The legislation aims to make all packaging within the EU recyclable by 2030, increase the incorporation of recycled materials, limit unnecessary formats, and promote circular business models. The measure addresses the high levels of waste recorded in the EU, where each citizen generated an average of 178 kilograms of packaging waste in 2023, seeking to curb projections of continued sector growth and reduce Europe’s reliance on fossil fuel imports.

Key eco-design requirements under the regulation include minimising packaging weight and volume while maintaining functionality. E-commerce platforms will be required to reduce space in shipping boxes, and packaging designs intended to create the illusion of a larger product volume are prohibited, except where protected by registered trademarks or design rights.

Additionally, plastic packaging must incorporate minimum levels of post-consumer recycled plastic, with exceptions for pharmaceuticals, infant nutrition products, and medical devices; the use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in packaging that comes into direct contact with food is also banned. The legislation also mandates the phase-out of various types of single-use plastic starting in early 2030.

The use of plastic films and wrappers to bundle products at the point of sale is prohibited, except where essential for handling. In the fruit and vegetable sector, plastic packaging is restricted for produce weighing less than 1.5 kg, with exceptions made only when there is a proven technical need to prevent food spoilage or when no economically viable alternative exists. Additionally, restaurants and hotels may no longer serve food and beverages in single-use plastic containers for consumption on the premises; the provision of individual portions of condiments, sauces, sugar, and cream is also discontinued, except for takeaway services and in healthcare facilities or care homes, as is the use of small disposable toiletry bottles in the hospitality industry.

The use of very lightweight plastic bags will be largely eliminated, remaining permitted only for hygiene reasons or for transporting loose food to prevent waste. Finally, for home delivery and takeaway services, establishments are required to offer the option of reusable packaging at the same price as, or a lower price than, disposable options.

The new guidelines reinforce Extended Producer Responsibility, assigning the financial costs of the collection, sorting, and recycling phases of packaging lifecycles to producers through modulated fees that reward eco-design.

The European Commission maintains that optimising formats and harmonising rules should not increase costs for the end consumer, as it anticipates potential transport savings for companies. For the average citizen, household sorting systems and collection bins remain unchanged, as do deposit-refund schemes (such as the Volta project in Portugal). At the same time, users benefit from new, harmonised labelling designed to simplify sorting. The legal framework mandates that Member States achieve an overall packaging waste recycling rate of 65% by 2025 and 70% by 2030, while also establishing progressive targets for reducing per capita waste by 2030, 2035, and 2040.