legislation. Initial plans, proposed by the European Commission a year ago, included a ban on single-use packaging for on-site consumption, extending to individual servings of condiments, creamers, sugars, and seasoning. Targets for reusable packaging were set at 20% for hot and cold drinks, 10% for takeaway food, and 10% for alcoholic beverages by 2030, with more ambitious targets for 2040.

However, recent derogations added last month have raised concerns of a 'watering down' of requirements. Critics argue that amendments have shifted the focus from reuse and reduction to recycling and single-use, potentially conflicting with the bloc's circular economy plans and the waste hierarchy. A leaked draft of PPWR indicates the possibility of further diluted targets.

While the paper industry supports single-use paper packaging, Italy and Finland lead efforts to reduce the ambition of PPWR. The European Paper Packaging Alliance claims its products are greener than reusable options, framing the choice for MEPs as between reusable plastic and single-use paper.

Scientific challenges emerged this year, highlighting the limitations of life cycle assessments (LCAs), emphasizing their static nature and potential for bias based on assumptions. The letter to MEPs signed by 58 academics underscored the misleading nature of comparing single-use packaging with static snapshots of reuse options.

Tactics employed by industry players like the European Paper Packaging Alliance and McDonald's, the latter promoting single-use over reuse, have drawn ire from environmental groups and consumer organizations. A coalition of NGOs warns that undermining measures for reuse and restrictions on unnecessary packaging could lead to an additional 7.3 million tonnes of packaging waste and 3.5 million tonnes of CO2e by 2030, creating a conflict with the waste framework directive.

As EU ambassadors discuss the latest PPWR text, member states aim to formally adopt a general approach at an upcoming meeting of environment ministers, shaping the future landscape of packaging regulations in the European Union.