2026: the turning point!

Because it is from 2026 onwards that environmental pressure on packaging will continue to increase. The famous PPWR (Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation), whose authors advocate “a more comprehensive and ambitious approach to the 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle)” for household, industrial, and commercial packaging, involves a number of obligations such as reducing packaging, incorporating recycled materials, and setting reuse targets. Another important obligation is that of recyclability by 2030. It is also worth noting the obligation to ensure that there is no more single-use plastic by 2040.

Not to mention a 40% reuse obligation for beverages by 2040. Not to mention that from 2030, plastic packaging must contain recycled material (the percentage varies depending on the type of packaging, between 10% and 35% recycled material, and between 25% and 65% in 2040).

Finally, the regulation provides for the harmonization of markings that inform consumers about packaging in 2028. To facilitate the correct separation of packaging waste at source, marketers will be required to indicate sorting and reuse instructions for the packaging. They may also choose to indicate the percentage of recycled material used and recycling instructions.

At a time when the global economy, and in particular the European and French economies, is sluggish and likely to remain so for some time, these economically impactful deadlines are unlikely to improve the situation.