“The special rules for plastic packaging, which are still being extended today, are jeopardising the transformation towards less packaging waste, more recyclable packaging and greater use of recyclates,” explains Dr Martin Engelmann, Managing Director of the IK Industrievereinigung Kunststoffverpackungen. The IK particularly criticises the fact that the unequal treatment with other packaging materials leads to a switch to paper packaging laminated or coated with plastic, which is criticised because it increases the amount of packaging waste and the plastic it contains cannot be recycled. “We are now calling on the member states to ensure material-neutral regulations so that each packaging material can play to its strengths for the benefit of the environment, the climate and consumers,” says Engelmann.
In contrast, the IK takes a positive view of the general exemptions for hazardous goods packaging, which are already regulated globally at UN level. It is also correct that packaging bans can only be decided by legislation in the future and not by a decision of the Commission alone.
