What’s Happening: European Union Packaging Regulation Update and CCT in Europe
In early March, the European Union (EU) Parliament and Council reached a provisional agreement on revamped rules to reduce, reuse and recycle packaging, increase safety, and boost the circular economy.
A press release announcing the agreement noted that the “new measures aim to make packaging used in the EU safer and more sustainable, by requiring all packaging to be recyclable, minimizing the presence of harmful substances, reducing unnecessary packaging, boosting the uptake of recycled content and improving collection and recycling.”
The agreement sets packaging reduction targets of 5% by 2030, 10% by 2035, and 15% by 2040 and requires EU countries to reduce, in particular, the amount of plastic packaging waste.
Data published by Eurostat, the statistical office of the EU revealed that in 2021, the EU generated 188.7 kg (412 pounds) of packaging waste per inhabitant, 10.8 kg (23 pounds) more per person than in 2020, the biggest increase in 10 years. In total, the EU generated 84 million tons of packaging waste in 2021.
Source: EuroStat
The EU Parliament and Council need to formally approve the agreement before it can go into effect.
As lawmakers in the EU work to address the problem of packaging waste, CCT’s recyclable EEASY Lid is helping brands align with the region’s new regulations. Made of recyclable aluminum, the EEASY Lid allows brands to future-proof their packaging to meet evolving environmental regulations in the EU and across the globe.
Last year, the EEASY Lid was introduced to the European market for the first time when EDEKA Kempken, a family-owned German grocer, launched the EEASY Lid on its private label pasta sauces in select stores in Krefeld.
To continue advancing CCT’s momentum in the EU, CCT representative Friedrich Berlemann was recently on deck at Anuga FoodTec in Cologne, Germany, to network and meet with potential partners. Anuga FoodTec is the world’s only supplier fair that covers all aspects of food and beverage production – from process technology to food safety and packaging.
CCT president Brandon Bach noted that the positive response to the EEASY Lid from potential partners across Europe has been nothing short of incredible.
Packaging regulations are evolving across the globe. Is your packaging ready to comply? Contact us today to learn more about future proofing your packaging with the EEASY Lid.