The European Parliament and the Council of the European Union have
Regulation (EU) 2025/40 was published in the OJEU on January 22, 2025,
which establishes new regulations for the management of packaging and waste from
packaging throughout the Union. The Regulation, which amends previous legal frameworks
such as Regulation (EU) 2019/1020 and Directive (EU) 2019/904, further repeals
Directive 94/62/EC.
This legislation seeks to ensure that all packaging
introduced on the European market are recyclable or reusable in a way that is
and efficient by 2030, while promoting the use of materials that are more economical and
recycled in their manufacture. With specific measures on the reduction of
packaging, disposal of hazardous substances and promotion of hazardous materials.
biodegradable, the regulation is in line with the priorities of the Green Pact.
European Union and the Action Plan for the Circular Economy.
In addition, mandatory labeling is introduced for
to facilitate the correct separation and recycling of waste, and establishes
binding recycled content targets for plastic packaging.
This regulation also addresses the sustainable management of
and the prohibition of certain harmful chemical compounds, in the
limit concentrations that are determined in this Regulation, in those cases in which
containers intended to come into contact with food. Controlled substances
are perfluoroalkylated substances (PFAS), bisphenol A and other substances that may be harmful to the environment.
such as lead, cadmium, mercury and hexavalent chromium.
This Regulation shall enter into force on the day of 11 of
February 2025 and most of its articles will be applicable as of the end of the year.
August 12, 2026, at which time the Commission is required to adopt acts of the Commission by
to establish harmonized labels and specifications for
requirements for the labeling of containers regulated by these Regulations.
