Enlarge image

Yellow bags at a recycling center in Bavaria: There is currently an average of around 190 kilograms of packaging waste per person in the EU every year

Photo: Rolf Poss / IMAGO

Germany has approved the European Union's new packaging regulations despite trade policy concerns.

A sufficient majority of EU states supported the proposal, as the responsible Belgian EU Council Presidency announced.

In the EU, at least 15 percent less packaging should end up in the trash by 2040.

At the beginning of March, the negotiators from the European Parliament and member states agreed on a law according to which single-use packaging for unprocessed fresh fruit and vegetables or individual packaging, for example for sugar, should be banned from 2030.

Germany was in favor of the new regulation during the vote, but had concerns.

According to the Ministry of the Environment, the reason is that there are sometimes high hurdles for third countries that export their products and packaging to the EU.

A clause contained in this clause is "problematic from a German point of view in terms of trade policy, as it creates trade barriers as a protectionist instrument," according to a statement in the minutes.

Specifically, Germany is concerned with the requirements for the proportion of recyclate, which, it is feared, could place too much of a burden on third countries.

Recycled material refers to reusable material from recycling - such as granules or flakes made of plastic.

What else is regulated in the packaging regulations

The compromise also includes a ban on plastic film for suitcases in airports and light plastic bags in supermarkets from 2030.

However, packaging made of paper and other materials remains largely permitted.

Other areas of the packaging industry are also regulated:

  • Packaging should generally be recyclable from 2030.

    There should be exceptions for the traditional wooden boxes for French Camembert cheese and for medical products.

  • According to the agreement, food packaging will no longer be allowed to contain so-called perpetual chemicals that are particularly long-lasting and are considered harmful to health.

  • Member states should set up deposit systems for single-use plastic bottles and beverage cans.

    The packaging industry should also comply with mandatory reusable quotas in the future.

There is currently an average of around 190 kilograms of packaging waste per person in the EU every year.

According to experts, without additional measures, the number could rise to more than 200 kilograms by 2030.

The EU's first single-use plastic ban came into force in 2021.

With the approval of representatives of the member states, the law has now cleared another hurdle.

Formal confirmation by the Council of Ministers and the plenary session of the European Parliament is still pending.

Both are now considered formalities.

kko/Reuters/dpa