Debate: Packaging and packaging waste
Date: TUESDAY, 21 NOVEMBER 2023
Speaker: Nils Torvalds
Country: Romania
Language: EN

The regulation of packaging and packaging waste has undoubtedly been one of the most hotly debated pieces in legislation in Brussels in recent months, both in terms of profound paradigm shifts it proposes and the intensity of lobbying by the interested stakeholders. The legislation is essential for the competitiveness of the European packaging sector, and stakes are high because, while packaging is essential for components of products, making them suitable for the transport and safe use, it is also an increasingly important source of waste. With a report adopted in ENVI by a large majority, the rapporteur, Frédérique Ries, whom I represent today, has succeeded in aligning environmental ambitions with industrial reality. It establishes a clear line in favour of innovation, allowing a five-year derogation for innovative packaging and providing a horizontal exemption for almost the entire text for micro-enterprises with fewer than 10 employees. In addition, as one of the rapporteurs’ main priorities, the report has added health dimensions to the environmental aspects of the dossier, with the addition of a ban on PFAS chemicals, the forever pollutants, and Bisphenol A in food packaging. Finally, it also strengthens the prevention aspect of the text by setting a precise target for the reduction of plastic packaging and by banning ultralight plastic bags. Although the report adopted by ENVI confirms a pragmatic vision towards circular economy, the rapporteur is well aware that there are still differences between the positions adopted in the different committees of this House. With the amendments tabled by my group, the rapporteur wanted to take a further step towards a common, balanced position on the most controversial aspects of the text. First, on the reuse aspect, Article 26: in addition to the removal of targets for the take away sector already adopted by the ENVI Committee, the rapporteur proposes that economic operators with a packaging recycling rate of over 85% to be exempted from the reuse obligation, striking a balance between increasing targets and simply eliminating them. Secondly, with regards to the restrictions on certain packaging formats for the fruit and vegetables – that’s Annex V, line 2 – the rapporteur wishes to respond to AGRI’s concerns by extending the scope of the packaging format still authorised to single-use plastic-free composite packaging so that producers can continue to have a wider choice of alternatives. Lastly, with regard to packaging restrictions for the HORECA sector – that’s Annex V, line 3 – the text adopted in ENVI is already well-balanced: a complete derogation for micro-enterprises, a three-year deferral for applications of the measures on flexibility granted to the Member States. However, in a spirit of compromise, the rapporteur wanted to add wrappers – that they would be exempted from the ban – as it would be difficult to replace them with other alternatives. This set of amendments is, for the rapporteur, the middle ground that only reconciles positions between groups, lending a robust text at the beginning of interinstitutional negotiations. On her behalf, I would like to thank all the colleagues for the cooperation we have had so far, and I am looking forward to represent this House in the further negotiations with the co-legislator. So thank you. Then I change my hat because I think there was an understanding that I would have also one minute for myself, because of the combination... I’ll try to keep it to 30 seconds and I’ll change to Finnish. Todellinen ongelmamme oli elinkaariarviointi. Elinkaariarviointia voidaan tehdä erittäin monella eri tavalla ja pienetkin muutokset, kuten montako pesukertaa, paljonko vettä tai miten paljon energiaa, muuttavat todellista tilannetta ja muuttavat myös elinkaariarvioinnin lopputuloksia. Siitä syystä elinkaariarvio, siinä muodossa, kuin se tuli meille komissiosta, aiheutti meille ylitsepääsemättömiä ongelmia, mutta yritämme tulevaisuudessa järjestää niitä.