25 YEARS ANNIVERSARY 28 PETplanet Insider Vol. 25 No. 05/24 www.petpla.net 25 YEARS ANNIVERSARY represents less than five per cent of total weight are to be exempt from those targets. The Commission is required to review the implementation of the 2030 targets, to assess the 2040 targets’ feasibility as well as, three years after the entry into force of the regulation, the state of development of bio-based plastic packaging and to lay down sustainability requirements for bio-based content in plastic packaging. The new rules would set a maximum empty space ratio of 50% in grouped, transport and e-commerce packaging. Re-use and re-fill Reuse targets will be binding for 2030 and indicative for 2040 but vary depending on the type of packaging used by operators. Cardboard is generally exempted. The new rules also exempt micro-enterprises and open the opportunity for economic operators to form pools of up five final distributors to meet beverages re-use targets. The agreement introduces a general renewable five-year derogation from the re-use targets under specific conditions, detailed in the text. Take-away businesses are to be obliged to offer customers the choice to bring their own containers to be filled with cold or hot beverages or ready-prepared food, at no additional charge. By 2030, take-away businesses must endeavour to offer 10% of products in packaging formats suitable for re-use. Deposit return systems (DRS) By 2029, member states must ensure the separate collection of at least 90% per annum of single-use plastic bottles and metal beverage containers and are required to set up DRSs for them. States will be exempt if they reach a separate collection rate above 80% in 2026 and submit an implementation plan for achieving 90%. Restrictions on certain packaging formats There will be restrictions on certain packaging formats, such as fruit and vegetables, food and beverages, condiments, sauces within the HORECA sector, for small cosmetic and toiletry products used in hospitality, and for very lightweight plastic bags (e.g. those offered at markets for bulk groceries). Next steps The proposal will be submitted to the member states’ representatives within the Council (Coreper) and to the Parliament’s environment committee. If approved, the text will then need to be formally adopted by both institutions, following revision by lawyer-linguists, before it can be published in the EU’s Official Journal and enter into force. www.consilium.europa.eu
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