Retailers and wholesalers are important users of packaging, and therefore closely monitor the review of the proposal for a regulation on packaging and packaging waste (PPWR). As a result, Eurocommerce has submitted six proposals for improving packaging legislation to the European Parliament.

The European Commission's proposal was published last November with the general aim of reducing the quantity of packaging and its environmental impact by using more reusable and recyclable packaging. The European Parliament will vote on this important regulation, while member states are still debating its position.

Retailers and wholesalers support harmonizing EU standards for packaging and a true single market for waste, as it facilitates cross-border sales. A joint study with McKinsey estimates that our sector needs to invest 10-20 billion euros from 2023 to 2030 to increase packaging circularity. The new regulation should support retailers and wholesalers in their efforts and provide clarity and legal certainty.

From what we hear in the European Parliament and discussions in the Council, co-legislators need to understand the following six points to make this legislation successful and ensure it works for the environment, consumers, packaging producers, and packaging users, including the 5 million retailers and wholesalers in Europe:

1. The regulation should support businesses in their efforts to use less packaging and refrain from forcing them to use a specific reuse format, such as in-store filling, where other initiatives and innovations might be more suitable.
2. Refill stations, pushed by legislators, are - contrary to popular belief - not necessarily the best environmental solution.
3. Retailers already implement refill stations where useful, based on multiple factors to consider. These include limited shelf life and freshness of the product, potential cross-contamination with allergens, the risk of mislabeling, potential food waste and spoilage, the need to ensure hygiene standards and extra floor space. Additionally, refill stations for retailers of textiles and electronics are hard to implement and could provide refill stations for only a very limited range of products, if at all.
4. Optimal packaging choice should be based on an environmental impact assessment covering the entire value chain. Realistic reuse requirements, based on objective and science-based analysis, should be used to provide retailers and wholesalers with the flexibility to implement solutions that work best for their stores, products, and customers.
5. Packaging labeling is crucial for retailers and wholesalers; therefore, it's important to define the roles and responsibilities of all economic operators along the supply chain, in line with activities under their control. Businesses should be given at least 36 months to prepare for the new labeling requirements. The proposal also represents an opportunity to promote digital labeling and should be technologically neutral to allow the use of means other than QR codes for labeling.
6. The new packaging regulation must ensure both harmonization and the free movement of goods. We need regulations with clearly defined and harmonized rules at the EU level to create a single waste market.

I believe we all want to avoid situations where one country requires packaging to bear a specific national label while the neighboring member state bans exactly the same label. And to ensure the uniform application of these new rules across EU member states, the regulation must ensure the mutual recognition of agreements between member states and the EU Single Window Environment for Customs.

We all support the target for more recycled content in packaging - this way we reduce the use of virgin resources. However, policymakers need to pay attention to the availability of recycled materials on the market and ensure there is adequate legal framework and waste recycling infrastructure so that the objectives can be achieved.

Very important for retailers of food products and supermarkets are the planned packaging bans, which could have cross-contamination of waste and environmental impacts.

The sector has been part of the discussion on how to reduce plastic packaging for years, and retailers have done a lot to reduce their use of plastic where possible. A good example is the famous plastic-wrapped cucumber traveling long distances, which requires packaging to avoid cross-contamination and food waste.

Packaging bans cannot properly consider the numerous, often conflicting, factors that impact the choice of optimal packaging or even no packaging at all.

To do their job well, retailers and wholesalers need the free movement of goods. The current packaging proposal could disrupt existing well-functioning systems and could provide, at worst, impossible-to-meet requirements regarding recyclability, reuse, and recycled content. Stores and wholesalers need empowerment and supportive actions, as well as clear and timely deadlines, guidance, transition periods, and accompanying measures.

Let's ensure we get the much-needed update of EU packaging rules that can guide us towards more sustainable development for the coming years and decades without jeopardizing the competitiveness of businesses in Europe. (Photo: Freepik)