Na segunda-feira, 04 de março, a União Europeia deu um passo crucial em direção à sustentabilidade com a aprovação de um acordo histórico para regras mais rígidas sobre embalagens. O pacto visa reduzir o desperdício, promover a reciclagem e banir substâncias prejudiciais em embalagens de contato com alimentos. Destaque para metas de redução de embalagens e promoção de opções reutilizáveis. A medida, aguardando aprovação formal, sinaliza um compromisso sério com um futuro mais verde para toda a região.
Os principais pontos do acordo sobre embalagens mais sustentáveis na União Europeia incluem:
Redução de Embalagens: Estabelecimento de metas de redução de embalagens em 5% até 2030, 10% até 2035 e 15% até 2040, com foco especial na redução do desperdício de embalagens plásticas.
Proibição de Certos Formatos de Embalagem: Banimento a partir de 2030 de certos formatos de embalagens plásticas de uso único, como embalagens para frutas frescas e vegetais não processados, além de embalagens para alimentos e bebidas consumidos em cafés e restaurantes.
Banimento de Substâncias Nocivas: Proibição do uso de “produtos químicos para sempre” (PFAS) em embalagens de contato com alimentos para evitar riscos à saúde.
Promoção de Embalagens Reutilizáveis: Estabelecimento de metas para embalagens reutilizáveis para bebidas alcoólicas e não alcoólicas até 2030, com a obrigatoriedade de oferecer opções de embalagens reutilizáveis em estabelecimentos de distribuição de bebidas e alimentos para viagem.
Reciclabilidade Obrigatória: Exigência de que todas as embalagens sejam recicláveis, com critérios rigorosos a serem definidos por legislação secundária, além de metas de conteúdo reciclado para plásticos e metal.
Melhoria na Coleta e Reciclagem: Estabelecimento de metas para a coleta separada de 90% das embalagens de plástico e metal de uso único até 2029, além de incentivos para aumentar a reciclagem de embalagens.
Esses pontos representam um esforço abrangente para tornar as embalagens utilizadas na UE mais seguras, sustentáveis e amigáveis ao meio ambiente.
Contexto
Em 2018, as embalagens geraram um volume de negócios de 355 bilhões de euros na UE. É uma fonte de resíduos em constante crescimento, com o total da UE tendo aumentado de 66 milhões de toneladas em 2009 para 84 milhões de toneladas em 2021. Cada europeu gerou 188,7 kg de resíduos de embalagens em 2021, uma cifra que se espera aumentar para 209 kg em 2030 sem medidas adicionais.
Com informações do Parlamento Europeu
Íntegra do texto – Disponível em inglês
Reprodução:
Deal on new rules for more sustainable packaging in the EU
Comunicado de imprensa ENVI Ontem
Measures cover full life cycle of packaging
Less packaging, less waste, restrictions on certain packaging formats
Ban on “forever chemicals” (PFAS) in food contact packaging
Each European generates almost 190kg of packaging waste every year
On Monday, Parliament and Council reached a provisional agreement on revamped rules to reduce, reuse and recycle packaging, increase safety and boost the circular economy.
The new measures aim to make packaging used in the EU safer and more sustainable, by requiring all packaging to be recyclable, minimising the presence of harmful substances, reducing unnecessary packaging, boosting the uptake of recycled content and improving collection and recycling.
Less packaging and restricting certain packaging formats
The agreement sets packaging reduction targets (5% by 2030, 10% by 2035 and 15% by 2040) and requires EU countries to reduce, in particular, the amount of plastic packaging waste.
According to the deal, certain single use plastic packaging formats, such as packaging for unprocessed fresh fruit and vegetables, packaging for foods and beverages filled and consumed in cafés and restaurants, individual portions (for e.g. condiments, sauces, creamer, sugar), accommodation miniature packaging for toiletry products and shrink-wrap for suitcases in airports, would be banned from 1 January 2030.
MEPs also ensured a ban on very lightweight plastic carrier bags (below 15 microns), unless required for hygiene reasons or provided as primary packaging for loose food to help prevent food wastage.
Banning the use of “forever chemicals”
To prevent adverse health effects, Parliament secured the introduction of a ban on the use of so called “forever chemicals” (per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances or PFASs) in food contact packaging.
Encouraging reuse and refill options for consumers
Negotiators agreed to set a specific target for reusable packaging for alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages (except e.g. milk, wine, aromatised wine, spirits) by 2030 (at least 10%). Member states may grant a five-year derogation from these requirements under certain conditions.
Final distributors of beverages and take-away food in the food service sector would be obliged to offer consumers the option of bringing their own container. They would also be required to endeavour to offer 10% of products in a reusable packaging format by 2030.
In addition, at Parliament’s request, member states are required to incentivise restaurants, canteens, bars, cafés and catering services to serve tap water, (where available, for free or for a low service fee) in a reusable or refillable format.
Recyclable packaging, better waste collection and recycling
Negotiators agreed that all packaging should be recyclable, fulfilling strict criteria to be defined through secondary legislation. Certain exemptions are foreseen for lightweight wood, cork, textile, rubber, ceramic, porcelain or wax.
Other agreed measures include:
- minimum recycled content targets for any plastic part of packaging;
- minimum recycling targets by weight of packaging waste generated and increased recyclability requirements;
- 90% of single use plastic and metal beverage containers (up to three litres) to be collected separately by 2029 (deposit-return systems).
Quote
Rapporteur Frédérique Ries (Renew, BE) said: “For the first time in an environmental law, the EU is setting targets to reduce packaging consumption, regardless of the material used. We call on all industrial sectors, EU countries and consumers to play their part in the fight against excess packaging. The ban on forever chemicals in food packaging is a great victory for the health of European consumers. It was also essential that environmental ambitions meet industrial reality. The deal fosters innovation and includes exemptions for micro-enterprises.”
Next steps
Parliament and Council need to formally approve the agreement before it can enter into force.
Background
In 2018, packaging generated a turnover of EUR 355 billion in the EU. It is an ever-increasing source of waste, the EU total having increased from 66 million tonnes in 2009 to 84 million tonnes in 2021. Each European generated 188.7 kg of packaging waste in 2021, a figure that is expected to increase to 209 kg in 2030 without additional measures.