European Strategy for Plastics

Promoting a circular economy

On 16 January 2018, the European Commission published the “European Strategy for Plastics in the Circular Economy”.

It requires all Member States to reuse and recycle 50% of all plastic packaging waste by 2025 and 55% by 2030.
Directive (EU) 2018/852 applies from 4 July 2018 and must become law in EU countries by 5 July 2020.

Explaining the Directive

The key points not to forget
Directive 94/62/EC lays down EU rules on the management of packaging and packaging waste.

Directive (EU) 2018/852 amends Directive 94/62/EC and contains updated measures aimed at:

  • Prevent the production of packaging waste
  • Promote reuse, recycling and other forms of recovery, rather than their final disposal, thus contributing to the transition to a circular economy.
Directive 94/62/EC aims to:

What to do next

Always keeping food safe

EU countries must strive to ratify the requirements of the Directive, taking into account the targets imposed for each type of packaging material. The targets set for 31 December 2025 require at least 65% by weight of all packaging to be recycled.

The recycling target for plastic packaging by 2025 is 50%.

By 31 December 2030, at least 70% of packaging shall be recycled. In addition, EU countries should encourage an increase of reusable packaging placed on the market and systems to reuse packaging without compromising food safety.

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