European Union sets out plan to cut back Food Packaging waste across EU

The European Union executive wants to ban mini shampoo bottles in hotels. Not just this, it is also moving towards banning throwaway cups in cafes and restaurants. This is part of sweeping legal proposals to curb Europe's mountains of waste. The draft EU regulation published earlier this week also proposes mandatory deposit and return schemes for single-use plastic drink bottles and metal cans. This is in addition to a provision bringing an end to e-commerce firms wrapping up small items in huge boxes. The draft regulation is intended

To tackle the surge in plastic and other packaging waste, the EU estimates that 40 per cent of new plastics and 50 per cent of paper are used in packaging, thus making the sector a vast consumer of virgin materials. The EU member states and the European Parliament must approve the new rules. The EU passed a law in 2019 to ban the most common single-use plastic items like plastic cutlery, stirrers and straws, but officials now want to go further to tackle

European Union Packaging Waste – The soaring amount of packaging rubbish is thought to generate 180 kilograms of packaging waste each year. The latest proposals estimate that EU member states would need to reduce packaging waste per capita by 15 by 2040 compared to the levels of 2018, with the amount expected to rise by 19 by 2030 if no action is taken.

The commission also hopes to end the confusion over recycling. It proposes harmonised labels, probably pictograms, to clarify to the consumers which bin needs to be used in a separate law. The commission seeks to ensure that products claiming to be bio-based, biodegradable, or compostable meet the minimum standards in an attempt to clamp down on greenwashing. Consumers would now be able to tell how long it takes for an item to biodegrade, how much biomass was used in its production, and whether it is suitable for home composting

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