The European Parliament is set to vote on a packaging waste regulation aimed at reducing waste and overpackaging, and promoting reuse. With more than 500 amendment proposals on the table, MEPs are anticipating a complicated and difficult vote.
The Government of Finland has expressed concerns that reducing packaging may lead to an increase in food waste or endanger food safety. The law will be finalized through negotiations between the EU Commission, Parliament, and Council of member states.
In October, the environment committee of the European Parliament voted in favor of a proposal for at least 20 percent of non-alcoholic beverages to be offered in reusable packaging by 2030. However, concerns have been raised about the potential costs and environmental impact of this proposal on the food and brewing industries. MEPs have criticized the Commission’s inadequate impact assessments.
The food and brewing industries in Finland have raised concerns about increased costs and negative environmental impacts resulting from the reuse goals. Some MEPs have expressed dissatisfaction with the Commission’s proposal, arguing that it does not properly consider life cycle thinking and could lead to unsustainable practices.